s you start to rely on your furnace more and more to keep you warm this winter, you may start to notice that your system is turning itself on and off every couple of minutes. While this may seem harmless, it’s actually a sign of a serious problem called “short cycling.” Short cycling is capable of not only causing break downs, but permanently shortening the life of the entire furnace. Let’s examine what causes short cycling, and what you can do about it.
Clogged Air Filters
Your furnace has an air filter inside it that protects it from dust and other debris that might make it into the system and harm it. The problem is that while the air filter does its job well, it has no way to get rid of the debris that it collects. If it isn’t cleaned or replaced every couple of months, it becomes too clogged to allow air into the furnace. This traps heat in the furnace, which is where the problems start.
As the temperature inside the furnace starts to rise, the limit switch activates and shuts down the system as a safety measure. This doesn’t treat the root of the problem, though. The furnace will keep starting up, overheating, and shutting down again ad infinitum.
That kind of repeated starting and stopping puts the furnace under more stress than it was designed to handle. Eventually, parts of the furnace will start to give out under the increased wear and tear. Eventually, the entire system will break down and likely need to be replaced. In order to prevent this from happening, be sure to have your air filter cleaned every three months or so while using your furnace.
If your furnace is in need of maintenance or repair, call Total Comfort, Inc. We serve all of Corona, CA.