4 Possible Causes of Your Furnace Short-Cycling in Largo, FL

Short-cycling is when your furnace turns on and off frequently, running for short periods of time without ever reaching the set temperature on your thermostat. Though it’s common for a furnace to cycle around five times an hour, any more than this raises energy bills and indicates a problem with the machine. Here are four possible causes behind your furnace short-cycling and what you can do to fix it in Largo, FL.

Flame Sensor Problems

The flame sensor on your furnace helps keep you safe by shutting down when it doesn’t sense a flame while the gas valve is open. This keeps gas from leaking into your home. If this sensor gets dirty or corroded with rust and/or minerals, the flame won’t register as being there and your furnace will short-cycle, which is a problem only an HVAC provider should tackle.

Faulty Thermostat

The thermostat is the control center of your HVAC system. If wiring is old and frayed or has a loose connection to the system, short-cycling is often the result. A thermostat that’s faulty will read temperatures incorrectly, leading to heating and cooling malfunctions.

Dirty Air Filter

A dirty, clogged air filter causes a buildup of hot air to accumulate in your furnace, instead of the air escaping into different rooms of your home. This warmth eventually causes the system to overheat and shut down. Regular maintenance like replacing filters every other month should fix this.

Clogged Flue

Debris sometimes make their way into your flue vent, causing a blockage. Your furnace shuts off to prevent carbon monoxide from leaking into your home, possibly leading to short-cycling. This is a dangerous situation that needs rectifying as soon as possible.

You want to put an end to short-cycling so that you can have more peace and comfort at home. Contact us today at Arctic Air Systems and ask about our furnace repair services. We’re happy to serve you and get everything back in working order!

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