Have you ever noticed the heating system in your home turning on or off, and find yourself hoping it doesn’t stay off on a cold night? The clicking on and off is not only annoying but may be cause for concern. What would cause the heating system to do this? To answer this question, it’s important to understand the typical operation of a heating system – your furnace. Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning delves further into this below.

What is the Normal Cycle of a Furnace?

The average on and off cycle for a heating system is three to six times and hour. Most homes have a central heating system like a furnace. The furnace turns on and off based on signals your thermostat reads. When your thermostat senses that it is cold, your furnace turns on. Once it’s warm enough, your furnace turns off. It’s normal for this cycle to happen. If a unit is going through its cycles more often, this is called short cycling. Short cycling is the cycling on and off is happening faster than expect. A furnace that is short cycling needs repair. Short cycling causes extra wear and tear on your system, leading to a shorter system life. It can also cause higher than normal energy bills.

How Do You Fix a Short Cycling Furnace?

If your furnace is shutting off all the time you may want to check the following:
Thermostat causing mixed readings – First, check the thermostat and make sure you have it set to operate in heat and the right temperature. Next, see if the thermostat might be sensing extra heat possibly coming from direct sunlight or another heat source nearby like a space heater. Even hair dryers used near the thermostat can make it sense that the home has reached the set temperature and cause short cycling.
Clogged air filters – A clogged filter is one of the most common causes for short cycling. Without proper air flow through the system, warm air can’t circulate through the home as it should. The unit works harder than it should without providing the desired comfort which leads to mechanical problems.
Other areas to check – Undersized ductwork or equipment – Corroded flame sensor – Objects lodged in air vents or chimney – Dislodged air ducts.

Central Air Conditioning Diagnosis, Repair, Replacement, Maintenance & More in Summerlin, North LV, Henderson, Centennial, Enterprise, Lone Mountain Village, Paradise, Sunrise Manor, Spring Valley, Aliante, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Peccole Ranch, Silverado Ranch, Tuscany Village, Whitney, Winchester & Las Vegas Nevada

Don’t guess or don’t wait till your heating system/furnace in your home doesn’t come on at all and your left cold in your home when it’s cold outside. If there is cause for concern call us at Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning. Our experts will quickly diagnose the cause for your unit possibly short cycling or other problem your unit may be having to get the problem solved and heating your home as it should giving you peace of mind.