After you have turned your home's furnace on for the season, you may have noticed that it does not seem to stay on long enough to warm up your house. You may also notice that the furnace turns off and on too many times in a short period of time. If so, there are a couple of potential reasons why your home's furnace is rapid cycling, one of which you may be able to remedy yourself.
1. Air Flow Through the Furnace Is Blocked
One potential cause of the rapid cycling of your home's furnace is that the air flowing through the unit is blocked. To continue operating properly, the air must be allowed to flow freely through the unit. If not, excess heat will get trapped inside, making it send a false signal that the air is hot enough, causing the furnace to turn off.
To help increase the flow of air, there are a few things that you can do. You can start by changing the air filter; a clogged filter is one of the most common causes of obstructed flow. After changing the filter, you should also wipe away any dust you find on the exterior of the unit as well as around the vents. Also, look at the area around the furnace to make sure that there are no objects that are too close. The furnace should have several feet of clear space around it.
2. Safety Switch Is Shutting off an Overheating Motor
After taking steps to ensure that the air filter is clean and that the unit is dust- and clutter-free, you may still find that it continues to rapid cycle. If this is the case, the reason why the furnace is shutting off too soon is that the safety switch within the motor is shutting it off because of overheating.
If the motor is overheating, there could be any number of issues—the motor may be wearing down, the bearings may be worn, or there could be an issue with the electrical system. In any of these cases, a heating repair company can address the issues quickly.
If you have changed the filter and cleared out the vents without noticing any changes to the rapid cycling of the unit, then it is likely that there is a deeper problem that is causing the motor to overheat. If you suspect that this is the case, contact an HVAC contractor.
Share12 October 2020
Last summer, I began to get extremely hot in my home. My air conditioning system couldn’t adequately keep my home cool anymore. Therefore, I contacted an experienced HVAC contractor. This individual visited my home and thoroughly inspected my unit. If your air conditioner isn’t working like it once did, your air ducts may be clogged up. Thankfully, an expert HVAC contractor can determine if faulty air ducts are the cause of the hot temperatures inside your home. On this blog, you will discover how an HVAC contractor can properly inspect your air ducts. Stay cool and comfortable during the hot summer months!