When a furnace is in good working condition, it will turn on, run for awhile, and then turn off when the temperature inside the home has reached the set temperature. Unfortunately, a furnace can develop problems as it ages, and one of those issues is short cycling. Short cycling is when a furnace turns on, runs for a couple of minutes, and then turns off. In most cases, a furnace that is in need of repair will short cycle multiple times an hour. If you notice that your furnace has started short cycling, the best thing that you can do is contact an HVAC contractor to diagnose and fix the problem. Some common causes of a furnace short cycling include:
Flame Sensor is Dirty
A flame sensor is a component inside a furnace that detects when a flame is ignited and then lets natural gas into the system to cause combustion. Over time, a flame sensor can become dirty, and when that happens it can no longer detect when a flame is present. When this happens, the flow of gas into the furnace can be cut off, which results in the entire furnace turning off just a couple of minutes after it begins running. In most cases, an HVAC technician can clean a dirty flame sensor in order to resolve the problem, but sometimes a flame sensor may need to be replaced.
Air Filter is Clogged
In order to function properly, a furnace needs continuous airflow. However, if the air filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, airflow will be restricted and the furnace will experience problems. When the air filter is impeding airflow due to being dirty, air will not flow over the heat exchanger. If this happens, the heat exchanger can overheat, which then triggers the fan limiter, and the furnace will shut down and stop running. Replacing a clogged air filter typically rectifies the issue.
Fan Limiter is Damaged
The fan limiter acts as a safety feature in furnaces. It is responsible for turning off the furnace if the heat exchanger gets too hot, since an overheating heat exchanger could cause a fire, or the pat itself could crack and leak out carbon monoxide. If the fan limiter is damaged and needs to be replaced, it may begin shutting down the furnace prematurely, even if there are no issues or problems with the heat exchanger.
For more information about heating systems, contact a company like Air Pride Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc.
Share28 January 2020
After my sister moved into my house with me, she started complaining about the temperature. I had never really thought about it before, or maybe I was just used to it, but my house was pretty cold. She told me that she didn't think the furnace was working properly, so I started checking things out on my own. Sure enough, my furnace seemed to be having some serious problems. I started looking for a replacement, and I was able to find a great furnace for much less than what I initially thought I would need to spend. I wanted to make this blog for anyone out there who might need to shop for a new HVAC system. Check out these great articles for information you might need.
