Short cycling means short run time and short off time, that your furnace is turning on and off quickly and not providing the heat that your home needs.

This can happen for a number of reasons. A furnace that is too big for your home is often the culprit. When your home heats too quickly, it also cools down too quickly causing your furnace to turn on and off too much. If you are having the problem with a furnace that has worked perfectly well in years past, the size of your furnace is not the issue.

You may have a dirty air filter. Make it a habit to check your air filters. If your filter is dirty and clogged, it restricts air flow. This will cause your furnace to run less efficiently and is one of the leading causes of short cycling. Change your air filter according to the manufacturers instructions and make sure to check it once a month.

A faulty thermostat can cause a unit to short cycle. Double check your settings and make sure that it is working correctly. Take note of the environment that your thermostat is in. Is it in the sun? Is it in the shade? The warmth of the room will affect the readings on the thermostat.

Less likely but still possible reasons for your furnace short cycling is a corroded flame sensor or foreign objects getting lodged in your vents.

Short cycling can cause irreparable damage to your furnace if not investigated and corrected right away. It also leads to and increase in your utility costs.

Call Alkota Plumbing and Heating today for preventive maintenance before you furnace starts to short cycle, or call us to repair a furnace that isn’t performing the way it should.

If you are in one of the following communities please call us at 907-332-5325 or call us if you aren’t sure if your city is within our service area. You can check our zip codes page as well.
We proudly serve Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, Wasilla, Girdwood.