Is your heating unit in need of repairs? One common problem homeowners experience is that their heaters will short cycle before it makes any temperature changes in their home. Short cycling is when your furnace turns on and off for multiple short periods of time. This can affect your heater’s energy efficiency and can even be a sign of a much larger problem in your system.
HVAC Precision Experts and our technicians want to share some reasons why your furnace is short cycling and how we can help with heater repairs in Culpeper.
Bad Flame Sensor
Your heater has a flame sensor that detects when a flame is created in your furnace. If it senses that there is no flame, it will turn off your unit to ensure your heating system isn’t pumping raw gas into your home. If your flame sensor has gone bad, it will not detect the flame and shut down the unit even though it’s still functioning.
If you think this is the source of your short cycling problem, all you need to do is clean or replace your flame sensor. Your local heater technicians are here to help with any cleaning or replacements you may need for your heating system.
Overheating Your Heater
Your furnace may be shutting down because it’s overheating from a blockage or any other problem in your system. It’s designed to shut down automatically when it gets too hot to keep your home safe. Some things that can overheat your unit include:
- A dirty furnace filter
- Closed heat grates
- A blocked exhaust vent
In these cases, there are things that are preventing the heat from escaping your furnace. Dust, animal nests or a closed vent can trap the heat in your air vents and overheat your furnace before it reaches the rest of the house. It’s important to clean these out before it causes gas leaks in your home.
The best way to fix these problems is to clear out and clean any debris in your vents. Schedule heater repair services with our team to help eliminate debris that’s in tough-to-reach places and provide any necessary furnace repairs.
Your Thermostat’s Location
If the area around your thermostat is warmed up before the rest of the house, your furnace may turn off thinking it has done its job. This usually happens if your thermostat is mounted right above a heating grate or nearby your heating system. This could also happen if there’s a nearby lamp warming up your thermostat before your heater warms up your home.
Relocating your thermostat is the best way to keep your system from short cycling. This will ensure that your heating unit gets an accurate reading of the home’s temperature. If you need ideas about where in your home is the best location for your thermostat, contact a local specialist on our team.
Need Culpeper Heating Services? Contact HVAC Precision Experts!
If you’re having problems with your furnace short cycling, HVAC Precision Experts can help. Our team provides services that identify the cause of your problem and the steps you need to take to get your heater working again. Contact us through our website or give us a call today!
