In the cold winter months, a typical household furnace should be running at regular intervals. If your heater is only running for short bursts, turning on and off, on and off, then it is Short Cycling. In addition to Short cycling as an indication of a major problem, it also puts a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on your system increasing the risk of damages, it increases operating costs, and uses more energy in the continual start process.
So what’s the problem?
First things first, as a homeowner, check and/or replace the filter. If the filter is clogged preventing adequate air flow to the heating unit, it will overheat and automatically shut down to prevent damage. It is good practice to replace air filters every 3 months throughout the year to keep your unit (both heat and AC) running at maximum efficiency.
If the filter is clean or new and the system keeps short cycling, it’s time to call a licensed HVAC professional like Optimum Climates. The problem could range from a malfunctioning thermostat to a faulty heat pump run capacitor to a heat pump refrigerant leak. All of which put your system at serious risk if you continue forcing it to run. The problem may not seem urgent because hey it’s still technically heating my house, but short cycling is your heaters cry for help for some urgent technical issues. Would you ignore chest pains and a numb left arm or would you get to a hospital right away as they are signs of a bigger issue: a heart attack? That’s right, get it checked by a professional now!