Unless it is extremely cold outside your your thermostat is set to a very high temperature. most furnaces only cycle on and off about every 10 minutes or so. A furnace that turns on and off too much is more than an annoyance; it could be driving up your utility bills and in need of a heating repair. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why does my furnace cycle on and off so much?”, we’ve got some answers for you and guidance on what you can do about this common furnace problem.

Thermostat Issues

If your thermostat’s heat anticipator has gone bad, this may cause frequent cycling of the furnace. A loose or worn electrical connection within the thermostat can also cause frequent cycling of the furnace. A malfunctioning heat anticipator or loose wiring requires a professional repair.
Dirty Air Filter

During the winter months, your furnace’s air filter can quickly become clogged with dirt, dust, and other debris. Once the pores of the filter are clogged up with this debris, the heated air produced by the furnace isn’t easily able to pass through the filter and into your home’s air ducts. Since less of the heated air reaches your home’s living spaces, the thermostat will keep signaling to the furnace to turn on. This problem has a simple fix. Locate the furnace filter and remove it from its housing. Replace the old, dirty filter with a new filter. Be sure that the new filter is inserted into the slot in the correct orientation. Close the filter’s housing.
Blower Motor Problems

A problem with the furnace’s blower may cause the heated air to only slowly reach the living spaces of your home. The blower includes a motor, belts, and other moving parts. A worn out belt, blown motor, or loss of lubrication within the motor can all wreak havoc with the ability of the furnace to cycle properly. These types of problems all require a professional furnace repair.
How to Handle Furnace Problems

If changing the furnace’s air filter doesn’t solve the frequent cycling problem, then it’s best to call for a professional to examine the furnace and diagnose the problem. One way to avoid unexpected future furnace problems such as frequent turning on and off is to schedule a fall furnace tune-up. This annual service includes a system inspection to help identify worn out furnace parts that can contribute to problems like frequent system cycling.
If your furnace isn’t adequately warming up your Scott, LA, home, you don’t have to continue to shiver in the cold. Our heating and air conditioning service technicians at Lee’s Air Conditioning Co. offer maintenance and routine and emergency repair services to fix common furnace issues like frequent cycling. For more information or to schedule an appointment, give us a call any time.