Facts For Home Heating Issues

Are you asking the question, “Why does my heater keep shutting off?” The reason could be one of many things that are causing your furnace to cycle off. This could be due to a technical problem built into your system. It needs to be corrected as soon as possible, to prevent even more problems in the future.

A Dirty Filter

It could also be one of the simplest and least expensive problems a furnace could have, a dirty filter. While it seems like the filter wouldn’t stop the furnace from working, it does have the capacity to function as an on/off switch when it is not changed regularly or cleaned properly. The heater is warming the air and attempting to push it through the dirty filter. When the air doesn’t pass through, the heater assumes the air is warm because your home has heated to the desired temperature and then shuts off. The best way to put an end to short cycling due to a dirty filter is to change the filter. With one simple adjustment, your home is warm again and the cost to you is minimal.

Faulty Thermostat

Where is your thermostat sitting? Is it near another heat source that might be confusing its reading, such as a sunny window, an oven or a heat register. Check your thermostat, insure that it is turned on and check the readings. It is possible that another entity was affecting the readings and causing it to assume your home had reached the set temperature.

Many factors can cause short cycling, so don’t assume that it’s some inexplicable reason just because the filter isn’t dirty and the thermostat isn’t faulty. It could be a corroded flame sensor, foreign objects stuck in the air vents or chimney or your heating system may not be the right size for the home it’s heating. It’s also possible that you don’t have a heater with the right rating.

Your next question may be, “How are heaters rated?” Most heaters or furnaces use an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating to determine their efficiency in converting possible BTU’s into useful heat producing BTU’s. You can also compare Coefficient of Performance (COP) for heat pumps.

Call HVAC Experts

No matter how you select your furnace, it’s important to keep it in good working order to get the most out of its performance. Maintain it regularly and it will probably perform beautifully throughout its life cycle. Call us to learn more about efficient heating, air conditioning and water heating solutions.