When it’s working like it should, the furnace in your New Cumberland, Penn., home won’t run non-stop. The typical heating cycle for a modern and well-maintained furnace is about 15 to 20 minutes. On cold days, most furnaces cycle on approximately two to three times each hour. If your furnace cycles are much shorter or longer than this, there’s likely a good reason why.
Excessively Short Furnace Cycles
Ultra-short heating cycles are an indication that your furnace isn’t properly sized for your home. A furnace with too much heating power will raise your indoor temperature rapidly and then cycle back off. Unfortunately, improperly sized heating equipment won’t be able to heat the building interior uniformly. As warm air travels to colder spaces, your furnace will kick back into action once again.
Short heating cycles usually mean having more cycles per hour. They also cause higher energy bills and increased wear on your HVAC equipment. Other signs that your furnace may be too large or too powerful for your living space include:
- Humidity issues
- Hot and cold spots throughout the building
- Excess noise during furnace operation
Your Heating Cycle Is Too Long
As your furnace ages, you may notice that its average heating cycle exceeds 20 minutes. As heating equipment nears the end of its lifespan, it invariably loses efficiency. This causes it to work both harder and longer to get the job done.
However, if your furnace is still relatively new, long heating cycles may be an indication of:
- Leaky windows
- HVAC air duct leaks
- Unsealed gaps and cracks in building materials
- Insufficient insulation or insulation with the wrong R-values
Paying attention to the length of your heating cycles is a great way to identify problems that might be raising your home energy bills and putting excess strain on your furnace. Whether these cycles are too long or too short, it’s always best to consult with an HVAC technician.
[Company_name] has been helping residents of New Cumberland, Penn., keep their HVAC systems in excellent condition for more than 42 years. We offer heating and cooling system installation, maintenance and repairs. We also provide boilers, heat pumps, ductless mini-splits and indoor air quality services. Call us today!
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