What is a Normal Cycle Length?
This is not necessarily a simple, straightforward answer since it mostly depends on two factors: The temperature outside and the temperature you set on your thermostat. When the weather is mild, and the temperature on your thermostat is not too far from the temperature outside, your furnace should run for about 10-15 minutes 2-3 times per hour.
If it’s cold outside and you set the temperature higher, or if it’s hot outside and you set the temperature cooler, it will be a bit longer. The closer to the maximum or minimum temperatures on your furnace’s design you get, the longer it will run. Because there is no single determination as to what is too much, it is a good idea to give us a call for a professional check on your system.
Common Causes for Short Cycling
If your furnace is having any issues related to overheating, it can cause the system to malfunction. This in turn sometimes causes your furnace to run too often. You also may be having issues with the thermostat itself, causing incorrect communications between your thermostat unit and your furnace unit.
When the communications are incorrect, it can cause your furnace to cycle more or less often than it needs to. A less common but important factor to also consider is that your furnace may be oversized. Whatever the source of the problem may be, do not make the mistake of self-diagnosing and self-repairing, as you may accidentally make an issue worse or incorrectly diagnose the issue.
Why It’s Bad for Your Furnace to Run Too much
The first and most obvious issue is about your bank account. Your energy bills will most likely increase. Frequent cycling can also place stress on certain components in your furnace. This means you will have more furnace issues in the future followed by the inconvenient chore of needing to repair or replace it. Another issue that will quickly become apparent is that you may have inconsistent temperatures in your home, causing discomfort. Nobody wants to have to bundle up and then cool off multiple times in an hour inside their own home because of a furnace issue.
Your furnace should be functioning correctly, as you paid for it and you are paying the energy bills to run it. Make sure it is working to the best of its ability. Give us a call for any further questions or to make an appointment.
