How Long Should a Furnace Cycle in an Hour?

The average heat cycle of a furnace is 10 to 15 mins. Therefore, in mild conditions, your furnace should run 2-5 times in an hour. However, other factors influence the furnace cycles.

• Thermostat Setting
  A furnace’s cycle will continue till it heats up to the set temperature. The higher the set temperature, the longer it will run to heat.
• Outdoor Temperatures
  The colder it is outside, the faster your home will lose heat. Therefore, in winter the furnace works overtime and can also cycle for hours to maintain an optimum indoor temperature.

In short, you may experience unusual cycling if there are extreme external conditions.

Why is My Furnace Short Cycling/Taking Too Long?

Short cycling refers to a condition where a furnace turns off frequently before reaching the desired temperature. Your furnace may also take a lot of time to achieve the desired temperature. In both cases, you need to give it professional attention.

Here are the most common factors that cause a furnace to work unusually in average conditions –

• Incompatible System
  A furnace that is too big for your unit will quickly reach the desired warmth and hence turn off. A system that is too small will overheat and fail prematurely. Therefore, choose a contractor wisely for furnace installation in Tecumseh.
• Poor Ductwork
  The indoors will lose a lot of air if the ducts are poorly done or broken. This will cause the furnace to overheat and turn off frequently.
• Problems in the Heat Exchanger
  A heat exchanger is a component that heats the cool air. If it is cracked, dented, or internally damaged, your furnace will take ages to warm your indoors.
• Malfunctioning Thermostat
  It may be the case that your thermostat isn’t accurately sensing the temperature. Therefore, due to wrong signals, your furnace will work too much or too little.
• Unclean Filters
  Clogged air filters obstruct the incoming air and hence cause the heat exchanger to overheat. This further causes short cycling.
• The System is too Old
  Your furnace will lose its efficiency as it gets older. If your system’s age is between 15-20 years, you will experience short cycling and unsatisfactory heating.

Most owners neglect such conditions and continue using the furnace for long hours. However, these issues are dangerous if not resolved early.

Unusual cycles make the system lose its efficiency faster. A short-cycling furnace pressurizes the heat exchanger that leads to cracks and causes harmful leaks. A system that takes too long to heat draws excess energy and also affects the environment.

How Can I Manage the Risks?

Here are a few simple things you can do –

• Clean the filters regularly.
• Ensure good airflow by unblocking the vents.
• Get correct information about your system from your contractor.

If you notice any unusual cycling schedule service at Affordable Heating & Cooling Inc. for furnace repair in LaSalle and nearby areas. Affordable Heating & Cooling Inc. is your one-stop solution for all HVAC-related concerns. With a team of experts and around 50 years of experience in the industry, the company has delivered exceptional services at affordable rates.