Goettl Technician replacing duct filter

How Does Short Cycling Affect My Heater?

We don’t have to worry about subzero conditions and snowfall in our geographic region, but the hottest time of the year is definitely in the rear-view at this point. Daytime temperatures are falling from the 80’s into the 70’s and 60’s. Nighttime temperatures are cooler still. Long, hot summers aside, this is the time of year when we are reminded of how important our heaters in Phoenix, AZ really are.

If you notice any problems with your home heating system as we move into the cooler season, do not ignore them. Short cycling is one of the most obvious signs that trouble is brewing. Be vigilant, and let us know if your heater doesn’t seem to be running in full cycles.

What Is Short Cycling, What Causes It, and What Problems Does It Cause?

“Short cycling” is a term for the phenomenon in which your heating system starts up, runs briefly, and then shuts back down. Ideally, your heater will run longer heating cycles. If it is running only in short bursts, the condition of the system is put at risk. So too is the efficiency with which it operates. Short cycling can be caused by a few factors.

  • Oversized heating systems will short cycle as they bring the temperature in the house up too quickly. That may not sound like much of a problem, but the wear and tear and efficiency issues stemming from the short cycle make it hugely disadvantageous. Any HVAC system must be properly sized for the space in which it is installed.
  • Dirty air filters can restrict airflow, and that too can lead to short cycling. Heat can build up in the system, causing it to cycle off until it cools down. This is just one of the reasons why keeping clean air filters in your forced air heating system is so important.
  • Faulty components, such as thermocouples or even your thermostat, could also cause short cycling. The thermostat may simply register temperatures incorrectly, while a faulty thermocouple will shut down the system as a safety precaution (even though it’s not necessary). Repairing or replacing these components may be necessary to resolve the issue.

Starting up requires more energy than running consistently, so short cycling can result in higher energy costs than you should see. Plus, the wear and tear on the system makes breakdowns and operational issues more likely. Short cycling must be stopped in short order!

Schedule your heating services with Goettl Air Conditioning.

Testimonials

What Our Customers Say About Us

Arthur FortesArthur Fortes
17:47 06 Dec 23
Michael was great and explained everything clearly!!
Lawrence PeteLawrence Pete
17:38 06 Dec 23
Very thorough performing service give customers more options to decide...no pressure he worked on the HVAC system
B SimonB Simon
17:11 06 Dec 23
Ralph. Came out on time. Very professional, knowledgeable. Did excellent work
Jennifer WebbJennifer Webb
23:48 05 Dec 23
Friendly fast service. Matthew was very pleasant, did a systems check and showed and explained everything that was needed with suggestions and prices.
Denise TamezDenise Tamez
23:03 05 Dec 23
Ralph did an excellent job! Thank you for the wonderful service!
Ernest RodriguezErnest Rodriguez
18:23 04 Dec 23
Carl JacksonCarl Jackson
15:00 04 Dec 23
The work was very professional & neat , I was very surprised about the quality of workmanship. The crew was very knowledgeable & very respectful while working. I would recommend Goettl plumbing to anyone with the great job they have done….
Cheryl SkatesCheryl Skates
22:54 03 Dec 23
Did a great job servicing are unit. Answered all our questions.
Diane WainnerrDiane Wainnerr
01:32 03 Dec 23
I was very pleased with Goettl Plumbing/AC company . Joseph came out and was excellent at explaining the issues that were going on with our pipes & then did a great job fixing the issues. Thanks, Goettl!
Rafiu BabatundeRafiu Babatunde
18:22 28 Nov 23
Catherine BowlesCatherine Bowles
17:21 28 Nov 23
was very helpful and professional 👏
Rachel RamosRachel Ramos
16:55 28 Nov 23
Tyler Leija was very thorough and explained everything carefully about our plumbing issues. I’m glad we called Goettl.. Thank You!
G force9299G force9299
15:32 28 Nov 23
William and Peter were amazing! Although Peter is in training, you would not have known if he didn't tell you. Services provided were top notch! Thank you!!!
Linda ClaytonLinda Clayton
22:25 25 Nov 23
Frank M is fabulous! Great service!Sam is wonderful. I would like them to send him every time. Great service. On time. Expert knowledge. Highly recommend!
Scott MillerScott Miller
00:41 25 Nov 23
Great job and fast response. Tyler did a great job.
J NevilJ Nevil
00:34 25 Nov 23
Roger came out on Thanksgiving Day to fix our unit. Turns out, our home builder completely shorted us on the amount of blown-in attic insulation (which you think a home inspector would have caught) and also our unit is too small for our house which is 4 years old. Roger took the time to explain all of this to us in detail and got our unit up and running. Thank you Roger!
Rosalyn DouglasRosalyn Douglas
22:37 24 Nov 23
Michael was very professional and polite. Got the job done in a timely manner installing the sensors.
Michael SchmidtMichael Schmidt
22:10 24 Nov 23
Joseph was professional, friendly, and very thorough. He answered all of our questions and gave us a detailed explanation of what the problem was and why it occurs.
Joel RuizJoel Ruiz
16:02 20 Nov 23
Ralph did a great job, was on time and explained everything very clearly.
Sunshines BuggySunshines Buggy
01:26 20 Nov 23
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