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

Roger GraysonRoger Grayson
20:22 26 Apr 23
We had the A/C rejuvenation. (Preventive maintenance) I was impressed with the technician.(Jesus Gloria)He was very personable and professional. He took time after the service to explain what he did. He also gave suggestions that could help the longevity and performance of of our A/C system. I am very pleased with the service. Thanks Jesus and Goettl A/C.
Nansy BarrientosNansy Barrientos
17:11 23 Nov 22
Steven Martinez came to complete repairs. His carpentry work was top of the line. The repairs looked as if nothing had ever taken place. EXCELLENT JOB!! We are VERY happy with the service GOETTL provided. Very professional company!
M AugustineM Augustine
14:25 11 Sep 22
This company is very responsive and made sure that my services could be completed very quickly.George the technician that was sent out is amazing, he came out and diagnosed the issue. Although it was not something we were expecting considering it is a brand new home he treated the issue with so much care and consideration. Which is exactly what we needed during such a stressful time. I felt he was on our side and genuinely cared. He walked in with a stuffed dog named Sadie and small gestures like that just put me at ease.He walked us through the whole process to make sure we understood and were happy.We then spoke to Tim who helped us picked the best AC for our home. Giving us 1-5 star ratings on systems. Tim as well treated this issue with so much care and consideration.Through each step of this process I felt very informed and aware of what was going on.I 1000% recommended this company
Kelby BellowsKelby Bellows
15:28 29 Jun 22
Josue was great! They found the issue very fast and got our air conditioner working within the hour that he was here. It was 84 in our house when they arrived and house has already cooled 6 degrees! 🥵 Very grateful for Goettl and their excellent customer service. We signed up as a member because we were so impressed and are looking forward to receiving regular maintenance from them.
Ty WilliamsTy Williams
00:12 26 Jun 22
Our AC system froze up on June 7. We called a local Cibolo tech who said to thaw out the system, change the air filter, and see what happens. All was good for a week or so; it appeared. I respect tech who was not out to grab money. We called Goettl on Sunday, June 19, and arranged for a rejuvenation. On Tuesday, June 21, the system froze again, and we called Goettl and told them the service call needed to shift from "re juuuuu-venation" to repair and possible replacement. The air handler was 8.5 years; the compressor was as old as the house,13.5 years old. The air handler died immediately when the warranty expired and was replaced with a different brand than the compressor. We have 3220 sq feet to cool.Goettl texted me and said a technician would be coming between 1 and 3 p.m. (the appointment time was bumped up., Yay!) on Wednesday, June 22. Our tech guy Billy, friendly and professional, took a look at our compressor and suggested that the compressor may be too small for the house. *Spoiler alert* He was right. He looked inside the system and ran several checks. The starting current for the compressor was just over 150 amps--not good. The compressor's max rating was 130 amps. The dude gave me some serious side-eye when I told him the air handler and compressor were different brands. Based on his looks and no words from him, this choice was egregious and unforgivable in Billy's world. I told him the price was right, and the fix lasted 8.5 years. He said that argument was hard to refute. He asked about the need for portable AC units that kept us afloat.The conversation was an easy one. There was zero pressure from Billy to upgrade. We discussed options such as ductwork and an additional thermostat for upstairs to deal with top versus floor heating and cooling differences and hopefully eliminate the need for portable AC units. Billy suggested that those future upgrades or modifications may be considered after the new system was in place. This former Navy Nuke knew that an upgrade was in order.The Goettl team arranged financing, at an excellent rate, in literally minutes via text messages and phone conversations. The Goettl teamwork was impressive because it was collaborative and factual. Then they offered us five options and discussed each cost, ratings, and warranty. We went with Number 4. Goettl arranged for next-day installation.As it happened on Wednesday, we received a text from Goettl on Thursday, June 23, saying that the installation team would be arriving around 1:30. The team and I hope I get the names right, Robert, Marcus, and Manny, got straight to work. Six hours later, we had an epic new system with matching parts.In celebration, we went out to Mr. Crabby's for another terrific meal. When we left, the downstairs was 76 degrees, and the upstairs was 82. When we returned in two hours, all rooms in the house were at 73°F. Kudos to Goettl and the entire team! Highly recommended. Being a college professor and former US Navy nuclear reactor operator, facts matter. Goettl's commercials suggest that they are very tech-savvy. The company's founder, the dad, was technically and ethically impressive. His traits and standards have been passed down and enhanced. They indeed do things the right way, not the easy way.The entire was not perfect. The text messages indicated the arrival time was just enough time for my wife or me to jet home and greet them. A little lead time could be helpful, but timing jobs of this nature to the hour or minutes is nearly impossible if you are doing things correctly. So my score is 99.9% out of 100.
Kelly PedersenKelly Pedersen
21:13 22 May 23
Start to finish the total pros at Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing got us out of an ancient, broken down air conditioning system and into an expertly installed one. Our great thanks to Joshua for diagnosing the issue and to Juan and Carlos for their expert installation of our new Goodman unit. We encountered nothing but professionalism from this remarkable team. We never thought our problem would be fixed so quickly and with such great care. Goettle does it right.
Brandi TaylorBrandi Taylor
16:46 17 May 23
I can’t even begin to express how wonderful of an experience we had with this company. Nobody likes to have to unexpectedly replace such an expensive, big part of their home. Goettl made this task as enjoyable and positive as it could be. They listened to what we wanted and what we could afford. They didn’t try to talk us into anything we didn’t need. Their customer service was top notch. Jarod, Ivan, Gustavo, Juan, and Jonny were professional and courteous. They go above and beyond for their clients. They came to assess the problem around 9:00 AM and by 9:30 PM we had an entire new system inside and out!
Jenn BeazleyJenn Beazley
16:45 22 Mar 23
Have had a great experience with the company so far. Easy time scheduling/rescheduling on my end. And the crew (Joshua and Jared) were super professional and informative, and took their time to inspect my system and make sure everything is in good shape. The things that might need repair in the future they provided estimates on the remaining life and general repair costs associated. And seems like the annual maintenance plan is a good value. Look forward to continuing to use them in the future when something comes up.
Dip MukherjeeDip Mukherjee
17:45 06 Jan 23
We had a decrepit HVAC system in our condo that was dripping. Chris R was the technician that came out to assess our system and couldn't have done a more thorough job. Not only that, he made sure to explain every single detail to ensure myself and my wife were fully aware of the issues we would be facing short and long term. His advice ultimately helped us make the crucial decision to get a brand new system in place - although it was expensive, it was well worth the price! Customer service of Goettl was impeccable from beginning to end. Chris made sure to document everything that needed to be done, Carlos and Juan came the following morning (talk about quick turnarounds too) and installed everything effectively. They were extremely polite, clean and efficient, getting the entire job done in less than a day! I would highly recommend the three of them as well as Goettl to any of my friends and family, as well as all of you reading this. Excellent job.
Andrew VizzoneAndrew Vizzone
22:25 29 Dec 22
Really good experience with Goettl today. Even though during the repair, another issue was caught, I was immediately told they’d get me on the schedule tomorrow morning to fix everything. Josh Toungate was the tech; super communicative, friendly and helpful! Would recommend for anyoneUpdate: Eben came by today to get everything up and running! He mentioned he just started with the company but I couldn’t tell. Really nice and helpful! Goettl is lucky to have him
Eric YoungstromEric Youngstrom
15:55 26 Dec 22
Fast, same day repairs right before Christmas. Fair pricing. And a fantastic plumber who answered all my questions and stayed until the job was done!The Goettl team is fantastic! They arrived ahead of schedule and worked on the coldest day of the year to fix several damaged pipes. Everyone from the scheduling team to the plumber was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and personable. I’ll definitely work with them again and highly recommend them.
Anissa JacksonAnissa Jackson
19:02 18 Apr 22
I am having some issues with my foundation so, I wanted to get my plumbing checked to make sure that nothing was leaking. I called and got scheduled for an appointment quickly. The Technician (Lenny Rivera) showed up on time, was professional, and knowledgeable about his work. He performed the service and (thankfully) NO leaking detected! The process was easy and seamless and he even gifted me a cute stuffed dog and a flashlight! Will definitely call if I need service in the future! Highly recommended!
RaymondRaymond
05:46 01 May 23
Q! the man and the family members before him of HVAC technicians does really show the love that this young man has for his career,plus I enjoyed his energy and his professionalism and was very comfortable with our Guy Q! He was Very Knowledgeable and Answered all my questions with The time It took From Start to finished with face 2 face Conversation to the Phone Calls with The Big Wigs at the office with the Cost and Installation it was all a Breeze and No Stress they're the Best At What They Do. While our Guy Q, Came to the house this morning @ 9:00 and by 1:00 he had done a fine job and was on his way. So now the next members to show up ready to install AC unit those technicians "CHAD" and "CHRISTIAN" Absolutely the best and are Complete ROCK 🌟 STARS! So pleasant and VERY HARD WORKERS going that extra mile to complete their dutys in a timely manner just stellar employee's I'll highly recommended those two Chad & Christian they cleaned up afterwards and then some and the work that these 2 performed was completed on Saturday very impressive and So now Day 2 Duct work to be completed by 2 different gentlemen than on Saturday, Duct work not completed so work needs to be continued into 3rd day Monday to finish up things that should be completed by Monday with no issues. The duct work the job was just okay not great and there was no clean up performed afterwards by the two technicians. Myself cleaned up the debris left behind all over the floors and on the couches and furniture. Still with Goettl being in good hands was the best opion moving forward So I decided on it and pulled the trigger on the4-🌟-🌟-🌟-🌟- STAR option plan. Being they have a 1🌟star thru 5🌟star option plan for you to pick from and all the work is done in-house NO outside contractorsI want QUAILTY 👌 and you pay for what you get. This summer, 2023, well be so cool and chill with Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing. The 2 techs who showed up for install on Saturday CHAD & CHRISTIAN I was very HAPPY to see they kept everything so clean and covering the floor and covering the laundry room washer and dryer plus anything that might be hit or scuffed they made sure to show respect and respect my house, Thank you and I'll update after completion of theFor day three, duct work to be finished, and the old ac, ducts and all other removed parts would be hauled away from the front yard. I will update this review if things don't go as expected for day 3.
Shauna DShauna D
18:48 28 Jan 23
We has an a new air conditioner scheduled in 2022 and the techs that came out were very professional and patient. We had called for an appointment today because our gas bill had been much higher than past years and there seemed to be an issue with the heat. Joe was our tech and had the issue diagnosed with multiple fixes to address it in less than two hours. On top of that, he was so patient and kind to our dog, and was fun to talk to! He is now our preferred tech and we are so appreciative of him and of Goettl for getting someone out to us so quickly. He even gave our dog a toy when our dog training appointment accidentally came at the same time as him being here!
Taryn BrownTaryn Brown
21:11 10 Nov 22
My In-laws have been loyal Goettl customers for years, I’m writing this review on their behalf. Goettl consistently offers quality services at a fair price, the service men are always professional and respectful of your home. My in-laws had to be out of the house today so I was at their home while Goettl cleaned the ducts. Daniel and Tano were a great team. They communicated well, did a thorough job and didn’t leave a mess which is always appreciated after a dusty clean out. Would 10/10 recommend.
Patrick W. Clyborne, LMTPatrick W. Clyborne, LMT
18:51 17 Oct 22
Stephen came out today to do a flood inspection. He cleared the drains in our bathrooms, flushed our water heater and fixed the plumbing under our kitchen sink. Now, everything flows beautifully. He did a great job and is a valuable asset to the company.
Tracy JordanTracy Jordan
22:51 13 Oct 22
I was having issues with my ac unit and I was shopping around, but received no reply. Idecided to call Goettl just because. When Goettl came out, we felt we were in good hands right away. When Josh came out he was knowledgeable, professional and straightforward. He was also very personable and showed great pride in his company. We felt he was very truthful and that is hard to find if you don’t believe in your product and know you work for a reputable company.Goettl walked us through what we needed. Victor was extremely helpful in financing our purchase. Ryan, Alton and Marcus came out to install did a great job. They were respectful of my nephew and I who work at home, and worked so hard… especially in the attic and on the roof where I know it was over 100+ degrees up there and in the 90s on the roof. Ryan and his crew were very professional and showed great pride in what they do for the company and provided awesome customer service. I would definitely recommend this service to anyone and everyone who asks about my new ac unit.
Nicole QuinnNicole Quinn
00:30 01 Sep 22
We already had 3 quotes on a much needed full replacement of our two A/C units and exchange units. We decided to call Goettl just because.When Q came out, we felt we were in good hands right away. He was knowledgeable, professional and straightforward. He was also very personable and showed great pride in his company. We felt he was very truthful and that is hard to find if you don’t believe in your product and know you work for a reputable company.Q walked us through what we needed. Tyler was extremely helpful in financing our purchase. Dustin and his crew who came out to install did a great job. They were respectful of my son and I who work at home, and worked so hard… especially in the attic where I know it was over 100+ degrees up there.It’s only Day 1 with our new system, but we are very happy customers so far!
Charlie MitchellCharlie Mitchell
06:38 04 Apr 23
Goettl stands by their word to do the job the right way. They diagnosed our problem, and patiently worked with us to understand our options. Then they completed our very big job quickly.Mr. Franks was very responsive with questions and helpful in many ways. Joe and Jaren worked their tails off and were very professional and easy to talk to. The other guys that helped diagnose our issue were also good guys and knew their stuff.We would recommend Goettl to anyone who wants a company that stands by their word, and strives to do that.
Jack ChrisJack Chris
00:47 29 Mar 23
Once again Goettl is the best! I've had them come out before on a different property and was super impressed so I called them back again. Not the cheapest but definitely the best value. Hector Alvarez, the tech, was patient and answered all my questions (I had multiple issues). Cool guy even my baby pug loved him and was laying on his lap while he was working under the sink! So we got a hot water heater, a kitchen faucet, a toilet flapper, and a drain clear. All done quickly and professionally.
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