Why Does my Furnace Keep Turning On and Off?

You set the thermostat to keep your home a comfortable consistent temperature. To maintain that temperature, your furnace automatically turns on when indoor temperatures drop below the thermostat setting and turn off when the desired temperature is reached. If properly functioning, your furnace will do this no more than six times an hour. So what’s going on if your furnace is cycling on and off more frequently?

Common Furnace Problems

There are a number of reasons that your furnace may turn on and off frequently, such as:

  • Broken thermostat - if the thing that’s supposed to be gauging the indoor temperature isn’t working properly, your furnace may “think” your home is cold when it’s not.
  • Poor ventilation - insufficient airflow may be caused by a clogged air filter or by dirty or damaged air ducts.
  • Wrong-sized ductwork - if you replaced a furnace but did not make any alterations to your ductwork, it’s possible that the ducts are too big or too small for the furnace unit.
  • Broken flame sensors - (only on gas furnaces)

Diagnosing the problem is the first step to providing quality repairs, which may be as simple as changing the air filter (this should be done every year before starting up your furnace for the season).

How to Fix Your Furnace Problem

Fixing your cycling furnace is easy, contact R & R Heating & Air. Our licensed HVAC technicians have the knowledge, skills and technology to find the problem and fix it fast.

For your safety and that of your home and loved ones, do not attempt furnace repairs on your own. Furnaces can release toxic gases (e.g. carbon monoxide) that can be life threatening. Wait for the professionals to arrive.