-The Furnace Turns On Too Frequently
When your gas furnace turns on and off too frequently, the problem is often with your thermostat. For information on repairing or replacing your thermostat, check out the page titled:
“Troubleshooting Your Gas Thermostat”
If you have an electric-resistance furnace or heat pump that is cycling on and off too frequently, the problem could be caused by mechanical problems which are overheating the unit. The most common causes of overheating are a clogged filter or the blower is malfunctioning.
1. Replace the air filters with new clean air filters. Take a few minutes to vacuum around the unit when you do this.
2. Oil the blower motor lubrication points (usually located at each end of the fan shaft) with lightweight motor oil. Caution: Do not spray oil all over the fan. The oil odor will be circulated throughout the house and won’t help the fan operate any better.
3. Check your fan belts. The tension needs to be such that the belt deflect about 1″ at the center of of the span. Tighten them if they are loose. Replace them if they look worn or are frayed.
4. Check the thermostat. The thermostat has a couple of devices that tell the furnace when to turn on and when to turn off. If the bi-metallic coil or the temperature anticipator are not functioning correctly, they may need to be cleaned or replaced.
Finally:
Either it is very cold outside or you forgot to close the doors and windows – believe it or not, some folks have an open door or window close to the thermostat and that makes the system work too hard.
