On average, furnaces should kick on and turn off anywhere from three to eight times per hour. However, if your furnace turns on and off more frequently, don't assume the furnace is short cycling just yet.
When your furnace is trying to regulate the temperature in your home it will have to turn on and off regularly. On average this cycling should occur anywhere from three to eight times an hour. There are many factors at play that determine how often your furnace will cycle in the winter.
Each furnace's “normal” heating cycle run time differs based on the size and type of furnace, your home's square footage, and the desired indoor temperature. Furnaces typically run for about 10 to 15 minutes in moderate weather. Extreme cold can result in longer cycle times.
With an effective air delivery system and a well-insulated home, this should be long enough to establish your preferred temperature throughout the building. After resting for approximately five to 10 minutes, your furnace will likely cycle on again.
During an average heating cycle, a furnace should operate for 10-15 minutes. If you're wondering how often furnaces cycle, the answer is: it depends. Furnaces in homes with average insulation might run two to three cycles per hour to heat the living space properly.
Short Cycling Causes
Here are a few problems that may cause furnace short cycling: Air Filters – Severely dirty air filters may cause this issue because they restrict the airflow to your system. Replace the filter and set a reminder to do this regularly. Blocked Vents & Registers – This is another easy fix you can try.
One of the most common complaints among homeowners who possess a furnace is that their unit runs continuously. Unless you also have a heat pump (which can cause your unit to run frequently to maintain a set temperature during extremely cold weather), your furnace should cycle on and off at regular intervals.
If your furnace turns on, and off, and back on again in a seemingly endless loop, you're experiencing short cycling. Essentially, short cycling occurs when the system cannot complete a full heating cycle. There's no one cause of short cycling, but with some troubleshooting you can get to the bottom of the issue.
If someone is at home in the daytime, 72° F (22° C) is a good start, but aim for 68° F (20° C). If everyone is away from home in the daytime or you're asleep at night, we feel 66° F (19° C) to 62° F (17° C) is best.
HVAC maintenance companies explain that a furnace will normally perform an average of two to three cycles in an hour, with each cycle lasting 10 to 15 minutes. But to keep temperatures at a comfortable level during cold weather, a furnace might need to increase this range to three to 10 cycles.
It's common for your furnace to kick on more frequently in cold weather. While it's okay if your furnace cycles on and off several times every hour, it shouldn't cycle on and off more than 8-10 times. If it does, this is known as short cycling, and it's a sign that something in your heating system needs to be fixed.
While it should cycle throughout the day, clicking on too frequently may indicate a problem. Homeowners often find themselves wondering, "How often should my furnace cycle?" The answer lies in a gray area. On average, furnaces should kick on and turn off anywhere from three to eight times per hour.
Dirty Air Filters
So, the furnace is triggered to stop, then it cools down only to fire back up again. This short cycling continues to repeat until the furnace receives the airflow it needs. Dirty air filters are one of the most common reasons behind furnace short cycling.
Industry research shows some expected time frames for how long a furnace runs during a particular cycle. Running 10 to 15 minutes per cycle seems acceptable. So is running as long as 20 minutes. Even running every seven or eight minutes may not be a problem, as other factors could lead to more frequent cycling.
Most furnaces will turn on and run for several minutes before reaching the desired temperature and shutting back down. This can happen anywhere from three to eight times an hour, depending on the condition of the furnace and the outdoor temperatures.
A range of 68-70 is the best setting in winter if you want to save money because your furnace or heat pump doesn't have to work as hard as it does to reach a higher set temperature. The DOE says the smaller the difference is between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the more you can save.
68 to 72 degrees is a temperature range that is not too warm or cool, and is sufficient enough to warm up the home just enough so that everyone is comfortable regardless of the type of clothing they have on.
To save money, aim to have your temperature set around 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home and awake. This is a comfortable temperature for most with the help of a light sweater. Overnight and when you're out, around 64 degrees Fahrenheit will keep your home at a good temperature.
Thermostat Auto Mode
Whenever your thermostat reads that the actual temperature inside of your home is above 78 degrees, it will automatically turn on your air conditioning system.
A furnace cycling on and off repeatedly can be caused by various reasons, from dirty filters and obstructions in ducts and registers to incorrect thermostat settings and faulty limit switches. By following the steps above, you can help prevent your furnace from cycling too frequently and save energy costs.
Your thermostat could also cause the HVAC system to cycle on and off rapidly, a process known as short cycling. Your furnace or central air conditioner spends a good amount of energy simply turning on and off, which is why you want yours to run for at least 15 minutes at a time before shutting off.
There are four common reasons why a furnace would short cycle; It has a dirty air filter inhibiting airflow to your blower motor, your thermostat is malfunctioning, you have poor insulation, or your furnace is oversized.
During the frigid cold temperatures, set your thermostat on a permanent HOLD around 70 degrees until the weather warms back up to normal temperatures for this season. When temperatures drop below zero or even below freezing for extended periods of time, sometimes your furnace can't keep up.
It isn't bad to run your heating system on a 24/7 basis if outdoor weather conditions demand indoor warmth. For many households, maintaining a constant indoor temperature is the only way to survive the winter. Just be aware that this is likely to cause additional wear and tear on your heating system.
During extremely cold weather, some furnaces might not be able to bring a home up to its desired temperature level. Instead of cranking up your thermostat (which won't help the matter), try wearing warmer clothes and blankets around the house to stay warm. Keep vents clear in high efficiency furnaces.