How Often Should Furnace Cycle On And Off?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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On average, furnaces should kick on and turn off anywhere from

three to eight times per hour

. However, if your turns on and off more frequently, don't assume the furnace is short cycling just yet.

Why is my furnace kicking on every 10 minutes?

So, if your furnace keeps turning off and on too quickly,

your might be malfunctioning or broken

. There are several things that could be causing your thermostat to not work properly. The wiring could be old and need replacing, it might need new batteries, or it could be the location of your thermostat.

How often should your furnace kick on and off?

On average, furnaces should kick on and off anywhere from

3-8 times per hour

. However, if your furnace does so more frequently, don't assume it's short cycling just yet.

How long should a furnace run between cycles?

With all that being said, if there are no extreme factors involved, the average run time for a furnace is

10-15 minutes per cycle

. Your furnace may need to run two to three times an hour to maintain your desired temperature if your home has average insulation.

How do you know if your furnace is short cycling?


If your furnace turns on and off repeatedly for short bursts of time, not allowing the house to reach its proper temperature

, it is short-cycling. In other words, the heating cycle and the resting cycle are each too short for the furnace to accomplish anything.

What is considered short cycling for a furnace?

A furnace “short cycles”

when it turns off before reaching the desired temperature

. This means that if your thermostat is set to 72 degrees, the furnace may shut down at 65 or 68 degrees, but will never reach 72 degrees. Short cycling can also be used to describe a furnace that turns on and off too often.

How do I stop my furnace from short cycling?

How long should a furnace run daily?

The average run time for your home furnace is between

10 to 15 minutes per cycle

. Your furnace typically runs 2 to 3 cycles every hour to maintain your desired temperature.

How many times does a furnace cycle per hour?

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.

Is it normal for furnace to turn on and off?

When a furnace keeps turning on and off,

it is usually due to short cycling

. This is the term used to describe problems originating from within the heating system. If short cycling is not promptly diagnosed and corrected, it could cause permanent damage to your heating unit and higher utility bills.

Why does my furnace keep turning on and off?


Dirty Air Filter

The HVAC filter catches airborne dust, hair and other pollutants that could wreak havoc on furnace. If you don't change the filter regularly, it can get clogged and reduce the airflow. When this happens, a safety mechanism shuts off the furnace to avoid getting too hot.

Why is my furnace coming on every 5 minutes?


A dirty filter can cause the furnace to overheat

. Short cycle time: 2-5 minutes. The key is that the furnace shuts off before your home is warmed. You might also notice hot air (warmer than usual) coming out of your heat grates.

What is considered a furnace cycle?

Running and Cycles

Another way to describe “running” is “cycling,” a term that refers to

an on/off duration

. So, if someone sets the temperature to 65 degrees, the furnace may run a cycle for a set amount of time to reach 65 degrees and then shut off. When the furnace shuts off, expect the temperature to drop.

How do you fix short cycling?

  1. Check your air filter. Believe it or not, a clogged air filter can cause a wide variety of air conditioning issues. …
  2. Check your thermostat placement. …
  3. Check your air conditioner's refrigerant levels. …
  4. Replace the low-pressure control switch. …
  5. Check the compressor.

How often should furnace kick on in winter?

How Often Will a Furnace Turn On & Off in the Winter? 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.

Why does my furnace keep running?

When a furnace runs constantly, it probably means that

something is dirty or clogged

. The filter is the first thing you want to check, especially if you do not replace your filter as often as recommended (once a month during the heating season).

How long should a furnace take to warm up?

In general, your furnace will take

about an hour

to warm up your home by a few degrees. Although this depends on a home's size and the furnace's age, you should expect the temperature to feel slightly warmer after about 30-45 minutes.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.