The average cycle for your heat pump in Surry, VA, should last 10 to 15 minutes for two to three times an hour. Sometimes, though, heat pumps can shut down well before the 10-minute mark and turn on again several minutes later. Short cycling, or a rapid turning on and off, can indicate obstructions to airflow, bad thermostat sensors or an oversized heat pump.
Clogged Air Filter
Air filters keep dirt and dust from wreaking havoc in the air handler, but after just a few months, they clog and pose an obstacle to airflow. This puts stress on the blower motor, raises the system’s internal temperature and leads to a premature shutdown.
Obstructions in the Supply Vents
It’s not just a dirty filter that can obstruct airflow and cause overheating. It could be something as simple as a rug or piece of furniture covering some of your supply vents. Make sure the vents are all open, even in unoccupied or unused rooms.
Faulty Thermostat Sensors
A heat pump doesn’t turn off unless the thermostat tells it to, and if the thermostat’s sensor reads the temperature as lower than it is, the system will turn off sooner than you want. As a part of yearly maintenance, we can clean the thermostat and calibrate the sensors for you.
Oversized Heat Pump
Lastly, oversized heat pumps will short cycle because of their excessive blowing capacity. If you have an oversized heat pump, you may notice that the air blows out too strongly and there are temperature differences between rooms. Replacing an oversized system would be the only solution.
Kearney & Sons has NATE-certified service technicians who can repair your short-cycling heat pump, so call us today for an appointment in Surry, VA. We’re available 24/7 in case of emergencies, and no make or model is foreign to us.
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