One of the most annoying things to happen with your HVAC system is to have a problem with it always short cycling. But the funny thing is that the reason for a short cycling HVAC system might be due to your thermostat. Let’s look at some of the reasons why your thermostat might be causing short cycling.
Loose Wiring
One of the biggest reasons why your thermostat might be causing your HVAC system to short cycle is due to loose wiring. When your thermostat’s wiring is loose, it can cause your HVAC system to keep switching off and on in irregular but rapid intervals.
It’s an Old Thermostat
Another reason why your thermostat might be causing the short cycling of the HVAC systems is that you still have an older style of a thermostat. The newer thermostats are much more intuitive, and they can also be programmed so that they come on at certain times of the day. So if you have not changed your thermostat for a while, it’s a good idea to upgrade your thermostat to one of the newer models.
It’s the Thermostat’s Placement
The biggest reason that a thermostat will cause an HVAC system to short cycle is because of where the thermostat is located in the house. Let’s look at some of the common places where a thermostat is that can cause a problem:
- Close to/In Front of a Window – When the thermostat is near a window, this can cause short cycling. In the summer, the sun shining in the window makes the thermostat believe that it’s hotter than it is. So, the air conditioning will kick on and the house is chillier. The same thing goes for the winter. Unfortunately, it means that the heat isn’t going to come on, so the house is colder when you want it to be warm.
- Close to Heat Generating Appliances/Vents – Another reason that your HVAC system may be short cycling is that that your thermostat is near a heat-generating appliance or vent. This also will make the thermostat read the temperature incorrectly, making your house seem as if it’s too hot or too cold for the air conditioning or heat to turn on.
As you can see, where your thermostat has been placed can make a huge difference in the way that the temperature of your house is being read. If you have had new windows or another type of remodeling done on your home, it may be time to move your thermostat.
These are just three of the ways that your thermostat can cause your HVAC system to short cycle. Before you have anything else checked, look at your thermostat and see if it’s possibly old, in a bad location, or has loose wiring. It may just be the answer you’re looking for. You can also reach out to our furnace repair experts to learn more.
