24/7 Emergency Line 403-307-4642
Urgent Address this within 24–48 hours to prevent further damage.
HeatingGas Fitting Ticketed Gas Fitter Required

Furnace turns on and off too frequently (short cycling)

Common Causes

  1. Clogged air filter causing heat exchanger overheating (most common)
  2. Oversized furnace — common after replacement with incorrectly sized unit
  3. Cracked heat exchanger (serious — produces CO, requires replacement)
  4. Flame sensor needs cleaning (causes burner to fire and shut off within seconds)
  5. Faulty high-limit switch
  6. Blocked condensate drain (high-efficiency furnaces)
Licensed professional required. Do not attempt this yourself — improper work can cause injury, property damage, or void your insurance.

When to Call a Pro

  • Furnace is cycling on and off more than 6-8 times per hour
  • Furnace is short cycling even with a clean filter installed
  • Home is not reaching the thermostat set point
  • You notice a burning smell when the furnace runs

Alberta Gas Fitting Regulations

All gas line and appliance work in Alberta must be performed by a holder of a valid Gas Fitting Certificate issued under the Safety Codes Act. Unlicensed gas work is illegal and voids home insurance.

As ticketed journeyperson plumbers, we hold gas fitting certification — one call covers both trades. We serve Innisfail, Red Deer County, and all of Central Alberta.

Alberta Context

Many Central Alberta homeowners upgrade from a 60-70% AFUE furnace to a 96% AFUE unit and notice short cycling. This can occur if the new furnace was not right-sized using Manual J calculation — a smaller, more efficient furnace produces less heat per cycle and the previous oversized unit "masked" the short-cycling with sheer output. Always request a load calculation when replacing a furnace.