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Glossary

Short cycling

Short cycling is when heating or cooling equipment turns on and off too frequently — often from oversizing, airflow restriction, control faults, or a thermostat that never lets the system complete a healthy run cycle.

Pittsburgh note

In humid Pittsburgh summers, short-cycling cooling is a common reason the thermostat is “satisfied” while the house still feels sticky.

Why it matters

Short cycling increases wear, hurts humidity control, and can leave rooms uncomfortable even when the thermostat reads the target temperature.

What to investigate first

Do not start with a bigger unit. Check sizing assumptions, filter restriction, return paths, and whether the equipment is fighting the house’s distribution limits.

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