I have an 80% efficiency forced air furnace. I think it is oversized for the temperatures I keep my townhouse at. When we had single digits in NJ it was still cycling 6 times per hour and I don't know if it even made it to
2nd stage by running 15 minutes or longer. I changed the setting on my Honeywell thermostat to 3 times per hour. That way, there are only 3 start-ups per hour. Even at 3 times per hour I don't even think it made it to 2nd stage on those really cold days, except in the morning when the thermostat setting went up by a degree.I like 3 times per hour, because it seems to me that only 3 start-ups per hour would be less wear and tear. Just was wondering if there is any harm in 3 times per hour versus 6 times per hour for an 80% furnace? Would the longer running time (mostly in stage 1) be causing more wear and tear on the burner or heat exchanger, or not?
Thanks,
J.