What might cause an oil burner to cycle frequently?

The frequent cycling of an oil burner can primarily be attributed to an improperly set thermostat or a malfunctioning control. When the thermostat is not calibrated correctly, it may inaccurately read the temperature in the space it is controlling. If it thinks that the temperature is too low, it may signal the burner to activate more often than necessary, leading to rapid on-and-off cycling.

Similarly, a malfunctioning control system can misinterpret information from the thermostat or fail to function correctly, resulting in the burner turning on and off frequently. In both cases, this erratic behavior can cause discomfort in the environment being heated, as well as unnecessary wear and tear on the burner components.

Other factors such as low oil levels may also affect burner operation, but they typically do not lead to frequent cycling in the way that thermostat issues do. Instead, low oil levels would generally result in the burner failing to operate correctly or not firing at all. This emphasizes the importance of proper settings and functioning of the thermostat and control mechanisms for the efficient operation of an oil burner.