Short heating bursts are commonly linked to temperature feedback problems. If the boiler or thermostat receives misleading information, it shuts the system down early. This can happen when the thermostat is placed in a room that heats faster than the rest of the house.
Flow issues can also create this effect. If radiators lose heat quickly after the boiler switches off, warmth never accumulates properly. That behaviour is explained further in why radiators lose heat quickly, which often overlaps with short-cycle heating.
Heat loss compounds the issue. Homes that cool rapidly between cycles force the boiler to restart repeatedly without ever reaching stable comfort. Using the diagnostic page helps identify whether this is primarily a control issue or a heat-retention problem.
Fixing burst-style heating usually involves improving heat delivery and retention rather than adjusting timers alone. The wider context for this sits within the complete warmth guide.