Each time your air conditioner turns on, it should run for several minutes before turning off again. The complete process is called a cooling cycle, and it’s important to how your HVAC system provides comfortable indoor temperatures. So if you’ve noticed your AC keeps shutting off, comfort can be more difficult to maintain.
There are several reasons why your air conditioner keeps turning off, but one of the most common culprits is short cycling. This aggravating HVAC problem involves cooling cycles that aren’t long enough to make effective use of your air conditioner. It may keep switching off before your home has a chance to cool down. We’ll review a few details of what short cycling is and where it starts. Then, we’ll share a few more separate reasons your cooling equipment keeps turning off.
Your Air Conditioner Could Be Short Cycling
When an air conditioner short cycles, it turns off before reaching the desired temperature. It may not be long before the thermostat realizes this and instructs the AC to turn on again. But since there’s a problem, the air conditioner will continue to short cycle. This can extend the time needed to cool your home while putting extra strain on key components. If left alone too long, short cycling could even lead to premature system failure.
5 Problems That Can Lead to Your Air Conditioner Short Cycling
Another annoying aspect of short cycling is the number of possible causes. In general, a lot of short-cycling issues can be traced back to overheating. But the excess heat could just be the symptom of another unknown problem. During air conditioner repair, a technician will look for a few of the most common things to start narrowing down the root cause.
- Overheating: Excessive heat can ruin components inside your air conditioner. Safety features should detect overheating and shut the AC off to protect key parts. But if the original problem hasn’t been addressed, this process just starts over again.
- Poor Airflow: Your HVAC system requires enough airflow to run at safe, optimal temperatures. When the air filter or ductwork is clogged, poor circulation can47] lead to overheating, which means short cycling.
- Wrong AC Sizing: HVAC equipment should be appropriately “sized” for your home. This means that the power of your air conditioner matches the cooling needs of your home. An air conditioning system that’s too big will pump out cool air too quickly, tricking the system into switching off early before the entire house is cooled down.
- Dirty Condenser Coils: This component dissipates the heat collected from inside your home. When the coils are too dirty, this heat can end up in the air conditioner. The high levels of heat may be enough to trigger a premature shutdown.
- Thermostat location: The thermostat should be in a central location away from a vent or the HVAC equipment itself. This ensures each room of the house has cooling for long enough to reach the set temperature. Keeping your thermostat too close to cool air can fool it into thinking the temperature has been reached earlier.
Short cycling is an annoying problem ideal for the tools and knowledge of a professional technician. But there are still other reasons your air conditioner might be shutting off unexpectedly. Let’s take a look.
Some Other Reasons Your AC Keeps Switching Off
Electrical Malfunction: Any number of malfunctions with the wiring or an electrical switch might lead to a steady stream of shutdowns. Maybe the wiring is old or damaged, but electrical problems may need professional care for a prompt, safe solution.
Compressor Failure: This vital component applies pressure to force heat out of the refrigerant before it’s expelled from your home. When the component fails, a safety switch will recognize the pressure change and direct the air conditioner to shut off.
Refrigerant Leak: Your refrigerant holds and releases heat, making it one of the most important parts in your HVAC system. A leak can be catastrophic, as the coils designed to hold the coolant are expensive to replace. It’s important to move quickly if you suspect a leak to prevent premature air conditioning replacement.
Clogged Condensate Line: When humidity is condensed into moisture during the cooling process, the condensate line safely drains it away. When the line or drain pan is clogged up, a float switch stops the AC before half of it is running underwater.
H2: Stop Short Cycling in Its Tracks with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
If your air conditioner is short cycling, call a professional technician with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. They can quickly uncover the root cause, working toward a solution that protects the rest of your HVAC system from the wear and tear of short cycling. To schedule an appointment or request an appointment, call 561-629-1826 today.