If you’ve ever seen your air conditioning system switching on and off by itself, you might be struggling with short cycling, a typical occurrence that can cause your Ac system to break down long before it becomes due for repair. While this is a frequent air conditioning issue that many homes have, it may quickly escalate into a pricey repair if not detected and addressed promptly. Here are a few of the most typical causes of short cycling, as well as some fast remedies you can try before calling a reputable air conditioning company.
You might be wondering what short cycling is, so we’ll go over that in this post, along with how to deal with it right immediately.
What is Short Cycling?
When your air conditioner struggles to chill your home because it constantly switches in small bursts, this is known as short cycling. Such short cycles will make it difficult for your home to keep cool while increasing your energy costs. Short cycling can put a lot of strain on your unit and lead it to break down altogether if it isn’t rectified promptly.
On a hot day, typical air conditioners will run through three cooling cycles in an hour, each lasting nearly ten minutes. This implies that perhaps the compressor, which pressures and pumps the refrigerant through the condenser and other sections of the AC system, will operate for 10 min, then halt for 10 min before repeating the cycle two more times per hour.
Short cycling occurs whenever the cooling cycle is cut short, typically less than 10 minutes, forcing the compressor to cycle on and off more frequently than usual. Frequent halting and restarting wear down the compressor and reduces the cooling pleasure in your house.
What Causes Short Cycling?
Short cycling is frequently caused by blocked air filters in HVAC systems, resulting in a myriad of issues, including short cycling. This is a quick and straightforward remedy, though. You can solve this by simply getting a new and efficient HVAC system and swapping out the blocked filter.
Short cycling is caused by a variety of factors, including thermostat dysfunction. Whenever your home’s thermostat starts to generate phantom signals, for example, your air conditioner will switch on and off quickly. Replacing the thermostat is the best approach to solve the problem. If you have an older thermostat, now is an excellent time to replace it with a more energy-efficient model. Another principal problem of short cycling is the depletion of coolant. When the compressor in your air conditioner has problems discharging or accumulating heat through its many coils, it can break unexpectedly.
Another point to consider is that short cycling is a sign of an excessive air conditioning unit. Larger air conditioners can employ their additional capacity to chill indoor rooms quickly, but this comes at the expense of short-cycling, which keeps the temperature constant.
Finally, the low-pressure control switch that switches off the compressor whenever the quantity of gas in the air conditioner drops under a certain level can be a source of short cycling. This switch, like every other part of your air conditioning system, might wear down over time. It can cause short cycling effects in the remainder of your air conditioning unit when and if it breaks.
So, what do you do when short cycling occurs? This question leads us to the article’s second main point:
How To Deal With Your AC Short Cycling The Right Way
There are many options for dealing with your air conditioner’s short cycling problems, and we’ve compiled a list of some that can help you address them right now.
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Make sure your air filter is clean:
Trust it or not, a blocked air filter can create a slew of problems with your air conditioner. If your air filter is slathered with dust and dirt, it’s time to replace it.
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Check the location of your thermostat:
Installing your thermostat on the interior wall of your house in a centralized spot is useful. Ensure your thermostat isn’t too near to the air intake sensor so it wouldn’t get misled by the cool air and give false signals.
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Examine the refrigerant levels in your air conditioner:
A certified professional should inspect the levels and, if required, add extra coolant. Your HVAC specialist will detect any leakage in the air conditioning system.
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The low-pressure control switch should be replaced:
If brief cycling persists after verifying all of the above, have your HVAC specialist replace this device with a new one.
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Check the compressor to ensure you have an effective HVAC system:
A failing compressor can cause short cycling symptoms, so have your HVAC specialist inspect it and, if required, replace it with an effective HVAC system.
However, if your air conditioner continues to short cycle or if some of the other difficulties stated above persist, the professional assistance of a certified technician is essential.
