4 Reasons Your AC Unit Is Frequently Short-Cycling

Your AC typically runs in cooling cycles where the refrigerant absorbs heat and dissipates it outdoors as the compressor pumps and circulates it to the condenser. These cycles run moderately at regular intervals to achieve the set temperatures. However, your unit is likely short cycling if the appliance frequently starts up and shuts down prematurely. As a result, not only does your AC consume more energy, but it also experiences wear and tear, reducing its efficiency. Hiring an AC contractor is imperative in such cases to resolve the problem and facilitate peak functionality. The following are reasons your AC is short-cycling:

An Oversized AC Unit

A properly-sized AC generally undergoes full cooling cycles to cool your home. Conversely, if your cooling appliance is too big for your residential home, it blasts the cold air too fast and immediately shuts down. This results in uneven air temperature distribution and high energy usage, which spikes your electricity bills. Therefore, you should engage an AC technician to get the correct size of AC. They calculate your house's square footage to determine the optimal appliance for your home's capacity and cooling requirement.

Leaking Refrigerant

The Freon circulates in a closed-loop system from the coils to the outdoor unit and provides a cooling effect. Accordingly, if the refrigerant levels are low, it is ineffective in absorbing heat from the air, causing your system to work too hard to cool your home. In addition, the low-pressure switch is triggered when the refrigerant levels fall below a specific point, turning your appliance's compressor off. Unfortunately, this results in the system repeatedly turning on and off. Nonetheless, an AC expert can examine the coolant lines, spot and patch the leak, and regas your air conditioner.

Clogged Air Filters

Air filters clean the air, removing dirt, dust, and debris for a fresh air supply. However, the air filters might clog with contaminants, restricting airflow. This results in the compressor and the fan motor overworking to draw sufficient air, causing them to overheat. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, your AC will switch off before completing a full cycle to prevent overheating. To address this issue, it is essential that an AC expert regularly cleans or replaces the filters for proper airflow into the system.

Non-optimal Thermostat Placement

If you place your thermostat near a heating source or a location experiencing constant temperature fluctuations, it may erroneously detect these temperatures and shut off. As a result, the room remains cold or too hot despite the thermostat achieving the set temperature. As such, it is important that a technician relocates and shields the thermostat to avoid it from triggering the AC at inopportune times.

Short-cycling inevitably causes your AC to draw too much power as it is trapped in a continual start-up process. Therefore, you should hire an air conditioning repair contractor to routinely service your unit and determine potential issues before they cause your unit to turn on and off frequently.