You rely on your AC during the hot summer months to keep your home cool and comfortable. One of the most common problems property owners experience with their cooling system during the warmer weather is short cycling. If you have noticed that your cooling unit is turning on and off regularly, and the temperature inside is fluctuating and not as cool as you would like, the most likely culprit is short cycling. Short cycling not only costs you more of your hard-earned cash due to increased energy bills. It can also lead to premature replacement of your AC unit. In most cases, your air conditioner will require professional repairs from your experienced Hal Mechanical air conditioning experts.
What is Considered Short Cycling?
HVAC professionals use the expression short-cycling to describe an air conditioner stuck in the start-up mode and turns on and off without completing the cooling process in its entirety. When your AC is working correctly, it will power the compressor and operate until the thermostat reaches the temperature pre-set at the thermostat. Once this temperature is reached, your AC will begin to power down. When the system is short-cycling, the process fails when the compressor stops suddenly before the cooling cycle has ended. Your compressor has to work much harder than is necessary to get the job done.
What Causes AC Short-Cycling?
Several things can cause short cycling, including a clogged air filter, an undersized or oversized air conditioning unit, low refrigerant often caused by leaks, air escaping through a leak in the ventilation system, and miscalibrated thermostats that read incorrect temperatures. On the bright side, some of the necessary repairs are simple and inexpensive to remedy, such as a clogged air filter. Your filter should be changed for optimal performance every 1-3 months to keep your air conditioning unit working properly. A dirty and clogged filter can cause short cycling and affect the operation of your air conditioner in other ways. If your HVAC unit is too big or too small, for that matter, your cooling system will need to be replaced with one that is the correct size for your home.
Is Short Cycling Bad for an Air Conditioner?
HVAC professionals understand that short-cycling is a symptom and a contributing factor to several other AC problems. Every time the compressor starts up; it draws a large amount of energy to keep it constantly running. As a result, the compressor experiences a large amount of unnecessary wear and tear than during regular operation. The perpetual stress can cause your unit to overheat and eventually burn itself out. The cost to replace a burnt-out compressor can be substantial; depending on the age of your HVAC unit, your Hal Mechanical technician may recommend a complete replacement.
Central Air Conditioner Tune Up Maintenance, Repair & More in Aliante, Anthem, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Enterprise, Green Valley Ranch, Henderson, Inspirada, Mountain’s Edge, North LV, Peccole Ranch, Paradise, Providence, Rhodes Ranch, Seven Hills, Silverado Ranch, Spring Valley, Summerlin, Sunrise Manor, The Lakes, Tuscany Village & Las Vegas Nevada
Invest in professional maintenance and repairs to prevent issues with short cycling. Regularly scheduled maintenance will keep your HVAC unit operating properly and prevent serious problems from occurring by maintaining and performing minor repairs before they turn into expensive replacements. To learn more about professional HVAC maintenance, repairs, and new installations, at Hal Mechanical today.
