Your air conditioner runs in cycles. The thermostat calls for cooling, the compressor kicks on, and the system runs for a little while before shutting off to wait for the next call for cooling. This should only be happening three or four times an hour. But sometimes it happens much too frequently. It could even be every three or four minutes! What’s going on?
This is called short cycling. It’s a symptom of a variety of potential root issues with your air conditioner. It will also be the cause of other problems if you don’t get it repaired promptly! Why is your AC short cycling? What should you do about it? How can you make sure it won’t happen again? We’ve got the info you need.
What Causes Short Cycling?
There’s a component in your air conditioner called the limit switch. It has the very important job of recognizing a serious problem—overheating—and shutting the system down completely when it occurs. Once shut down, the system is able to cool off. In a few minutes, when it’s no longer too hot, it will turn on again. But if the overheating keeps happening, it keeps shutting down!
Overheating can have many contributing factors. Too much friction in moving parts causes heat, so a lack of lubrication, grit between components, or worn-out bearings in the motor could be causing enough friction to generate this heat. Electrical issues can also cause a lot of heat. And so can a lack of airflow, which could be caused by a clogged, dusty air filter.
Why Is Short Cycling Bad?
First, any amount of short cycling is bad for the distribution of your cooled air. If your AC is only creating a moment’s worth of cool air, it won’t have a chance to spread throughout your house before the system shuts down.
Then, continued short cycling means the startup portion of the cycle is happening much, much more frequently than it should. Since this is the stage in the cycle that uses by far the most energy, going through it so often will drive up your electric bill by a staggering amount. And the startup also demands a lot from the compressor. Constant startups will shorten the life of this critical, costly component.
What to Do About Short Cycling
The first step to take is quick and easy, and you can do it yourself. Change the air filter! There’s a chance that your only problem is a lack of airflow because of a dusty clog at that point in the system. If it’s disposable, put in a new one. If it’s reusable, wash it, dry it, and put it back in place. If that solves your problem, hooray! But if not, it’s time for professional help.
When you get air conditioning service in Lubbock, TX, your technician can determine the exact source of the short cycling. They can clean away grime, replace worn bearings, add lubricant, or resolve electrical wiring problems so that your AC system will be back to proper functioning in no time.
Preventing Future Short Cycling
Maintenance is the #1 way to avoid this problem. During maintenance, all components (like those motor bearings and electrical wires) are checked and tested. Every piece of the system is thoroughly cleaned. Moving parts receive a fresh helping of lubricant. The best way to stop overheating is to have your system working so well it never even starts to overheat.
JD’s Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning serves the Lubbock area. Contact us for all your air conditioning needs.