Why Short-Cycling Harms Your Air Conditioner
An air conditioner’s compressor does not run continuously. Typically a compressor runs the cooling cycle for 10 to 20 minutes, and when the required room temperature is gained, stops for a few minutes. The air conditioner repeats two to three cooling cycles every hour.
When your compressor runs frequently for less than 10 minutes, it is called short cycling. Short cycling affects the effectiveness of the unit and can negatively affect room temperature control.
Short cycling has several other impacts on your air conditioner. Frequent short cycling can harm the air conditioner and lead to expensive AC repair Tampa.
Consequences of AC short cycling
Commonly, there are three main consequences of AC short cycling. If your air conditioner turns off too often, the following problems will occur:
Constant AC repairs
Frequent short cycling raises the frequency and cost of AC repairs in Tampa. If your air conditioner turns off frequently, it can lead to premature damage on the unit. Wear and tear due to short cycling will need more frequent repairs, and repair costs will increase with time.
Increased electricity bills
An air conditioner that short cycles frequently takes longer to meet room temperature requirements. As a result, your air conditioner will consume more electricity. Thus, short cycling will increase your utility bills. Therefore, you will need an HVAC company in Tampa, like Aceme Electrical Service, for repairs and to reduce excessive electricity consumption.
Reduced AC lifespan
Frequent short cycling will ultimately reduce the lifespan of your air conditioning unit. This is due to short cycling shutting down the air conditioner frequently, leading to severe failure. Severe damage can reduce the AC unit’s life and lead to early air conditioner replacement.
Causes of air conditioning short cycling
You can get rid of short cycling by scheduling an AC repair in Tampa, but you should be aware of the following causes to prevent the situation from repeating:
Incorrect HVAC size
If you invest in an oversized AC unit, the cooling cycle may be less than 10 minutes. Premature cooling will cause frequent short cycling. You will need a reliable HVAC company in Tampa, like Acme Electrical Service, to find the correct cooling system size for your needs.
Faulty AC thermostat
Simple setting mistakes like switching the fan to ON mode instead of Auto can also cause short cycling. In addition, a defective thermostat is not able to read room temperature accurately, and inaccurate readings lead to short cycling.
AC needs to be cleaned
The HVAC may also short cycle when your air conditioner is dirty and the air filter is clogged. This is due to dirt, debris, and other particles blocking the cooling process which turns OFF the compressor.
You should get your air conditioner cleaned annually by our reputed HVAC company in Tampa. In addition, you should replace the air filter every 90 days to avoid clogging.
Not enough coolant
When your air conditioner lacks refrigerant the compressor may stop functioning effectively. Therefore, your air conditioner short cycles. You can address coolant levels by contacting our HVAC companies Tampa for a coolant recharge.
Circuit breaker issue
An overloaded circuit and faulty electrical connections can also cause this compressor failure. As a result, AC short cycling becomes a frequent problem.
Contact an HVAC company in Tampa to fix short-cycling issues
You can try to fix the short cycling issue on your own by replacing the air filter, recalibrating the thermostat, restarting the circuit breaker, and cleaning the air conditioner/filters. If these solutions don't work, contact Acme Electrical Service for further assistance.
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