Does it ever seem like your air conditioner is turning on and off every few minutes? This is a common problem known as “short cycling,” and it can have all kinds of negative effects on your air conditioner and your home comfort levels. Today we’re going to talk about how air conditioner short cycling can occur and what you should do if it ever happens to your system!

What Is Air Conditioner Short Cycling?

Air conditioners naturally go through on and off cycles to maintain a specific temperature in your home. However, sometimes systems can go through fast and frequent cycles due to several possible factors. This is known as “short cycling.” If your air conditioner is short cycling, it can increase your energy bills, put your system through excess wear-and-tear and make it hard for your home to stay comfortable.

What Can Cause Air Conditioner Short Cycling?

  • Oversized system. One of the most common causes of short cycling is an improperly sized system. If your air conditioner is too powerful for your home, it will cool your home too quickly and turn on and off constantly. Short cycling like this often leads to big temperature swings in your home, in addition to frequent breakdowns and high energy bills.
  • Iced evaporator coils. Ice can build up on your evaporator coils for several reasons (which you can read about here). When this happens, it can cause a domino effect of problems that force your air conditioner to shut down soon after it turns on.
  • Clogged air filter. When your air filter is clogged, your air conditioner has to work harder to compensate for the loss of airflow. This puts excess pressure on a few of your air conditioner’s components (like the blower motor and compressor), which can cause them to overheat and make your air conditioner short cycle.
  • Low refrigerant. If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, your system will not be able to effectively cool your home. This is another issue that can put excess stress on various system components and result in short cycling.

What Should You Do If Your Air Conditioner Is Short Cycling?

If you suspect that your air conditioner is turning on and off too frequently, you can first check your air filter and, if it’s clogged, replace it with a new filter. Otherwise, give Jerry Kelly a call so that we can uncover the problem and make any necessary repairs. Short cycling can lead to long-term problems with your system, so it should be taken care of as soon as possible.

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If you have any questions about air conditioner short cycling, or if you’re looking to have an air conditioner serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly, your St. Charles, MO air conditioning contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Lake St. Louis, Manchester, and Maryland Heights. Give us call us anytime at 636-373-9220 or schedule an appointment online by clicking the button above.

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