If you’re noticing a sharp rise in the electric bill, it can be because of the air conditioner short cycling. In this article, I’ll tell you about what is air conditioner short cycling and the top 4 causes of it.
Air Conditioner Short Cycling
When your air conditioner turns on and off quickly, or something within the air conditioner system prevents your air conditioner from completing its full cycle is called air conditioner short cycling. Generally, the average AC cycle is 20 minutes. When your air conditioner has a short cycling problem, your air conditioner will become inefficient, air conditioner compressor motor will be damaged, and other components such as fan, motor, etc. will stop working.
Again, when your air conditioner has a short cycling problem, you won’t get the desired comfort from your air conditioner. Also, because of the short cycling problem, your air conditioner will consume more electricity, and you’ll notice a sharp rise in the electric bill.
Air conditioner short cycling can burn out the air conditioner compressor, and when this happens, you may have to replace the whole HVAC system. There’re a number of reasons why short-cycling occurs in the air conditioner. Now, I’ll tell you the reasons behind the air conditioner’s short cycling.
4 Causes of Air Conditioner Short Cycling
1. Oversized Air Conditioner
When your air conditioner is oversized, it’ll cool your house very quickly. After cooling your home, your air conditioner will shutdown automatically. Again, when your home gets warm, your air conditioner will start again, and after reaching the desired temperature, it’ll shut down. This process will continue, and meanwhile, it’ll consume more electricity. As a result, your electric bill will go up. Many homeowners in the US make the mistake of buying an oversized air conditioner for their home and office. But you should remember that bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to your air conditioner.
When you’re buying an air conditioner for your home and office, always consult with an HVAC professional. He or she will calculate the area of your space and recommend the perfect air conditioner size for your home and office.
2. Dirty Air Filter
Air filter blocks all the small particles and dust from entering your home and office. As it blocks all the small particles, it gets dirty often. When you have a dirty air filter, your air conditioner won’t be able to pull sufficient air from outside. As a result, your air conditioner will be overheated.
When your air conditioner is overheated, your air conditioner will shut down early, which is known as short cycling.To prevent this from happening, you should clean the air filter regularly. It’s recommended that you should clean the air filter every 60 to 90 days, depending on the air pollution in your area.
3. Air Conditioner Refrigerant Leak
Refrigerant plays a key role in cooling your space. When the air conditioner refrigerant level is low, your air conditioner won’t be able to cool your space properly. As a result, this inability to cool your space will put a lot of stress on other parts of your air conditioner. As a result, other parts of your air conditioner will have to work harder, and your air conditioner will have a short cycle.
If your air conditioner is frequently turning on and off then there’s a high chance that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leakage problem. Again, low refrigerant is a threat to your air conditioner compressor. So, as soon as you identify this problem, you should call an HVAC professional to refill the refrigerant of your air conditioner.
4. Thermostat Problem
If you have a faulty thermostat, it’ll cause air conditioner short cycling. A faulty thermostat will incorrectly read the temperature, and your air conditioner will turn on and off at the wrong time. Again, if you place the thermostat in a place where it gets direct sunlight, your thermostat will give wrong readings. As a result, air conditioner will go through short cycling.
To fix this problem, you should call an HVAC professional to check whether the thermostat is working properly or not. Also, you should place the thermostat in a place where it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
Conclusion
These are the four common air conditioner short cycling causes. Apart from these four causes, there can be other reasons for short cycling like electrical wire problem, frozen evaporator coil, heat pump problem, etc.
See the summary of this content here – 4 Causes of Air Conditioner Short Cycling [Infographic]
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