Your air conditioner should run two or three cooling cycles each hour that last 10 to 15 minutes. You may find that your system runs shorter cycles, known as short-cycling, increasing energy consumption and operational strain in your Titus, AL, home. Consider these four common causes of a short-cycling AC system and how you can prevent them:
Oversized AC System
Larger air conditioners aren’t necessarily better for your home, despite their extra cooling capacity. When the system is too large, it’ll get too cold, causing it to freeze and short-cycle. To prevent this, work with a trusted installer who understands how to properly size an AC system for your individual home.
Dirty Air Filter
An air filter protects your HVAC system from contaminants floating in your house’s air. If your air filter becomes clogged, it prevents air from flowing into the HVAC system, resulting in stress and strain. This leads to excessive pressure in the system, tripping safety switches and causing short-cycling.
Refrigerant Leak
Your air conditioner uses refrigerant to absorb and then vent heat from the air circulating through the system. Too little refrigerant in the system causes frozen coils, triggering it to shut down. Attempting to run the system with too little refrigerant can burn out the compressor, leading to expensive AC repairs.
Mechanical Issue
Some mechanical problems may also cause your air conditioner to short-cycle. The biggest issue is a compressor problem, which prevents the system from pressurizing properly. This leaves too much heat in the refrigerant, triggering safety switches.
Additionally, you may have a faulty low pressure control switch. This safety shuts the system down if the refrigerant is too low to protect the compressor.
The best way to prevent short-cycling is to properly maintain your air conditioner. Call to schedule your AC maintenance with our NATE-Certified service technicians at Air Conditioning by Luquire.
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