Short Cycling Is a Serious Issue (for ACs and Heaters Alike!)

There are some HVAC problems that are bad news across the board. Short cycling is one of the most common issues that homeowners may encounter with their heating and/or air conditioning systems. It is also one of the most problematic. Not only does short cycling have a number of potential causes, but it can also negatively affect your equipment and your comfort in a number of ways. That is why it is important to understand what short cycling is, as well as the ways in which the problem may be resolved.

What Causes Short Cycling, and What Are the Solutions?

Short cycling is the name for the problem in which a heater or AC starts up, only to cycle off again too quickly. This will happen before a full cooling or heating cycle is completed. Now, this may not sound all that serious to you, but the fact is that it has a number of damaging results. Your system will suffer an immense amount of wear and tear as it starts and stops constantly. You should also note that these systems use the most energy when starting up, as opposed to running continually. That can drive up your energy costs, in addition to increasing the risk of needing repairs.

So what causes the problem? Well, you could have a malfunctioning thermostat that is sending the wrong message to your system regarding the temperature in your home. It’s also possible that you’ve got a bad run capacitor, so your compressor cannot keep your air conditioner running reliably. Even dirty air filters could be responsible, restricting airflow to the point that ice builds up on an evaporator coil, insulating it and leading to overheating at the compressor.

As you can see, there are a lot of potential causes of the problem. Those mentioned above can be resolved by trained professionals, along with others, such as refrigerant leaks. However, if your system is too large for your that too can lead to short cycling. In such an event, replacing the system with an appropriately sized one is really the only option.

Schedule your HVAC services  with Goettl Air Conditioning in Tucson, AZ.