Short Cycling: What it Means for Your AC
In our area, it is obviously incredibly important to have a great air conditioner that you can rely on in order to make it through the days not only comfortably, but safely as well. The heat is just too intense to take any chances with your air conditioner in Mesa, AZ. Considering all of the hard work that your air conditioner has to do each and every day, it should really come as no surprise to hear that it may encounter operational problems at some point.
If and when you do run into trouble with your air conditioner, remember that it is always in your best interest to schedule prompt, professional air conditioning repairs. The longer that you wait to have your system professionally repaired, the worse off it is likely to be. Never assume that you should just wait for the system to break down entirely before you bother to have it repaired. That will only lead to greater inconvenience.
What Is Short Cycling?
Short cycling is a situation in which your air conditioning system comes on, runs only for a short time, and cycles back down again, only to start back up and do the same. This is not the way that an AC is designed to operate. When functioning properly, your air conditioner should instead run in a complete cooling cycle, consistently.
Why Does This Happen?
There are a few reasons why an air conditioning system may short cycle, and they vary in degrees of seriousness. First and foremost, your air conditioner may actually be too big for your home. If it has always short cycled, it may just be bringing down the temperature too quickly. That may not sound that bad, but the problems discussed in the following section will help you to understand why it is undesirable.
If your air conditioner has only recently started short cycling, then it is possible that you just have a very dirty air filter in place. This can really reduce airflow throughout the system, which in turn can lead to the system overheating as it tries to cool the air. It can then shut down as a method of self-preservation.
More serious is the potential for refrigerant leaks. If your air conditioner is leaking refrigerant, then it is not going to be able to remove heat from the air passing over the evaporator successfully. Again, this can lead to overheating — but over time, can also lead to the complete failure of your system.
Why Is It a Problem?
In addition to the long term effects that something like a refrigerant leak can have on an AC, the issue of short cycling itself has a number of consequences. Your home is not going to be as comfortable as it would with a properly functioning system. The wear and tear on the system makes the risk of repair needs much more likely. And, because starting up requires more energy than running consistently, you’ll probably see energy costs rise even as performance and comfort plummet. Let Goettl Air Conditioning Phoenix fix the problem for you.
G-O-E-T-T-L it’ll keep you cool but it’s hard to spell.
