Air Conditioning Repairs That Could Be Needed When Your Air Conditioner Starts Short-Cycling
Posted on: 13 April 2023
If your air conditioner isn't running as long as it usually does and then it starts back up shortly after it shuts down, it could be short-cycling. Your air conditioner is designed to run for several minutes and then shut off for several minutes in a consistent pattern.
When this normal pattern is disrupted, the extra electricity used will drive up your power bill, and the frequent turning on and off will strain your equipment. This could eventually cause the compressor to break down, and that's an expensive air conditioning repair. Here's a look at what causes short-cycling and the repairs that might be needed to correct the situation.
Airflow Through The Equipment Is Diminished
If your air conditioning equipment doesn't have the proper airflow, parts might overheat and cause the AC to shut down too soon and short-cycle. Reduced airflow might even cause the evaporator coil to form ice. Ice might also form if the coil is dirty, and when ice is present, the refrigerant can't work very well. That leads to short cycling.
Air conditioning repairs for a low airflow problem might be to clean the evaporator coil once the ice has melted, change the filter, and check the blower to make sure it's functioning properly. If the blower isn't working well, that could indicate a problem with the capacitor or motor that needs to be fixed.
The Thermostat Is Faulty
The malfunction might be in the thermostat. If it's faulty, it might not be signaling the equipment properly. The air conditioning repair technician may test the thermostat and check it internally for loose or bad parts. They may also check the wiring from the thermostat to the control board and from the control board to other parts that trigger your AC to turn on and off. The control board might even be bad and need to be replaced.
The Refrigerant Is Leaking Out
If your AC system doesn't have enough refrigerant, it can't cool your house and that could trigger your equipment to start short-cycling. The solution for low refrigerant is to find the leak and repair it. This has to be done so the new refrigerant won't leak out too. When the leak is stopped, new refrigerant is added, and your AC should stop short-cycling.
The Power Supply Has A Problem
If the air conditioner has an erratic power supply, it may turn on and off randomly. This can happen if the wiring is loose at a connection or if the wiring was damaged by rodent gnawing. The air conditioning repair technician can use a multimeter to find the wire that's bad or loose and tighten or replace it.
Contact a local air conditioning repair service to learn more.
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