As the homeowner, you know the normal operational habits of your air conditioning system. Therefore, when you hear it constantly turning on and off – a situation known as short-cycling – you know something isn’t right. Air conditioners are made to operate in a full cycle so that they can adequately cool and dehumidify your home. Not only does short-cycling create problems with your indoor comfort, it can create mechanical problems for your air conditioner. If you have noticed that your AC is short-cycling, don’t wait to call for an expert. Contact your Comfort Flow Heating specialist right away and schedule an appointment for AC repair in Eugene, OR.
Causes of Short-Cycling
There can be a few reasons why an air conditioner will start to short-cycle:
- The air filter is clogged – a clogged air filter can seriously restrict the air flow in your air conditioning system, causing a range of problems, including short cycling.
- Thermostat issues – your thermostat is the control center of your air conditioning system, telling your AC when to turn on and off. Incorrect calibration, dusty instrumentation and problems with wiring can all affect how your air conditioner operates, and can result in short-cycling.
- Your air conditioner is too big – when your air conditioner is too big for your home, it will cool too rapidly. This means your home doesn’t get properly dehumidified and as a result, the air conditioner will continually turn on and off.
Problems Created by Short-Cycling
You may be wondering why short-cycling is such a problem for you and your AC. Here are some problems created by it:
- Increase in energy usage – it takes a lot more power to start your air conditioner that it does to run it or shut it down. Constant restarting will result in excess energy usage, which you’ll see reflected in your monthly energy bills.
- Excess wear on your system – the constant starting and stopping of your system creates tremendous wear on your AC in a short amount of time, making it prone to malfunction, breakdown and premature aging.
- Discomfort in your home – the whole reason you have air conditioning is to be cool and comfortable during the summer months; a short-cycling AC won’t do that for you.
If you have noticed that your air conditioner in Eugene, OR, has started to short-cycle, call the experts at Comfort Flow Heating today!
