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Why is My Air Conditioner Shutting Off All the Time and What Should I Do?
When an air conditioner cycles on and off too fast or turns off before your room is cool, it’s known as short-cycling. This can make the room uncomfortable, lead to expensive repairs, and cause an increase in energy bills.
What Is Short-Cycling?
Short-cycling is a term used to describe when an air conditioner turns on and off too quickly or shuts off before the room has cooled down. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including a malfunctioning thermostat, clogged air filters, low refrigerant levels, or a faulty compressor. Short-cycling can cause your energy bills to skyrocket and lead to expensive repairs .
What Causes Short-Cycling?
Short-cycling can be caused by a variety of issues, including:
Malfunctioning thermostat
If your thermostat is not calibrated correctly, it may turn off the air conditioner before the room has cooled down.
Dirty or clogged air filters
Dirty or clogged air filters can restrict airflow and cause the air conditioner to shut off prematurely.
Low refrigerant levels
If the refrigerant levels are too low, the air conditioner won’t be able to cool the room effectively and will shut off before it has done its job.
Frozen evaporator coils
Frozen evaporator coils can also be a cause of short-cycling. When the evaporator coils become too cold, they can freeze over and block airflow. This will cause the air conditioner to shut off before it has cooled the room.
Faulty compressor
A faulty compressor can cause the air conditioner to overheat and shut off before it has cooled the room.
Oversized air conditioner
An oversized air conditioner can also cause short-cycling. If the air conditioner is too powerful for the size of your room, it will cool the room quickly and shut off before it has had a chance to dehumidify the air. In addition, te added stress of starting and stopping the compressor will cause premature wear and higher utility costs.
What Should I Do?
If your air conditioner is short-cycling, the first thing you should do is check the air filters. If they are dirty or clogged, replace them with clean ones. You should also check the thermostat to make sure it’s calibrated correctly and that there are no obstructions blocking the airflow. If these steps don’t solve the problem, you should contact a professional HVAC technician to inspect the system and diagnose the issue.
For AC repairs and installation made simple, contact the pros at Northern Climate Control. We are located in Westminster, Colorado, and serve the entire Denver Metro Area. Contact us today for a free consultation.
