Prevent Short Cycling from Taking a Toll on Your Air Conditioner

There are many issues that could cause your central air conditioning system to perform poorly. One of these issues involves the phenomenon known as "short cycling." If left unchecked, short cycling not only keeps your A/C system from cooling your home effectively, but it can also shorten its lifespan. The following offers an in-depth explanation of short cycling, as well as ways you can diagnose and solve this problem.

How Short Cycling Affects Your Air Conditioner

Your A/C system's compressor is designed to cycle on and off depending on your home's cooling demands. On an average summer day, the compressor may run for 10 minutes and then shut off for about 10 minutes before being cycled on again. The longer the compressor runs, the more efficient the A/C system operates, under most circumstances.

Problems can arise when the compressor cycles on and off for less than 5 minutes at a time. Not only does this eventually wear out the compressor due to the added wear and tear, but it also places stress on other A/C components. This can eventually rob your A/C system of its cooling effectiveness.

Diagnosing Short Cycling Issues

There are several common air conditioning issues that can cause short cycling problems to surface:

• Low refrigerant levels can play a role in short cycling issues. In the event of refrigerant loss, the A/C system may trigger its low pressure switch (LPS), causing the compressor to shut down in an attempt to prevent ice formation and overall damage to the compressor itself. However, this may create short cycling issues as the compressor restarts, only to shut down again due to the LPS being triggered.
• Operating an oversized A/C system can also cause short cycling issues to occur, especially if it takes less than 5 minutes for the unit to satisfy its cooling demand. The unit may cycle on and off rapidly in an attempt to maintain the desired temperature.
• Poor thermostat positioning can also cause short cycling issues. For instance, a thermostat located too close to the return air vent may be fooled into shutting down due to a cold draft, only to start up just moments later when it detects warmer air.
• Short cycling problems can occur when the LPS begins to fail.

Solving Short Cycling Issues

Fortunately, you can prevent further damage from happening to your A/C compressor by tracking down and solving the issues that lie at the heart of your A/C system's short cycling problems. For instance, short cycling issues caused by operating an oversized A/C system can easily be resolved with a properly sized replacement. Here are other ways you can resolve your A/C system's short cycling issues:

• Have your A/C system's refrigerant checked and recharged by technicians like Climec Residential Inc. Your technician should also be on the lookout for any leaks that could have contributed to your A/C system's refrigerant loss.
• Have your HVAC specialist take a look at your home's thermostat placement. It may have to be moved to a more stable location to prevent future instances of short cycling from occurring. You can also take this time to have your technician upgrade your thermostat to a programmable model with more energy-saving features.
• Make sure your technician also checks the LPS and other related switches and relays for signs of defect or malfunction. Your technician should also make sure the A/C system's wiring isn't burnt, frayed or otherwise damaged.
• It's also crucial for your HVAC technician to make sure the compressor hasn't been seriously damaged by short cycling. If so, it should be replaced as soon as possible to avoid damage to the rest of the A/C system.