What Is Short Cycling and How Can It Impact Your A/C? - Heating Specialties

What Is Short Cycling and How Can It Impact Your A/C?

Short cycling A/C

Is your A/C kicking on and off more frequently than usual? Have you noticed higher energy bills? Your HVAC system may be doing what is known as “short cycling.” Short cycling is one of the most common A/C issues we see at Heating Specialties of Bridgeton. The problem can be costly and may lead to breakdowns and a shorter lifespan for your HVAC unit. If you notice that your A/C is turning on and off more often than it used to, reach out to Heating Specialties now. Our trained technicians can troubleshoot your problem and fix the minor issues before they become expensive fixes.

A quick lesson on sort cycling

Your A/C uses a compressor to cool your home during the warm summer months. Typically, you’ll hear the A/C kick on as the compressor works to bring your home to its desired temperature. Then it powers down until the next cycle. Most homeowners notice three separate cycles each hour, about 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off each. If the compressor is starting and stopping more often, that may signify a problem with your HVAC system. You must address those problems quickly because frequent cycling can wear down your unit quickly.

What causes short cycling?

Short cycling has several potential causes, and you can fix some quickly at home:

A clogged air filter may be putting added stress on your system.

An A/C unit that’s too big or too small can struggle to cool your home efficiently. An oversized unit doesn’t necessarily mean better cooling. A small unit may not be able to keep up with the demand.

A leak can cause a low refrigerant level. A professional HVAC technician should address this problem.

Thermostat placement matters. If your thermostat is in a spot where the sun shines brightly, or nearby kitchen activity affects the air temperature, you may notice short cycling.

Short cycling consequences

Your A/C unit uses the most power when it starts a cooling cycle. If it’s switching on and off more frequently than usual, you may notice a hike in your energy bills. This constant cycling also leads to increased wear and tear on your compressor, resulting in costly replacement or repair bills.

Are you concerned about short cycling? Let the professionals at Heating Specialties determine the cause of the problem. Heating Specialties can help you with essential maintenance and repairs to a new HVAC system installation. Call us now at (866) 923-2653 or request service online. Don’t ignore the warning signs. Let Heating Specialties keep your energy costs under control.

Scroll to Top