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Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. Blog

What You Need to Know About Short Cycling

If you’ve ever noticed your air conditioner turning itself on and off every few minutes, you have a short cycling problem. Short cycling may seem like a harmless quirk, but it’s actually a big threat to the air conditioner. If you hear your system short cycling, you need to turn it off and call for repairs immediately. Let’s take a look at why short cycling happens, and the kind of damage that it can inflict on your system.

Causes of Short Cycling

Short cycling can be caused by a couple of different things. Thermostat malfunctions can send conflicting signals to the air conditioner, causing it to turn on and off rapidly. A damaged compressor is another possibility. The compressor is the part that helps circulate refrigerant back and forth through the system. If the compressor is damaged, it can throw off the entire rhythm of the air conditioner and cause it to short cycle. It’s going to take a professional examination to determine the exact cause of short cycling. What matters more, though, is the results of short cycling.

Short Cycling Damage

When your air conditioner short cycles, it becomes locked into the startup part of its operation. That is the most stressful part of the air conditioner’s operating cycle, and running through that startup process constantly puts the system under far more strain than it is designed to handle. If the short cycling goes on for long enough, it greatly increases the likelihood of breakdowns. The overall lifespan of the air conditioner will be shorter, as well. This is why it’s so important to get your air conditioner repaired as soon as you notice it short cycling.

If your air conditioner needs repairs, call Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. We provide air conditioner services throughout Lake City, FL.

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