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Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog

Air Conditioning FAQ: What Causes Short Cycling?

Short cycling is when your AC turns on and off frequently. Short cycling reduces the effectiveness and the energy efficiency of the cooling process, so if you notice your AC turning on and off frequently, you should definitely call a professional. We’d like to explain a few of its most common causes in this post. For comprehensive air conditioning services in Clarksburg, call Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating today!

  • Inappropriate sizing: Unfortunately, one of the causes of short cycling is improper installation. When you’re in the market for a new AC for your home, make sure you hire a trustworthy and certified AC technician to perform all of the work. Otherwise, your AC may end up being too large or too small for your living space. If it’s too large, then it may actually short cycle frequently during operation. This increases the wear and tear on the system and may cause premature replacement.
  • Thermostat fault: Your thermostat is the primary user interface for controlling your indoor climate. It has to be professionally calibrated in order to work properly. When it’s not working properly, it can actually cause your system to turn on and off frequently. It may be reading the temperature incorrectly, or it may have a connectivity issue that needs to be repaired.
  • Refrigerant leak: Even a seemingly microscopic puncture in your coils can lead to significant loss of cooling, energy inefficiency, and even short cycling. Make sure your AC has the right amount of refrigerant “charge” at all times.
  • Damaged control board: The AC controls may be malfunctioning or damaged by moisture.

There are numerous causes of short cycling, but they all need to be fixed by a professional technician. 

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