Air Conditioner Short Cycling: What It Is and How to Fix It

Moncrief Heating and Air technician working on external central air HVAC unit

In the summer heat, the last thing you want is for your air conditioner to start short-cycling. Unfortunately, this common problem can leave your home feeling hot and sticky.

So, what is short-cycling? Short-cycling occurs when your air conditioner turns on and off too frequently. This can happen for several reasons as your air conditioner is made up of many different parts all need to work together seamlessly.

1: One common reason for short-cycling is a dirty air filter. A dirty air filter restricts air flow, causing your air conditioner to work harder than it needs to. This can lead to the unit over-heating and shutting off prematurely. Checking your air filter monthly and changing it when it’s dirty is a simple way to help prevent short-cycling.

2: Another common cause of short-cycling is a faulty thermostat. If your thermostat isn’t working properly, it may not be sending the correct signal to your air conditioner, causing it to cycle on and off more frequently than necessary. A air conditioning units Atlanta professional can help you troubleshoot your thermostat to see if it needs to be replaced.

Read more: 7 Signs You Need to Repair Your Air Conditioner

3: Another potential cause of short-cycling is a refrigerant leak. Your air conditioner needs the right amount of refrigerant to work properly . If there’s a leak, the refrigerant level can drop, causing your air conditioner to cycle on and off more frequently. This is a job for a professional as it can be dangerous to try to fix a refrigerant leak yourself.

4: Lastly, your air conditioner may be short-cycling because of a problem with the fan. The fan circulates air over the evaporator coils. If the fan isn’t working correctly, the air conditioner will overheat and shut off. This is another issue that should be diagnosed by a professional.

How to Fix AC Short Cycling

AC professional will be able to diagnose the cause of your air conditioner’s short-cycling, troubleshoot, and recommend the best course of action. In some cases, a simple repair or fix may be all that’s needed. In other cases, air conditioner short cycling in seconds is a bigger problem that may require a replacement.

No matter the cause of your air conditioner’s short-cycling, it’s important to have it fixed as soon as possible. Moncrief Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help. We’ve been servicing air conditioners in Atlanta for years. We’re available 24/7 for emergency service, and our team of NATE-certified technicians will work quickly to get your AC back up and running.