What is considered short cycling for an air conditioner?
Short-cycling is a term for when an air conditioner shuts down its cooling cycle prematurely, only to start back up again a short time later. If you have noticed that your air conditioner’s compressor is turning on and off rapidly, it is probably short-cycling and you need to have it repaired.
How long is AC short cycling?
At its shortest, a cooling cycle will last for 15 minutes. This is how much time the compressor and air handler need, at minimum, to distribute cooling around the house. When the compressor runs in shorter cycles, especially under 10 minutes, then it’s short-cycling and needs attention.
What does it mean when your air conditioner is short cycling?
Air Conditioner Short Cycling Simplified. Air conditioner short cycling occurs when something within the system prevents your unit from completing a full cooling cycle. A full cooling cycle occurs from the time that the unit kicks on to the time that the temperature you set at the thermostat is reached and the unit kicks back off again.
Why does my air conditioner cycle on and off?
When your air conditioner is cycling, it is in the process of reaching the desired temperature, and once this temperature is reached, it will shut off until the cycle begins again. If you notice that your air conditioner turns on and off in short intervals, your AC may be short cycling.
What does it mean when your AC cycle is under 10 minutes?
If your air conditioner cycles are under 10 minutes, it could indicate that the unit is too large or that there’s a problem with the HVAC system. A proper AC unit running under a normal cycle time in your home should help keep your energy bill low, keep indoor moisture out and create a comfortable and quiet flow of air throughout the house.
Is it normal for an air conditioner to run for 20 minutes?
A 20-minute on-off cycle would also be normal and just fine. In sum, if your air conditioner or heat pump runs for ten minutes, twenty minutes, or longer, turns off, then after a similar time interval it turns back on, your air conditioner is not “short cycling”.