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Why Does My Air Conditioner Run in Short Bursts?

Have you noticed that, when temperatures warm up in your home, your air conditioner will start up, run only briefly, and then shut back down again? This phenomenon is called short cycling, and it is much more than a minor annoyance or curiosity. It could indicate that there is a serious problem with your home cooling system. If you choose to ignore the symptom, then you risk putting your air conditioner at even greater risk of damage. Fear not, though, for the AC repair technicians on our staff are never more than a phone call away. We’ll figure out what is causing your air conditioner in Chapin, SC to short cycle.

What Can Cause Short Cycling?

There are a few likely causes of short cycling. The first, and the one that you really don’t want to encounter, is an improperly sized air conditioning system. If your system is too big for your home, your air conditioner has probably always short cycled. Unfortunately, there is really no way to resolve the problem than to have the system replaced with a more appropriate AC.

Another potential problem of short cycling is a dirty air filter or evaporator coil. These problems are much more easily resolved. If the air filter is very dirty in your system, then the cooling process is impeded. This can result in overheating and the system shutting down. You could also have a refrigerant leak, which is more problematic. A trained technician can tell you for certain what is going on.

Why Is It a Problem

Short cycling is a bigger problem than many people seem to realize. If your central AC or heat pump is short cycling, then you are using more energy than you should have to when running it. Plus, you are putting unnecessary wear and tear on the system. All of this will leave you to pay more than you should have to in order to cool your home, while your AC is put at risk of damage.

Contact Fulmer Heating & Cooling to schedule any air conditioning services that you may need.

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