Rapid Cycling: When Your Air Conditioner Keeps Turning On And Off
Rapid cycling, or short cycling, are terms used to describe your air conditioning when it turns on and off without actually cooling down your home. This can waste a lot of energy, without actually helping your home get cooler. If your system turns on and off before reaching the set temperature, a number of problems could be going on with your air conditioner. The air filter could be dirty, causing your system to overheat before it can get the job done. You could have a refrigerant leak, causing the system to turn off. Your evaporator coils could be blocked with ice, causing your air conditioner to be faulty, or your air conditioner could be the wrong size for your home.
Clogged Air Filters and Your Air Conditioner
During periods of heavy use, your air conditioner filters need to be changed once a month to keep your system running well. When your filters are clogged, they aren't going to allow the air to flow freely to the unit, and it will have to work harder to cool off your home. A system that is running too hard is going to shut off before it can cool your home to the right temperature. Learn how to change the air filters and make sure it is done monthly.
Low Refrigerant Levels
If the refrigerant levels are low in your air conditioner, the system won't be able to cool down your home. You can lose refrigerant through a leak, so contact an air conditioning repair technician to come and check out your system. The leak will need to be repaired, and the refrigerant level filled back up before your system is efficient again.
Problems with the Evaporator Coils
If you discover ice on your evaporator coils, this usually means there is a problem with the blower and possibly refrigerant levels. Turn the system off and allow the ice to melt; sometimes this is the only repair needed. If the ice builds up again, your system will continue to cycle rapidly until you have it repaired. Ice builds up when the blower isn't working properly, allowing moisture to get into your evaporator coils and build up ice.
Rapid cycling is a waste of energy and doesn't cool your home as it should. When your system is too small for your home, it's going to be working too hard to cool off the space. If you hear your system turn on and off without cooling your home, call for a repair as soon as possible. For more information, contact companies like Baton Rouge Air Conditioning & Heating.
