If you have noticed that your air conditioner has been turning on and off as frequently as every 10 minutes, your system is most likely in need of repair due to “short-cycling.” Short-cycling is when a system turns on and off abruptly and often.
There are many reasons as to why your AC is cutting on and off frequently. The most likely cause for this is dirt and clogging. The spontaneous turning on and off of an air conditioner is called short cycling. When your AC is short cycling, it means you get about 5 to 10 minutes before it shuts down again.
Typical AC Cooling Cycles
An AC that works will typically perform two or three cycles an hour. On moderately hot days, your AC should typically only run for 10-15 minutes to cool your house thoroughly. This means it will often run for around 10 minutes before shutting off and then stay off for about 10 minutes.
Posted on May - 25 - 2022. The air conditioner should turn on and stay on for at least 10 to 15 minutes if not much more. If your air conditioner continues to turn off after 15 minutes or less, or even only minutes after turning on, it is short cycling. Short cycling should always be addressed and corrected.
Got a central air conditioner that turns on and off every few seconds or minutes? This is called “short cycling” (because normally the AC has a regular on and off “cycle” that varies with the outside temperature.) Short cycling wears out the outside unit's compressor.
Electrical problems are a common cause of short cycling. This may indicate that there is an issue with the electrical supply line or the capacitor could be broken or failing. This can be caused by the thermostat, electrical connections in the system, or the circuit boards.
When the cycle is short, the compressor turns on and off more than it should, causing excess stress on the compressor that increases wear and tear on the entire system. AC short cycling not only damages the air conditioning system but also prevents it from working efficiently and properly cooling your house.
When things are working right, your central air conditioner should run for 15 to 20 minutes and then turn off for a few minutes. It will do this two or three times every hour. It may run longer when it's sweltering outside.
It is most likely that the air filter is almost totally clogged, OR the system has a refrigerant leak and is low on refrigerant and tripping its low pressure cut off switch. If the air filter is clogged with dirt, replace it.
Is it OK to turn AC on and off frequently? Yes, it's okay to turn your AC on and off frequently. It can save you money on your energy bill, and your AC works best when it runs at full speed.
Short cycling occurs when an air conditioning system starts a cooling cycle, shuts down prematurely and then starts back up a short time later. In other words, it's turning on and off too rapidly without fully completing a cycle.
Each cycle's length depends on the thermostat settings. Once the AC completes a cycle of about 15 and 20 minutes, it should remain off for 7 to 10 minutes. This helps it cool off before starting another cycle. The stops happen 2 to three times per hour.
Ideally, air conditioning systems should cycle for 15 to 20 minutes. Instead of frequently turning on or running continuously, the air conditioner will turn on two or three times an hour. A high temperature inside or outside your house will increase cycling times.
Allowing your air conditioner to rest is an excellent way to extend its life and ensure it operates efficiently throughout the years. Air conditioners, like homeowners, require rest in order to recover and perform optimally.
Allow a 3-minute break after turning the AC on or off and reset the circuit breaker 24 hours prior to first use to prevent damage and improve efficiency. Perform a pre-start inspection by cleaning the unit, checking filters and coils, and starting the AC in fan mode before cooling to ensure it runs smoothly.
An undersized air conditioning system most commonly manifests as an air conditioner that never stops running. When this occurs, cooling coil pressure will start to drop before freezing over, which could damage your AC's compressor.
When your AC turns on, it will usually need to run for anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes to cool your home completely. If the AC turns on and quickly shuts off again within a couple of minutes, there might be a major issue causing your unit to short cycle.
Central AC Short Cycling
Homeowners spend between $75 and $600 to deal with short cycling issues in their central AC systems.
Your AC unit should run its cycles for about 15 to 20 minutes, no more than a couple of times within an hour. If your AC is running for long cycles, it could also indicate a problem.
Poor Airflow
If something blocks the flow of air, your AC needs to go into overdrive to make up for it, which could result in it overheating. And when your AC overheats, it shuts off to give the system a chance to cool down. Once cool, it turns back on again, and the vicious cycle of short cycling continues.
Turn your thermostat on and wait 15 minutes before comparing temperature readings. If the difference between what your thermostat says and what the thermometer says is more than a degree, your thermostat may need to be recalibrated.