If you allow your air conditioner to keep running, electrical power is wasted and your system sustains excessive wear and tear, which causes damage to components and malfunctions which creates the need for parts or the entire system to be replaced.
Compressors should be able to run constantly all day if needed because they are internally cooled by the cool refrigerant that it sucks in to compress. Ask your contractor to show you some documentation that your compressor needs to cut out for 30 minutes after a three hour run time.
Besides the damage associated with wear, you have the risk of different parts of your compressor system failing completely. A constantly running compressor means that there is continuous pressure in the tank.
The direct consequence is that the leakage of the compressor increases during the compression process, and the volume of compressed air discharged from the machine becomes smaller. In terms of efficiency, the compression efficiency of the compressor is reduced.
Is your central air conditioner is running constantly? This leads to a big energy bill and can even damage your cooling system!
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.
So, if the system shouldn't have long or short cycles, how long should an air conditioner run? 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 100% duty cycle piston compressor may be able to provide air continuously at its rated CFM for ten minutes at a time, 30 minutes at a time, or even a couple of hours at a time before it needs to cool down. If the compressor has a built-in cooling system, it will be able to sustain longer run times.
Every time you operate your air compressor, the atmospheric air that fills your compressor tank contains a certain percentage of water vapor, and if left alone, this water vapor can accumulate and damage the internal structure of your air compressor.
Here are the brass tacks: Your air conditioner is the most efficient when it's running at maximum “speed” for a longer period of time, rather than short cycles in and out of “maintenance” temperatures.
Consequences of Running Your Air Conditioner 24 Hours a Day
Wasted energy: Running the AC to cool your home beyond your comfort level wastes energy and contributes to an increased carbon footprint. This is bad news for the environment and your energy bills.
If your air compressor doesn't stop once the tank pressure reaches the cut-off point, you should immediately cut the power to the compressor. Over-pressurizing the system can be very dangerous. Check the relief valve and replace it if it is faulty.
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.
The longer your unit runs, the more power it will pull and the higher your electric bill will be. Your air conditioning unit has an expected operating life. Once that operating life is reached, it will become defective and inoperational. Increased usage means that filters will need to be cleaned or changed frequently.
System stress: Your air conditioner unit needs time to take a break. If it's running all the time, it can be damaging to the system and lead to the need for a costly replacement.
If your air conditioner will keep running no matter what repair you try, malfunctions or faulty components are to blame. You could have a dirty air filter, clogged condenser coils, frozen evaporator coils, a broken relay switch, or a bad thermostat, amongst other common air conditioner issues.
The compressor should generally never run constantly, even if you always have your AC turned on. Typically, the compressor will run for a total of anywhere from 8 to 20 hours a day, depending on how hot the weather is.
In systems such as this the off hours production usually equates to 40% to 50% of the total annual compressor energy consumption. Turning off the compressor during non-productive hours can save these additional costs and help your system last longer.
Here are some rough estimates of average life expectancies for different types of compressors. Reciprocating air compressors typically last around 50,000 hours or 6 years, running 24/7. Rotary screw air compressors usually last over 100,000 hours. Centrifugal air compressors should last over 250,000 hours.
Allowing a compressor to cycle more often than the recommended duty cycle can cause it to wear out faster. The number of times your compressor can cycle will depend on the cycle time for that machine and the duty cycle rating.
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. Any AC system failure left unsolved could mean a costly repair and a hefty electricity bill.
What is important to remember is that The more often that your compressor processes air, the more by-product water that will be created. Many manufacturers will include a recommended maintenance routine in their owner's manuals, and most advise that draining the air compressor should be a daily activity.
The constant running will reduce pressure in the cooling coil until it freezes over, which is dangerous as it can cause liquid refrigerant to flood back to the compressor and damage it (the compressor is a very expensive part).
Malfunctions affecting different system components can prevent the conditioner unit from shutting down as expected, such as a clogged air filter, a frozen evaporator coil, a faulty electrical relay switch, a dirty condenser coil, a constantly blowing fan, a bad thermostat, low refrigerant, and other HVAC system repair ...
Compressor burnout is certainly something you never want to happen to your air conditioner, so our short answer is going to be a resounding, “yes!”