Everybody loves to hear an air conditioner turn on during a hot summer day. However, it can be disconcerting if your AC quickly turns off after a few minutes, and then turns back on. Short AC cycles run up electric bills and strain your HVAC system. So, why does this happen?
Dirty and clogged air filters can explain why your AC keeps turning on and off repeatedly. This can also happen if the condenser coils are dirty, or the evaporator coils are frozen. The best-case scenario is that you must simply replace the batteries in your thermostat. Otherwise, it could be an electrical problem, refrigerant leak, or faulty compressor.
Our team at Queen B Plumbing can thoroughly inspect your AC system if it continues to run in short cycles. Luckily, it’s rarely a major problem unless your AC is 15 years old. Follow along as we explore why your AC keeps turning on and off repeatedly and highlight solutions.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Keep Turning On and Off?
Air conditioners turn on and off unexpectedly due to everything from dirty filters to refrigerant leaks. Short cycling is hard on your HVAC system, and it can increase your bills each month. Let’s explore the most common reasons we see this happen at Queen B Plumbing.
1. Dirty Filter
So many common air conditioner problems simply come down to the air filter. Air filters catch dirt, dust, and debris to protect your AC and home. It’s hard for air to pass through the filter once the filter becomes dirty, and the system may turn on and off repeatedly.
Not only does this increase your electric bill, but it can also strain your AC. We see this all the time, and it usually happens when people wait longer than 3 months to replace their filters. It’s important to check your filter at least once per month.
Air filters become dirty faster in some homes than others, especially if you have pets who shed a lot. We can happily inspect your AC and replace the air filter. That said, we recommend that you keep a few spare air filters at home so you can replace them regularly.
2. Clogged Condenser Coils
Much like an air filter, condenser coils are susceptible to dust and debris that can make your AC short cycle. We typically see this happen when someone goes too long without changing their air filter. That said, it’s also common in older AC systems where dirt and dust inevitably build up.
At Queen B Plumbing, we recommend you clean your condenser coils at least once per year. This helps maintain healthy airflow, prevent overheating, and stop your AC from turning on and off repeatedly. Our team can also replace your condenser coils if they’re too damaged, and that will boost your AC’s performance.
3. Faulty Thermostat
It’s easy to assume that your air conditioner is to blame if it keeps turning on and off for no apparent reason. However, the problem could be as simple as a faulty thermostat, and that’s something we can easily fix. That said, it’s a great idea to check and replace the batteries in your thermostat before you call us at Queen B Plumbing.
Modern thermostats typically warn you when the batteries get low, but that doesn’t always happen. Thermostats can’t accurately monitor the temperature in your home when the batteries are low. Because of that, your thermostat may trigger the AC to cycle on and off indefinitely.
Otherwise, the problem could be due to faulty wiring or because the thermostat is too old. The average thermostat lasts 10 years before it goes bad and runs into this kind of problem. Call us if you replace the batteries in your thermostat and your AC still keeps short cycling.
4. Ice on Your Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is a vital part of your AC system that contains refrigerant. This coil can freeze if it’s dirty, the refrigerant is low, or the AC drain line is obstructed. Even a dirty air filter can make your evaporator coil freeze.
Evaporator coils can also freeze if you run the AC when it’s cold outside. This is one of the most common reasons why we see our customers’ air conditioners repeatedly turn on and off. Some people can fix this without our help if they give the coil time to thaw.
To do this, you must shut the system off for up to 24 hours. This can be uncomfortable on hot days, and it doesn’t always work depending on the cause. Call us if your AC keeps short cycling, so we can inspect and repair the system.
5. Refrigerant Leak
Air conditioners rely on refrigerant to operate and deliver cool air throughout your house. Unfortunately, AC systems are prone to corrosion that can eventually cause refrigerant leaks. Small holes form due to corrosion, and this throws off the pressure balance in your HVAC system.
This can make your compressor repeatedly turn on and off, so your AC will keep cycling. Luckily, we can typically repair small refrigerant leaks without a problem. However, we may need to replace major components in extreme cases, but that’s more common with old, heavily corroded air conditioners.
6. Old and Worn Components
Eventually, air conditioners become prone to short cycles and poor performance. This happens when key components become strained after years of operation. Air conditioners can last up to 20 years, but performance issues can appear long before then.
It’s worth it to replace some components, such as the blower motor or compressor motor, if your AC isn’t old. However, you may want to replace the system if it’s 15 years old and you need to replace several components. That’s something we can do, but we’re always happy to inspect your system to see if it’s necessary.
After all, it could be something as simple as frozen evaporator coils. However, it’s not worth it to replace a compressor if your system is already 15 years old. You would only likely get 5 more years out of your AC so that money is better spent on a new system.
Act Now if Your AC Runs in Short Cycles
Short AC cycles are more than just inconvenient, they’re expensive. Remember to change your filter every 90 days and pay attention to how often your AC runs. It could be something as simple as low batteries in your thermostat.
However, it could also be due to an emergency, such as a refrigerant leak. Call Queen B Plumbing at (908) 633-1333 if your AC keeps turning on and off repeatedly so we can inspect and repair it.
