We have not even really hit the cooling season yet, so it may sound a bit pessimistic to hear us talking about potential problems with your air conditioning system. The reality of the situation, however, is that you are going to experience problems with your air conditioning system at some point. When you do, it is definitely in your best interest to spot those signs early on and to have them resolved as soon as possible. Never ignore an AC that is running irregularly.
If your system is running irregularly, starting up but then cycling back down before a full cooling cycle has a chance to finish, then your system is short cycling. This may not seem like too big of a problem if your home is still relatively comfortable. However, it can actually lead to a number of different problems—both for your comfort and your system itself. Professional air conditioning services in Arlington are available from the technicians on our team to address such issues.
Check for This Quick Fix
Let us preface this by saying that we never advocate for homeowners servicing their air conditioning systems on their own. Doing so comes with a serious risk of damage to the system and injury to the homeowner. That being said, there is one simple maintenance task that you may have overlooked which could be causing your system’s short cycling. That is changing the air filter.
If your air filter is very dirty it can actually create enough airflow resistance to result in overheating, and that can lead to short cycling as a means of self-preservation on the AC’s part. The good news is that, should you discover a very dirty filter, you need only replace it with a fresh one to potentially solve the problem.
It May Not Be So Simple
Okay, now the bad news. Fixing the issue of short cycling is not always going to be so straightforward. It is possible that you have a component in your system that is malfunctioning and causing the system to run in these short cycles. Maybe your thermostat is registering temperatures cooler than they actually are, or a faulty run capacitor is failing to maintain proper current for the system.
Maybe the most serious problem that can lead to short cycling is the refrigerant leak, though. A refrigerant leak means that your system is going to have to work harder in order to remove heat from your home successfully. It means a lot of added strain to the system. It could mean ice developing on your evaporator coil, creating an insulating barrier that only makes the issue worse.
If you do have a refrigerant leak, you run the risk of destroying your compressor and your AC system as a whole if you continue running it that way. If you notice short cycling without the obvious cause of a dirty filter, contact us right away. We’ll diagnose any problems and resolve them completely.
Schedule your AC services with Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.