Why Is My Air Conditioning Kicking on and Kicking Off Again

Why does my air conditioner turn off by itself?

If your air conditioner keeps turning on and off your AC system is most likely short cycling. An AC organisation may turn on and off repeatedly due to muddied, broken, or failing parts or for various other mechanical or electrical reasons.

The term short cycling refers to when an AC organization's cooling cycle terminates prematurely only to turn on again after a brusk time. Depending on indoor and outdoor atmospheric condition, this could mean that your system turns on and off every five to 10 minutes.

An air conditioner that is switching on and off repeatedly is bad for both homeowners and your Air-conditioning system. It takes more ability to start your Ac over and over as opposed to when it's running smoothly as information technology does in longer cycles. Information technology besides causes extra habiliment and tear on the mechanisms that work to turn on your Ac. This can dramatically increase your electric bill and result in more than repairs needed for your Air-conditioning, and then this is an consequence you desire to fix as soon as possible.

xi Reasons Your AC Keeps Turning On and Off & How to Set up It

Luckily, short cycling is normally an piece of cake fix! Learn some of the virtually mutual reasons why your air conditioner keeps turning on and off and how you tin finish your air conditioner from short cycling.

1. Thermostat Bug

Your problem may be as unproblematic equally your thermostat causing the short cycling, so when your Air-conditioning system is short cycling, check the thermostat. While the thermostat may seem like 1 modest component of your entire organization, this device controls the temperature of your entire home, so information technology's important that it functions properly.

If the thermostat is non sensing the temperature accurately and communicates misinformation, information technology will signal the air-conditioning system to start and stop oftentimes.

If you notice your thermostat screen is blank or fading information technology may exist low on batteries and losing ability intermittently. This volition cause your AC arrangement to turn on and off when your thermostat loses battery power.

Solution: Effort replacing the batteries and restarting the thermostat. If neither solution fixes your trouble, call an HVAC professional to diagnose the thermostat.

2. Bad Thermostat Placement

Your thermostat measures the temperature of the air around it to determine when to turn your AC system on and off. Your thermostat may have inaccurate readings if information technology'due south located:

Near a window and receiving direct sunlight
Close to a room that'due south e'er hotter than the residual of the house, such equally the kitchen or bath
Beneath supply air vents, receiving direct airflow

Any of these situations could cause your thermostat to receive inaccurate, poor readings and think your business firm is hotter or colder than it actually is.

Solution: Move your thermostat to a better, more centralized location.

3. Muddy Air Filter

Clogged air filters are one of the most common causes of AC bug. A muddied air filter restricts airflow to your AC organisation and tin cause multiple problems, including short cycling.

Solution: Check and replace your air filters if they're dingy.

Related article: How Oft Should I Change My AC's Air Filter?

4. Muddy Condenser Coils

If your outside AC unit of measurement is turning on and off and you lot haven't performed Air conditioning maintenance in a few years, information technology'south possible your AC'south condenser coils are caked in clay and debris. Condenser coils are located inside the outdoor AC unit and release the heat from within your habitation. If they're clogged with also much dirt and grime, your Air-conditioning system could overheat and turn off oftentimes.

Solution:Clean your condenser coils or have a local HVAC company perform routine Air-conditioning maintenance.

5. Oversized Air Conditioner

Take y'all always had this problem? Or did it only start recently when you installed a new AC organization?

A system that is too large won't have an advisable refrigerant cycle and will face numerous problems, like cooling your dwelling house likewise quickly and then turning off shortly afterwards it turns on. This might sound similar a good affair, but in reality, your home is cooling unevenly and your AC will turn back on again sooner than it should need to.

If your Ac cycles on and off every x minutes, then an oversized air conditioner may be the cause.

Not only are these issues inconvenient, just they can cause bigger problems for your home, such as:

Higher energy bills: Turning your AC on and off repeatedly uses more free energy
More repairs:Not only does brusque cycling use more energy, simply information technology also puts more wear and tear on the parts in your Air-conditioning
Shorter lifespan: More wear and tear means the average life expectancy of your air conditioner volition be shorter.

Solution: Use an AC sizing calculator to approximate your system size requirements or contact a local HVAC company for a second opinion on the installation.

vi. Refrigerant Leak

If your AC system has a refrigerant leak, your air conditioner could be too low on refrigerant. Refrigerant is a coolant that cycles through your AC system, absorbing estrus and cooling down the air inside your home.

It'southward a common misconception that refrigerant is used upward as role of an Ac system's cooling process. But the truth is depression refrigerant levels are caused past small holes that allow the refrigerant to escape.

When your AC organisation is depression on refrigerant, the compressor will malfunction and shut off your compressor because the pressure is too low. So, when your compressor is off, the pressure level will rise again and it will turn back on. This creates a short cycle that causes massive amounts of wear and tear on your AC system, potentially resulting in parts going bad or system failure.

Solution: Refrigerant leaks can be dangerous, call a local HVAC visitor to find and set the leak.

7. Compressor Failure

Just like when in that location'southward a refrigerant leak, if your Air-conditioning compressor is overheating, malfunctioning, or starting to fail, it will event in your AC system shutting off oftentimes and starting back up before long.

If you notice your Air-conditioning compressor shut off after 2-3 minutes of functioning, then your Air-conditioning compressor is nigh likely overheating or starting to neglect.

Solution:Contact a local Air-conditioning repair company to diagnose and replace your Air conditioning compressor, if this part is not working properly it tin can cause other parts to quickly degrade from increased vesture and tear.

8. Frozen Evaporator Coils

If your Air conditioning system has airflow issues or a refrigerant leak, it's possible your evaporator coils are freezing up. When this happens, your Air conditioning organisation or sometimes simply your exterior AC unit will turn off until the water ice thaws and then turn on once again.

Solution:Check your outdoor Ac unit for water ice buildup, if you lot've already checked your air filters, then you likely accept a refrigerant leak and will want to phone call a local HVAC visitor to find and fix the leak.

Air Conditioner Turns On and Off Right Away

Is your air-conditioning system turning on and off right away, afterward only a few seconds or minutes of running? If your air-conditioning unit turns on and then off immediately then yous most likely take problems with the electrical components or the run capacitor.

9. Electrical Issues

Electrical problems are a common crusade of short cycling. Frequently, there may exist an event with the electric supply line or the capacitor could be broken or failing, simply your AC system could likewise have an electric issue due to the thermostat, electrical connections anywhere in the organization, or the circuit boards.

Solution: Telephone call a local professional electrician. Electrical problems are non simply difficult to diagnose just diagnosing an electrical problem tin can exist dangerous for even the most knowledgeable homeowners.

x. Bad Run Capacitor

Your Air-conditioning'southward run capacitor gives your Ac arrangement the initial heave of energy information technology needs to plow on and also provides continuous ability then your organisation tin keep running. When this function starts to become bad it can upshot in intermittent power being supplied to your Ac, causing it to turn off unexpectedly and then dorsum on.

If your air conditioner starts then stops afterwards only a few seconds or your air conditioner turns off later thirty seconds, then chances are in that location's a problem with your run capacitor and you will need to replace the part.

Solution:Contact a local HVAC visitor to diagnose and supersede your AC capacitor, if this function is non working properly it tin crusade other parts to quickly degrade from increased wear and tear.

11. Clogged Drain Line

Most Air-conditioning systems have a safety featured called a float switch that will turn off your arrangement when h2o in the drain line is not flowing properly and backs up. If you notice that even when yous turn your thermostat to AUTO the air does not circulate, and you have already ruled out thermostat and electrical problems, then this is most likely your result.

Solution:Check out our guide: How to Unclog Your AC Drain Line