We want you to imagine something for a second. If you were to stand up from your chair, bend over, and sit back down, that’s probably just some healthy exercise, right? Well, what if you got up, bent over, and sat down every few minutes for the entire day. That’s starting to sound like a difficult task, right? Repetition is good exercise, but too much can be a strain on the body and do damage to our joints and muscles.
Why are we bringing this up? Well, it’s important to think of your air conditioning system in a similar way. It’s good at turning on and cooling the air in your home. But the more it runs, the more stress it’s undergoing and you could end up damaging it in the process. Programs like HVAC maintenance in Atlantic County are designed to alleviate this kind of stress.
So, if you’re a homeowner in Longport, Margate City, or Somers Point, listen up! This is an issue that we need customers to be aware of.
Too Often vs. a Normal Cycle
We’d like to get something clear before we talk about the reasons behind a frequently cycling AC. There’s a big difference between a normal amount of AC cycles and a frequent amount. Your AC should turn on every time there’s a reasonable difference between the thermostat setting and the indoor temperature. Then, the system turns on, runs for about 15 minutes, and then shuts off for a while. This happens periodically.
A system that turns on pretty much every 8 minutes or less is running too frequently. It’s likely creating cool air that’s escaping somewhere, or it’s creating too much cooled air, which is what we’ll get into down below.
3 Reasons for Frequent Cycles
Here are three common reasons for a system to run too often.
Clogged Air Filter
The air filter is a component in your air conditioner that needs to be changed out every 1–3 months. Usually, this can be done by a homeowner at their own convenience, but we’ll also change out your air filter if you schedule routine maintenance with us.
If the air filter gets clogged, it will inhibit airflow and cause the system to overheat, shutting down too early in the cycle and forcing it to turn back on soon when the temperature returns to normal.
Oversized System
If your air conditioner is too large, it will cool your home too quickly. This can lead to it abruptly shutting down and not completing a full cooling cycle. While this might sound fine, in reality, it can lead to an increase in energy consumption and a worn-down AC system.
Poor Insulation
What if your air conditioner is making all this cool air, just for it to escape out an open window or door? Unfortunately, insulation is a huge part of air conditioning. If your home isn’t insulated, those cool temperatures won’t stay where you can feel them, and your system will run more frequently as a result.
Schedule maintenance with Ambient Comfort to ensure your system is working as efficiently as possible!