Why does my AC shut off every few minutes?
One of the most frequent AC issues that homeowners encounter is their air conditioner going on and off constantly. Electrical and mechanical problems, as well as soiled, damaged, or failed components, may be to blame. Your ducted air conditioner in Singapore is possibly experiencing brief cycling if it continually going on and off.
Short cycling, which can occur every 5 to 10 minutes depending on the state of the system, is a situation in which the cooling cycle of an air conditioning system rapidly pauses and then restarts. Short cycling is a common air conditioning issue that can be expensive, especially if it is not caught in time. Fortunately, brief cycling is simple to resolve. Listed below are a few causes and fixes for why your AC unit keeps turning on and off.
1. A thermostat issue:
There may be issues with the thermostat causing your AC unit to cycle on and off quickly. A thermostat, though it may appear to be a minor component of your air conditioning system, is crucial since it regulates temperature. The AC system receives the incorrect signal and begins continually turning on and off when the thermostat misreads the temperature and transmits it.
Additionally, if the thermostat’s screen is blank, it may have low battery power, which would cause your air conditioner to cycle on and off continually. You might try replacing the thermostat’s batteries and then restarting it. If this doesn’t fix the issue, you’ll need a thermostat inspection from an HVAC professional.
2. Incorrect thermostat position:
A thermostat regulates the interior temperature and communicates when to turn on and off the air conditioning system. Thermostat readings can be off if the thermostat is installed in the wrong place. A thermostat should not be installed near a window that receives direct sunlight, beneath or close to supply air vents, or in close proximity to the room with the highest temperature in the house, such as the kitchen. These places may cause the thermostat to read temperatures incorrectly and cycle on and off often. Resolving this is as easy as moving the thermostat to a more convenient location.
3. Leak of refrigerant:
The material known as refrigerant is used to chill your home by removing heat from the air. The compressor, a part that circulates refrigerant by converting it from a liquid into a high-pressure gas or vice versa, works in tandem with the refrigerant in your air conditioner. The pressure in your system is stabilized by normal refrigerant levels. Your system’s pressure will drop if you have a refrigerant leakage, which could cause a low-pressure sensor at the compressor to trip, switching off your air conditioning.
Your AC system’s compressor is its brain, so when it shuts down, everything else stops as well. The fast, brief cycle then resumes when the pressure rises, signaling the AC to turn on once more. Get in touch with an HVAC expert to check if you have a refrigerant leak. If so, you must get the leak fixed and the refrigerant refilled. Because refrigerant is dangerous, only trained specialists should handle it
4. Frozen evaporator coils:
Your air conditioner can regularly turn off and on if your evaporator coils, which contain your refrigerant, are covered in ice. Your evaporator coils contain a refrigerant that is quite cold. Your air conditioner must draw enough heat from your house to run over the evaporator coils in order to prevent them from freezing over. Evaporator coils freeze if your air conditioner is unable to transfer heat from your home adequately.
When your AC is unable to function properly due to frozen coils, your system may overwork, overheat, and shut off. To solve this issue, change your air filter after turning off your AC to reduce the risk of system damage. Check to see if the freezing happens once more after restarting your system. If so, get in touch with a specialist to find the problem and solve it.
5. Your home’s air conditioner is too large:
It may sound strange, but having a cooling system that is designed for a home that is considerably bigger than yours might lead to short cycling. A specified amount of heat must be removed from a specific amount of indoor area using HVAC systems. When a unit is enormous, it cools the house far more fast than it should, which prompts an abrupt shutdown. However, your house quickly heats up again, resulting in brief cycles in which the AC works for about ten to fifteen minutes, shuts off, and then restarts. When they maintain a consistent temperature across the room, air conditioners are more energy-efficient.
6. A defective run capacitor:
The run capacitor in your AC system plays a crucial role. The run capacitor supplies sufficient electrical current to turn on your cooling unit and sufficient power to maintain the air conditioner’s operation. Power may only occasionally flow to the air conditioner when the run capacitor fails. The AC system starts up and shuts down rapidly as a result. The AC system not blowing cold air is another indication of a failed run capacitor.
What Effects Does a Short-Cycle Air Conditioner Have?
Before the problem is fully identified, air conditioning systems may short cycle for weeks or months. You may need to take action to remedy the situation if you find that the air conditioner is not blowing cold air or if it has a tendency to turn off after ten to fifteen minutes. These negative impacts are taking place as the AC system cycles quickly:
- A rise in indoor humidity: Both heat and humidity are removed from the interior of your home by your air conditioner. The humidity in the air is kept inside when the AC system cycles quickly. Condensation may be made worse by this in humid local conditions.
- Increased energy costs: Your electric cost increases when your central air conditioner has to work harder. Short-cycling heating and cooling systems are less efficient and require more energy than fully functional systems.
- Your central air conditioner’s wear and tear: A typical air conditioner has a shelf life of fifteen to twenty years. When an air conditioner cycles on and off quickly over a lengthy period of time, the compressor and condenser parts become worn out.