Hey there! This post contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. But it never influences our product selection process.
Have your home AC kept turning on and off within a minute lately? It turns on and off within seconds interval and doesn’t complete a full cycle. What’s worse it keeps happening repeatedly.
This leads you to think why ac compressor cycles on and off every 5 seconds?
AC compressor switches on and off In few seconds intervals means short cooling cycles. It can happen if your AC unit is oversized or running low on refrigerant. Bad positioning of thermostats, clogged air-filters, and frozen evaporator coils can also be the reason.
Those are the highlighting problems of our today’s issue. Need the solutions for them? Then keep reading our piece until the end.
Let’s begin!
What Causes AC to Cycle On & Off?
One of the most infuriating problems with air conditioners is ac compressor short cycling. It’s not only problematic but also harmful to your air conditioner appliance.
Short cycling means your ac unit will turn off and on without completing full cycles. In such cases, ac turn on and off every 5 minutes. Some are in even worse condition and turn on and off every 5 seconds.
AC compressors can struggle from short cycling issues for a variety of causes. We’ll be showing you the reasons and the solutions to them.
Reason 1: Oversized Air Conditioner Unit
Do you have an oversized air conditioner installed in your home? Then it’s kind of expected for ac compressor to cycle on and off.
For example, a 5-ton ac in 1000 sq. ft. house will lead to short cycling. Because a bigger-sized AC will blow cold air at 78 degrees Fahrenheit from the beginning.
Essentially all AC tries to achieve 70°F temperature. And to do that your AC will perform at least a 10-minute cooling cycle. But blowing air at 78°F will lead to cooling your home much faster.
So the cooling cycle will be short and your AC will turn off. However, this also leads to uneven temperature distribution inside the house. So your AC will turn on and off in seconds interval.
This is why installing a right-size AC is very important. Much like how you’ll calculate what wire size for a 25 amp breaker you’ll need. Scenarios like this not only hike your electricity bill but also shortens AC lifespan.
Solution:
The actual solution to this issue is replacing your AC unit with the right size. But that’s something most people will want to avoid. After all, it’s not an inexpensive solution.
So an alternative solution would be running your AC at a low cooling temperature. But we must say it’s not a reliable solution. You can also install an extra air handler.
But that’s applicable for only mini-split ACs. the best would be if you go for replacement.
Reason 2: Frozen Evaporator Coil
A frozen evaporator coil can lead to many problems in your air conditioner unit. One of them is AC compressor short cycling. The evaporator coil is located inside the indoor unit of the AC.
When you start the AC it tries to achieve the thermostated temperature. With a frozen evaporator coil, the heated air exchange will be almost non-existent.
So the compressor will shut down. But after some time it’ll restart and this will go on and on. Check out the ac outlets issues in camper while you’re at it.
Solution:
A frozen evaporator coil indicates your AC unit has serious issues. You can’t simply expect it to work properly after unfreezing it.
More issues can come up since it hints at deeper problems. So the right thing to do is to have it evaluated by an expert.
Reason 3: Bad Placement of Thermostat
Locating your thermostat in a proper place is important. Because it measures the temperature in one’s residence. Based on the heat of the air the thermostat determines the cycle.
Things go wrong when it’s located in a place where it can’t do accurate measurements. For example near a window, kitchen, bathroom, or store room.
Placing the thermostat in such places will give an improper reading. This can lead to a messed-up cooling cycle of AC.
Solution:
The above issue has a convenient solution. Just replace the thermostat in a better location. Choose the location wisely.
It should be a centralized location that can determine the temperature of the whole house.
Reason 4: AC Running Low on Refrigerant
Refrigerants are an integral part of air conditioners. It draws in the heated air from the atmosphere. Generally, a fully functional AC doesn’t run out of refrigerant.
But if there’s any leakage in the refrigerant line it’ll ooze out. This problem is also known as a freon leak in AC. Running on low refrigerant leads to low compressor pressure.
As a result, the AC will shut down and turn on repeatedly within short intervals.
Solution:
You might think that refilling the AC with refrigerant will solve the problem. But it won’t. You have to fix the reason for leakage first.
But that is something that can be done by a professional. In the absolute worst case, you’ve to replace the refrigerant line and AC coil.
Reason 5: Clogged Air Filters
Air filters get clogged with dirt over time. It’s why they must be cleaned after some time. Airflow gets constrained when air filters become clogged inside the compressor.
As a result, it must make additional efforts to overcome the insufficiency. This leads to overheating. The AC compressor will shut down as a defense mechanism.
But it’ll start again soon in a minute leading to short cycling.
Solution:
Cleaning the clogged air filters is something you can do at your home. You wouldn’t need professional help for this. But if the air filter is too dirty or damaged it may need a replacement.
Have trouble choosing one? These are some top-notch products-
GE WJ85X10041 Genuine OEM Air Filter
Air filter by Mechanical MERV
Hopefully, now you know the answer- why does my air conditioner cycle on and off?
Any More Questions?
When Should An Ac Compressor Cycle On And Off?
The AC compressor cooling cycle should run for 15-20 minutes. After that, the compressor will shut off. That’s around 2 to 3 times in an hour. But occasionally the cycle can occur more or less.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad AC Compressor?
A failing air compressor will have a hard time turning on. It may also make strange rumbling, clicking, or growling noises. Another symptom is if you see the insufficient release of hot air.
Can A Bad Capacitor Be The Reason For AC Compressor Short Cycling?
Yes, it can be a reason. There’ll be a pattern here. See if your AC shuts off after running for a few seconds. After 30 seconds it’ll start to run again. If this pattern is recognizable then the culprit could be the capacitor. Let an HVAC professional diagnose the issue.
Why Does My Car Ac Cycle On And Off So Much?
Car AC compressor having short cycle problem has similar reasons to home AC units. It can be a refrigerant leak, damaged compressor clutch, or improper charge of refrigerant. A clogged expansion valve can also be the reason.
Final Words
Now you know why your ac compressor cycles on and off every 5 seconds. If your AC unit has similar issues immediately contact an HVAC consultant.
Leaving this issue for longer only shortens its lifespan. It often leads to even bigger problems. So, dealing with it the earliest is the smart thing to do.
Good luck!
Hey, I’m Steven Jones, the founder, and writer of this site. I have worked in Electrical for the past 5 years. I also know how to save energy and how to troubleshoot our electrical devices. I hope you enjoy my blog.
