“Short-cycling” refers to a problem that can occur in an HVAC system when it shuts down before it can complete one of its heating or cooling cycles. There are a number of reasons why this might happen, but one of the most common is that a HVAC system was improperly sized when it was installed and is too powerful for the space it is supposed to condition.
Short cycling will not only result in inferior heating and/or cooling, but it will place a large strain on the system, forcing it to work harder and age faster, and subsequently drain power and raise bills.
Heat pumps can short cycle in either heating or cooling mode. Whenever short cycling begins, you need to call for repairs as soon as possible for your heat pump in Daytona Beach, FL. If you let the problem persist, you will risk a system breakdown. Contact AC Designs Inc. any time of the day or night when you need help with your heat pump.
Signs Your Heat Pump is Short Cycling
The most immediate sign of short cycling is the sound coming from the heat pump. You should be accustomed to the familiar sound of the fan and then the compressor coming on during the heating and cooling cycles. If this sound starts to change because the compressor is behaving differently (shutting off early), it usually means short cycling is occurring.
Short cycling will often result in an uneven distribution of heating and cooling in your home. If the system shuts down early, it will not have proper time to reach all the rooms. If you find hot or cold spots in your house, call for repairs for the heat pump.
A less obvious warning sign is changes in your power bill. If you notice an increase in your bills that you cannot account for because of increased use or a change in seasons, then you should investigate the heat pump as a possible source. You’ll have a hard time doing this on your own, however: proper diagnosis requires trained HVAC technicians.
How Professionals Can Help
Because short-cycling can come from a variety of sources in a heat pump—loss of refrigerant, icing over the coils, problems with a damaged control board, issues in the compressor—it requires trained professionals to find what is occurring and how to stop it. If the problem is an oversized heat pump, the technicians can advise you about having a replacement put in and if new installation is your best option.
AC Designs Inc. is ready to help you with any problems you have with your heat pump in Daytona Beach, FL. Our technicians are ready 24 hours a day to assist you.