Nowadays, most people love to turn on the AC in their home or office. It’s the norm today. That’s why it will be very disturbing if the AC compressor shuts off after a few seconds. This condition will make the AC unable to perform well. It pisses you off when the temperature is really hot but your AC can’t freeze the air.
Why does the AC Compressor Shuts Off After a Few Seconds?
First of all, we need to know the reason your AC compressor shuts off. This condition is called “short cycling” Here are some reasons this condition happened:
- Faulty Thermostat
You need to know that the thermostat is an important part of your AC. It will control the whole room temperature. If the thermostat is faulty, it will send an inappropriate signal to the compressor. That’s why a short cycle happens.
- Wrong Thermostat Location
Did you know that the location of the thermostat also affects your AC? If this part is not placed in an appropriate position, it can’t send accurate air temperature readings. Please don’t put your thermostat near a window or close to the kitchen (hot room). This will lead to the air conditioner turns off after 30 seconds.
- Clogged Air Filters
It’s very important to always check your AC’s components. It would be better if you cleaned all parts regularly to prevent the clogged air filters because of the dust. Especially when your AC is working every time and your home is dusty, so you need to clean it regularly.
- Leakage of Refrigerant
Your AC compressor contains refrigerant fluid. It will absorb the heat so your AC can spread the cool air. If the refrigerant fluid is very low, it will cause your AC compressor to shut off. So, please check it regularly to prevent refrigerant leakage.
Why is My AC Compressor Overheating and Shutting Off?
When you find that the AC compressor shuts off after a few seconds, you can check the machine. It probably happens because the machine is overheating. When the machine is overheating, it will be difficult for each component to cool down between each cycle. That’s why the short cycle happens and makes the compressor shut off.
But, why is your AC compressor overheating? This is an important thing you should know. Your AC can overheat for several reasons.
For example, it happens because of the dirty condensing coils and refrigerant leakage. It also happens because of the clogged air filters, so the machine will work harder to cool down the temperature.
What to Do When an AC Compressor Starts then Shuts Off?
Please be calm if your AC has a short cycle. You always have a solution to make your AC work normally. First of all, you can check the position of the thermostat. If it’s inappropriate, then you can move it to the right place.
Check the last time you cleaned the air conditioner to see if the position was correct. Clean the AC, especially the air filters, so all of the clogs will be removed.
It would be better if you called an AC specialist so the problem would be easily detected. Especially if the cause is leakage of refrigerant or a faulty component. You can’t fix it alone by yourself, so you need to call an expert. But please make sure that you choose the right person to fix your AC.
Now you know why the AC compressor shuts off after a few seconds and what you need to do when this happens. When your AC compressor has totally recovered, you have to be careful when using it. Please be wise when you use your AC and make sure you always check it regularly to avoid the short cycle.
