How Long Can My Air Conditioner Run Continuously?

The humid Wisconsin summers mean that your air conditioner often has to work overtime to keep your home cool. As a result, we often get questions from customers asking if it’s okay for their air conditioning to run constantly. The answer is yes, it is fine if you leave your air conditioning constantly switched on. However, the condenser unit shouldn’t run constantly as this will quickly cause the motor to burn out. Moreover, if the condenser unit is running continuously, this indicates that your AC system isn’t working properly and needs to be repaired. To understand why, let’s take a look at cooling cycles to see how long the condenser unit should run under normal conditions.

Understanding Cooling Cycles

The condenser unit is the part of the air conditioning system that sits outside the home, and it serves two primary purposes. The first is to supply cold refrigerant liquid to the evaporator coil inside the indoor air handler unit, and the second is to release heat outside the home and compress the refrigerant back into a liquid.

As hot air passes over the evaporator coil, the refrigerant absorbs much of the heat from the air. This causes the refrigerant to heat up and turn from a liquid to a gas. The hot refrigerant then travels back out to the condenser where it flows through another series of coils to allow the heat to be released into the air outside. Finally, the condenser forces the cooled refrigerant through a compressor, which turns the refrigerant back into a liquid.

Your thermostat signals the condenser to turn on and start this cycle when the house gets warmer than the temperature the thermostat is set to. Once the condenser unit is on, it should run for approximately 15 to 20 minutes before switching off again. Typically, the condenser will perform two full cycles every hour or possibly three cycles in hotter or more humid conditions.

If the condenser runs more frequently than this, it usually indicates that the system is short-cycling. This essentially means that the condenser unit is shutting off before completing a full cycle. When this happens, the unit will typically attempt to start a new cycle immediately, which means the system will run almost constantly. Short cycling leads to increased energy use as well as greater wear and tear on the condenser. If not taken care of, the problem will usually cause the condenser to burn out and need to be replaced.

Common Causes of Short-Cycling

Numerous issues can cause a condenser to short-cycle. One of the most common causes is a clogged air filter, and this issue can be overcome simply by replacing the air filter. To prevent this, all you need to do is make sure to replace your filter at least once every one to three months.

Short-cycling can also occur if the condenser is either oversized or undersized. If the unit is too small, it will need to run almost constantly since it isn’t powerful enough to properly cool the home. If the unit is too big, the thermostat will typically signal it to turn off before completing a full cycle. In both cases, the problem will lead to higher energy bills and decreased home comfort. In these situations, your only real option is to replace the unit with one that is the appropriate size for your home.

Short cycling can also indicate that there is a leak in one of the refrigerant lines. If the system doesn’t have enough refrigerant, it won’t be able to properly absorb heat from inside the home and thus will need to run almost constantly. This issue can also cause either the evaporator coil in the air handler or the condenser coil in the condenser unit to freeze up. If you attempt to run your air conditioning while it is frozen, it will quickly cause the condenser motor to overheat and burn out. To prevent this, it is important that you not turn the AC on until you have a technician repair the leak and add more refrigerant into the system.

Professional AC Repairs and Maintenance

If your condenser is short-cycling or you’re experiencing any other issues with your air conditioning system, the experts at Hometown Heating, Air & Electric are here to help. We are available 24/7 for emergency repairs, and our NATE-certified technicians can repair and maintain all AC makes and models. We also specialize in air conditioner installation and replacements as well as a full range of heating and electrical services. With two locations in Cedarburg and Brookfield, we serve customers throughout the greater Milwaukee area. For more information or to schedule service, give the team at Hometown Heating, Air & Electric a call today.

How To Prepare Air Conditioner for the Summer

Keeping your home cool when the temperature goes past 90 degrees is important, and if you want to have an air conditioner that works reliably all summer long, there are some things you should do right now to improve the chances that your system won’t cause you problems later. Here are some tips for getting your air conditioner ready for the hot weather in Cedarburg, WI.

Clean the Filter

There’s a filter on your air conditioner that removes contaminants and particulates from the air. It prevents your air conditioner from overworking, and it preserves the quality of the air you and your family breathe. Ideally, you should be cleaning or replacing this filter every couple of months when the unit is in operation. Taking care of this now is a good place to begin.

Clean the Indoor Unit

Air conditioning systems have both an indoor and an outdoor component to them, and making sure that the indoor part is clean is important to both the health of your AC system and the overall health of your family. There can be a buildup of dust and other debris in various parts of the equipment. The first thing you should do when you’re trying to get your air conditioner ready for the summer is to take the time to clean the indoor unit.

Always start by turning off the power to the air conditioner at the electrical box. This is vital for your own protection. You should remove the cover of the evaporator coil and dust it off with a soft cloth. Use a vacuum cleaner if necessary.

Mold can build up in the unit, which can be bad for your health. You can prevent this in the drip pan by using a solution of bleach and water to clean it before replacing it under the condenser coil.

Finally, if there’s a clog in the drain, you’ll want to clear it so that the system continues to take humidity out of the air properly. If water is slow going down the line, you can go to the place where everything empties out. Take a wet/dry vac and suck everything out for a couple of minutes. Make sure that you have a tight seal so that you’re removing the clog.

Clean the Outside Unit

When it’s time to clean the outside unit, you’ll need to remove the grate, which will probably require that you take off a few screws. If you didn’t have a cover on the equipment, you’ll likely find some dirt, twigs and leaves inside it. You can easily get rid of this debris by removing all of the big pieces first and using a vacuum to suck out the rest.

You’ll want to clean the condenser coil, and you can find a cleaner designed for this task at a home improvement store. Follow the directions on the bottle. After applying it and waiting a few minutes, use a hose to spray it away along with any remaining debris. Finally, you should make sure that all of the fins are straight because bent fins can really hamper the efficiency of your unit.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

If you have an older, very basic thermostat, you should upgrade to an energy-efficient programmable model. This simple change can save you hundreds of dollars throughout the course of the summer. This type of thermostat will let you set your ideal temperature for when you’re at home and automatically adjust it for when you’re not. You can also make adjustments using an app on your cell phone. If you’ll be coming home an hour early one night, you can remotely adjust your system to start cooling your house sooner than it normally would.

Check the Ductwork

Another energy-saving tip is to check the ductwork for leaks. Even a seemingly small leak means that cool air isn’t reaching the areas of the house where you actually intend it to go. You can use duct tape, mesh and duct mastic to repair the crack or hole in the ductwork.

Implementing these tips can give you peace of mind and save you money throughout the summer. Because your system will be running more effectively, you can feel more confident that it will make it through the season without a hitch. If you’d like more information on this topic or you require any assistance, take advantage of the many services that Hometown Heating, Air & Electric offers to residents of Cedarburg. We provide heating, cooling and indoor air quality installation, maintenance and repair. Call us today.