If your AC unit turns on, runs for a few minutes, then shuts off before the house starts to feel cooler, that’s usually the first clue something is off. One common reason is AC short cycling, which means the system keeps starting and stopping before it finishes a normal cooling cycle.

At first, it may not seem serious. Cool air might still come through the vents, and the house may feel mostly fine for a while. But what you may not realize is that each restart puts stress on the system. Startup is one of the hardest parts of the cycle. Over time, that repeated stop-and-start pattern can wear parts down faster and push your energy costs higher.

In Texas, where AC systems often run hard for long stretches of time, short cycling tends to show up faster and create problems sooner. It’s helpful to know what causes it, what you can … Read Full Post »