Why Is My Heat Pump Short Cycling So Much?

Ordinarily, your heat pump should move through cycles of action and rest in response to the temperature changes occurring in your Spring Valley, NV, home. Short cycling occurs when your system turns off before reaching the proper temperature, and it has the potential to completely undermine your system’s ability to work. Let’s look at a few reasons your heat pump may have started short cycling.

Low Refrigerant Levels

Heat pumps use refrigerant to move heat from one area to another. The substance should evaporate in one place, absorbing heat from the surrounding air, and later condense in another place, releasing the heat that it carries. Depending on the direction in which refrigerant flows, heat pumps can use this process to either heat or cool your home.

However, the volume of refrigerant present in your system determines how much heat it can move over the course of one cycle. If refrigerant ever leaks, your heat pump will have to work harder and pass through cycles faster to achieve adequate results for you. This can easily lead to short cycling.

Airflow Issues

Dirty air filters can cause many problems. Not only can they allow dust to spread through your home and decrease your indoor air quality, but they’re also the primary impediment to smooth airflow.

Diminished airflow may cause your system to overheat and turn off. After it cools down, it may start up again, resulting in short cycling.

Oversized Heat Pump

Lastly, your heat pump may be too large for your home. If so, it’ll quickly bring temperatures to a desired level and shut off before completing a cycle. The only lasting solution to this is to install a new heat pump of the proper size.

Short cycling can raise your electricity bills, create temperature irregularities and wear down the heat pump’s components. No homeowner in Spring Valley, NV, should tolerate it. To resolve this problem, call Super Service Cooling & Heating and ask for our heat pump services.

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