If your Amana air conditioner keeps turning off, it’s likely short cycling. Dirt and damaged or defective components are why your Amana air conditioner may keep turning off. “Short cycling” refers to when the air conditioner’s cooling cycle ends too fast and turns on again after a short time. It depends on the indoor and outdoor conditions, but typically the system will turn on and off every 5 to 10 minutes.
An air conditioner that switches on and off several times is a problem to manage. The AC unit needs more power to start repeatedly than to run smoothly, as it does in longer cycles. It can also cause wear and tear on the mechanisms that work to turn on the AC. The electric bill will increase dramatically and your AC will develop many problems and require repairs often.
Why does the AC keep turning on and off and how can you fix it
Short cycling has an easy fix and here are the most common problems that make the Amana air conditioner turn off:
Problems with the thermostat
If your AC unit turns off right after it comes on, you should check out the thermostat. Even if it’s a small component of your cooling system, it monitors the temperature of the whole house. A thermostat running correctly is crucial for the proper operation of your AC.
When the thermostat doesn’t get an accurate temperature reading and sends false information, it could make your air conditioner start and stop continuously. If the thermostat screen is blank or fading, its batteries may be low. As a result, the AC system turns on and off continuously.
The fix
Replace the batteries, restart the thermostat, and look at the settings. If your AC system keeps turning off even after replacing the batteries on your thermostat, you must call an HVAC technician. He will diagnose the thermostat and replace it if need be.
The thermostat’s placement is poor
The thermostat measures the air temperature around and signals the AC when it’s time to run or stop. Its readings will be off when you place it:
Close to a window where it receives direct sunlight
Under a supply air vent where there’s direct airflow over it
Near a room that it’s always hotter than the rest of your house (the kitchen or the bathroom)
In any of these scenarios, the thermostat will receive inaccurate and poor readings, erratically causing the AC to turn on and off.
The fix
You need to find the best place for the thermostat in the center of your house to get accurate readings for the temperature inside your house.
The condenser coils are dirty
When the outside AC unit turns on and off and you’ve missed maintenance for the AC for some time, dirt and debris might cover the AC’s condenser coils. Condenser coils are inside the outdoor AC unit and generate heat from inside the house. When they’re caked in dirt and grime, the AC unit overheats and turns off repeatedly.
Clogged air filters can cause many problems on the AC and short cycling is one. The air filter’s role is to trap and stop dirt, dust, and particles from entering the air conditioner. If the air filter is filthy, it gets clogged and blocks airflow to the AC system—it’s only a matter of time until the AC unit starts short-cycling.
When the AC unit is too big for your house, it won’t run the proper refrigerant cycle and develop various issues, such as cooling the house too quickly and turning it off right after it turns on. It’s not good as the house won’t cool evenly and the AC will turn on sooner. If the AC turns on and off every 10 minutes, the unit is too big for your house.
An oversized air conditioner can lead to many problems, such as:
The energy bills increase significantly as an AC turning on and off repeatedly uses more energy
Short cycling leads to more wear and tear on the AC components. As a result, the AC will require frequent servicing and repair work.
If the AC compressor is overheating, malfunctioning, or begins to fail, the AC unit will shut off right after it has started. If the AC compressor shuts off after 2-3 minutes of operation, the AC compressor is probably overheating or beginning to fail.
The fix
You must contact an HVAC professional to diagnose and probably replace the AC compressor. When the compressor isn’t operating as it should, it can make other components degrade from excessive wear and tear.
There is a refrigerant leak
When there’s a refrigerant leak, the air conditioner will become low on refrigerant. Refrigerant is the coolant that cycles through the AC system; its role is to absorb heat and cool down the air inside the house.
Some people think refrigerant is part of the AC system’s cooling process. However, small holes will make the refrigerant escape. If the AC doesn’t have enough refrigerant, the compressor will malfunction and turn off the compressor due to low pressure. When the compressor is off, the pressure will increase again and turn back on. This leads to a short cycle that makes the AC wear and tears long before its time. It’s only a matter of time until some components get defective or the whole system fails.
The fix
Refrigerant leaks are dangerous and you need to contact an HVAC professional to find and solve the leak.
The evaporator coils are frozen
When the AC system develops airflow problems or refrigerant leaks, probably the evaporator coils have frozen. If that’s the problem with your system, the AC turns off until the ice thaws and then turns back on.
The fix
Look at the outdoor AC unit and see if there’s ice buildup. If you’ve already examined the air filters, a refrigerant leak is probably the cause of your AC turning off right after it has started. Contact an HVAC company for repair work.
What if the air conditioner turns on and off immediately?
If the AC unit turns on and off immediately (just a few seconds of running), problems with the electrical elements or the run capacitor could cause it.
Electrical issues
Electrical issues can lead to short cycling. A problem with the electrical supply line or the capacitor (broken or failing) can cause short cycling. There could also be an electrical problem because of the thermostat, electrical connections in the system, or the circuit boards.
The fix
Contact a professional electrician. Even if it’s not difficult to diagnose electrical problems, it can be dangerous to diagnose and fix electrical problems.
Faulty run capacitor
The AC’s run capacitor has to give the AC unit the initial power to turn on; it also gives continuous power for the system to keep operating. When the capacitor becomes defective, the power to the system will become intermittent, so the AC will turn off and on all of a sudden.
When the air conditioner stops a few seconds after it has started (30 seconds or so), the run capacitor may be the leading cause. More often than not, you will have to replace the run capacitor.
The fix
We advise contacting an HVAC technician to diagnose and replace the AC capacitor. If the run capacitor is defective, several AC unit components will work harder than usual and wear out too soon.
The drain line is clogged
Many AC systems come with a float switch—a safety feature that turns off the system when water in the drain line doesn’t flow properly and backs up. If you turn the thermostat to AUTO, the air doesn’t circulate as it should, and a clogged drain line makes for the cause—if you have eliminated thermostat and electrical issues.
The fix
You need to proceed to unclog the AC drain line. There are strict steps to follow, so you gather all the necessary information before doing it.
The ductwork is damaged
If the ductwork has an obstruction or tear, the air conditioner will turn on and off repeatedly. The ductwork has to spread the cool air throughout the house. When the ductwork is blocked, it will restrict proper airflow, so the air conditioner will work harder and turn on and off erratically.
The fix
Check out and clean the ductwork from time to time or hire a professional company for ductwork cleaning services.
