Why My AC Keeps Shutting Off?

If your AC is shutting off suddenly, you’re probably just dealing with a pretty common problem. When the temperature rises inside your Bay Area home, your thermostat will kick on the air conditioning to cool it down. It will then turn off after your home reaches a specific temperature. But if you notice that your AC shuts off randomly every 10 minutes, you’re probably dealing with one of these five things:

Faulty Thermostat

A faulty thermostat can cause your AC to turn off unexpectedly and prematurely. If you want to maintain the airflow through your vents, the AC needs to remain on for a specific amount of time. If it cuts out too soon and frequently, you might see gaps in the time when cool air is blowing. This can make things uncomfortable or too hot. There may be an issue with the thermostat itself, or there might be some other wiring problems that need attention. It’s crucial to keep your AC maintained and working properly so that you stay cool and comfortable all summer long. 

Clogged Air Filters

Air filters provide one of the most important jobs in your home’s air conditioning system. The air filter collects dirt and debris that passes through the blower not to clog up the unit. If you don’t change your filter regularly, this material will continue to build up, eventually obstructing airflow. If your air filter is dirty, this can cause your AC to work harder than it should, which may cause it to overheat and shut off prematurely. Make sure you change the air filter regularly, so this doesn’t happen to you!

Dirty Condenser Coils

A clogged condenser coil will often cause your AC to turn on and off when there is no change in temperature. Things like trees and bushes, as well as high humidity or water leaks, can cause additional dirt and grime to build upon the AC unit’s condenser coils over time. This could cause it to work harder to cool your home and ultimately turn off more often than it should. Condenser coils that aren’t cleaned every few years could even increase your AC’s energy consumption. To ensure your AC is operating efficiently and serving as a reliable part of your comfort system, clean the condenser coils about twice a year, or more depending on how much dirty air enters your home through ventilation sources.

Compressor Problems

The central component in your home’s air conditioning system, the compressor, is an engine that sucks in the refrigerant. It generates the high-pressure system necessary to transport air, removes humidity and keeps your home cool. Designed to be durable, enduring the difficult conditions of heat, humidity, and dust, the compressor can malfunction if not maintained regularly. When the compressor is constantly on the verge of overheating, you may notice your air conditioner kicking off randomly. 

Oversized AC Unit

Running an oversized air conditioner is inefficient for your home. It will exhaust the coils faster, causing the compressor to overheat more quickly. When the compressor shuts down, it cannot recharge fast enough before the room temperature rises again, causing a short cycle of operation. However, when your home heats up again, the compressor will restart your air conditioning after ten to fifteen minutes. This causes inefficient operation of the unit. An oversized unit doesn’t provide consistent temperature in the room, which causes the AC to cycle on and off repeatedly.