Air conditioning problems can be incredibly frustrating, especially if temperatures are reaching record highs just outside your door. One common problem that can cause many homeowners to scratch their heads is when their AC unit turns off after about 15 minutes. One minute your air conditioner could be running fine, and the next, the unit has completely shut off. While this problem can be downright puzzling, it can also put your comfort at risk since your home never gets as cool as you would like it to.
So, why does your air conditioner turn off by itself? There can be several different reasons why this issue is happening. Let’s go over them in more detail below.
Faulty Thermostat
If your air conditioner keeps shutting off, you’ll want to first check the thermostat. Your thermostat may fail to properly sense the temperature inside your home. While this problem can be due to an electrical issue, you might want to replace your thermostat’s batteries to see if this simple fix makes a difference.
Try replacing the batteries, and if the problem persists, don’t hesitate to contact a professional for help. A technician will perform a repair, or they might suggest relocating the thermostat to a different part of the house. If your thermostat is currently in a shady place or near a cool air vent, the device might inaccurately believe that your entire home is cool and could shut off the AC unit as a result.
Dirty Air Filter
Why does your air conditioner turn off by itself? The issue could lie with the air filter. Believe it or not, keeping the filter in your HVAC system clean can make a significant difference when it comes to your comfort, electric bills, and air conditioner performance.
Short cycling is a common problem associated with dirty air filters. When the air filter becomes blocked with debris, this makes it difficult for air to pass to and from the air conditioner’s air handler. This poor airflow can cause the evaporator coils to freeze — and the AC unit can shut off as a result. Additional signs of frozen evaporator coils can include water leaks and a clogged condensate drain line.
Refrigerant Leaks
If your air conditioner keeps shutting off, you’ll also want to be on the lookout for any refrigerant leaks. As your air conditioner gets older, it can experience different types of wear and tear. Corrosion and weakening components could lead to these leaks.
Low refrigerant levels can cause many problems for air conditioning systems. For example, this problem often creates a sudden change in pressure that causes the outdoor compressor unit to shut down.
Damaged Compressor
Your air conditioner has two important components: the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. As we mentioned above, this outdoor system is known as a “compressor.” Like most other parts, this compressor can experience wear and tear over time — and that might be why your AC unit keeps shutting off.
So, why does your air conditioner turn off by itself when it has a damaged compressor? When it comes down to it, your air conditioner can’t do its job without a fully-functioning compressor. If this unit overheats, malfunctions, or fails completely, the entire cooling system will shut down as a result.
The problem could be caused by dirt and debris getting inside the unit, or it could potentially be due to regular old age. No matter the reason, it’s important to contact a professional technician to get to the bottom of the problem once and for all.
Malfunctioning Run Capacitor
If your air conditioner keeps shutting off after checking for the problems listed above, you could be dealing with a faulty run capacitor. What is a run capacitor? Think of it as the device that gives air conditioning units a sudden rush of energy when starting a new cooling cycle. The run capacitor is constantly storing energy, which it will provide to ensure that the air conditioner’s fan motor is running properly.
When you have a malfunctioning run capacitor on your hands, the air conditioner won’t receive the continuous supply of energy it needs to keep on running. In the end, this could be why your air conditioner starts then stops after only a few seconds.
Oversized AC
When your air conditioner keeps shutting off, you should check to make sure that your cooling system isn’t too large for your house. Although you might think installing an oversized air conditioner will benefit you and your family in the long run, it won’t actually improve your comfort. Instead, you might experience the exact opposite.
If your AC is too big, it’ll finish cooling your home much quicker than if you’d installed a smaller unit. While this may seem like a perk, the air conditioner will end up shutting down much quicker as a result. As you can probably imagine, you could end up experiencing hot and cold spots throughout your home, as well as higher energy bills.
How can you fix this problem? It all comes down to contacting a professional for a New Haven AC replacement. It’s important to ensure that you install an air conditioner that fits your home’s size and cooling needs.
Schedule a Service With Our Air Conditioning Experts
Why does your air conditioner turn off by itself? There are many potential reasons for this issue, which is why you should call an experienced heating and cooling company that will help you diagnose and fix the problem.
Air Specialties is here to provide you with a dependable solution, whether you’re dealing with a damaged AC compressor or a refrigerant leak. Contact us today to learn more about our CT air conditioning repairs!
