What Causes Heat Pump Short Cycling?

Heat pumps naturally go through “on-off” cycles in order to maintain a specific temperature in your home. However, sometimes these cycles happen more frequently than they should. This is a common problem that heat pumps encounter, called “short cycling.” Short cycling basically means your HVAC system shuts down early before it can complete one of its heating or cooling cycles, only to turn back on again for a brief time. Heat pump short cycling can occur in either heating or cooling mode. If you notice your heat pump starting to short cycle, it’s essential to call for repairs as soon as possible; if you procrastinate… you will risk a system breakdown.

Below are some common causes and warning signs to look out for to keep your family safe and comfortable year round.

Why Does Short Cycling Occur?

A number of reasons can cause heat pump short cycling to happen, but one of the most common culprits is that the HVAC system was improperly sized when it was installed (and now it’s just too powerful for your space). Heat pumps are generally energy efficient alternatives for both heating and cooling your home… but only if they’re installed correctly, that is.

Other common reasons include a malfunctioning thermostat, refrigerant leak, problems with a damaged control board, icing over the coils or issues in the compressor. For example, if your thermostat is not calibrated correctly, the heat pump will end its cycle and shut down prematurely before reaching the target temperature.

Heat Pump Short Cycling Warning Signs

Aside from creating an annoying noise, if your heat pump is short cycling, you’ll not only notice uneven distribution of heating and cooling in your home (such as hot or cold spots), but you’ll probably also notice power bills skyrocketing. If you notice an increase in your bills that you cannot account for because of increased use or a change in seasons, then you should investigate the heat pump as a possible source.

Over-sized units are forced to work harder, subsequently draining power and raising bills. And because they’re straining to get the job done, they also wear down faster resulting in hefty repairs – or possibly requiring a full replacement.

Call the Point Bay Professionals to Help

Short cycling can cause massive damage to your heat pump’s weak points, resulting in a shorter lifespan; that’s why it’s important to call for repairs as soon as you notice a problem. The Point Bay experts are ready to help you with any problems you have with your heat pump in New Jersey. Let our NATE-certified technicians find out why your heat pump is short cycling and put a stop to it.

Give us a call today at 732-349-5059 (or fill out a contact form on our website) for a free, convenient estimate, and one of our trained equipment professionals will set up an appointment to come out to meet with you/your family to discuss your options. Our technicians are ready 24 hours a day to assist you.