Your air conditioner shouldn’t be running indefinitely; call our specialized team to help your unit cycle normally again!
As you would expect from any southern city, Fort Myers Beach, FL, has humid summers and mild and comfortable winters. This city is especially known for its tropical climate; April to October sees average highs ranging from 80 to 88 degrees (even though some days in July transcend to the mid-90s). When these days hit, you depend on your cooling unit — but what happens if your AC won’t turn off?
Your unit powering off is just as crucial as turning on. It keeps your energy bills low and your carbon footprint small. Below, our Coral Air Conditioning team delves further into this issue, expanding on the common causes of long cycling and what to do to address the issue.
How Long Should My Air Conditioner Run?
Your Fort Myers Beach system should cycle between 15 to 20 minutes each time it turns on, with exceptions for unusually hot days, where it takes slightly longer to bring your indoor temperature down to your desired setting. From there, your cooling system cuts off; it’ll turn on again when the temperature rises. In total, there should be about three cycles each hour.
However, if your air conditioner (whether it’s a simple window unit or a whole-home centralized system) is running the entire hour or more without breaks, you likely have a malfunctioning part.
Thermostat Issues That Keep Your Fort Myers Beach, FL, Unit From Turning Off
When your AC won’t turn off, the first thing you should look at is the household or unit thermostat.
Incorrect Temperature Settings
Sometimes, a simple nudge or accidental touch resets your Fort Myers Beach thermostat to a lower setting, causing your unit to work longer. For instance, it takes at least an hour to reduce indoor temperatures by about 10 degrees, so setting your unit to 68 degrees means longer cycles than if you set it to 78. However, readjusting it should get your unit’s cycles back on track.
Faulty Thermostats
Other times, your AC won’t turn off if its temperature sensors can’t read or relay temperatures. Changing the batteries can help, especially if the lights or display screen aren’t working, but if it doesn’t, call for premium AC repair services in Fort Myers Beach. Experts can calibrate the system and repair faulty wiring, going as far as to replace the thermostat if it is old or beyond repair.
Incorrect AC Settings
Your Fort Myers Beach unit may appear to be running nonstop if the fan option is on. Unless you turn the fan off manually, you’ll hear it between AC unit cycles. So, do so or set it to auto so it doesn’t function when the unit is cycling.
Coil Issues Keeping Your Unit From Turning Off in Fort Myers Beach
The evaporator and condenser coils in the indoor and outdoor unit compartments, respectively, are also important. Refrigerant runs through the former in a liquid state and absorbs heat from the air that passes over the coil. It then evaporates and travels to the condenser unit for pressurizing to release the heat outside your Fort Myers Beach home and revert to a liquid to restart the process.
Dirty Coils
Unfortunately, a layer of dust and debris over the coils keeps the refrigerant from optimally absorbing heat, meaning each cycle is less effective. Therefore, your unit prolongs cycles to make up for the lower cooling capacity, giving the appearance that your AC won’t turn off. When this happens, clean the coils with a cloth and replace your filters so they catch the particles.
Frozen Coils
Frozen coils are another issue that can arise, barring heat transfer during cycles. Ice formation usually occurs if trapped water freezes in your Fort Myers Beach system. A professional will unclog drain lines and wipe drain pans, which also helps with humidity control.
Trust a Family-Owned Team Right Here in Fort Myers Beach, FL!
Whether you’re having problems with a damaged fan relay switch or compressor, you may notice long or short cycling. While a DIY fix can remedy some cases, you’ll need a professional team to handle the rest.
At Coral Air Conditioning, our family-owned business is comprised of certified and licensed contractors who heavily rely on core values to do right by our customers. So, whether you want to understand the reasons your AC keeps tripping the breaker or why your AC won’t turn off, book a service with our Fort Myers Beach, FL, team today!
