Project story

Short-cycling AC traced to an oversized system

The AC turned on and off every few minutes and the house felt clammy. The system was much larger than the home needed.

The problem

The air conditioner started and stopped every few minutes. The house was cool but felt damp and clammy.
What we found

Refrigerant, electrical parts and the thermostat were normal. A load calculation showed the system was considerably larger than the home needed; it had been sized from the old unit.
The options

Adjust the blower and thermostat settings for longer cycles now, and plan a correctly sized replacement for when the system reaches the end of its life. No replacement was recommended yet.
What was done

The blower speed and thermostat cycle settings were adjusted within the manufacturer’s ranges, and the sizing finding was explained and written down for the future.
The outcome

The system runs longer cycles and the house feels less clammy. The homeowner has the right size on file for when replacement comes.