Short cycle? Something else?

8 months ago

When the thermostat was set at 72 the fan would start, then turn off immediately, this was continuous and would not turn on. I changed the temp to 70, it would not turn on at all, but the temp changed to 70.

I changed it to 66, and same issue, but eventually it turned on, stayed for a few minutes then turned off, does this repeatedly, but does cool the house.

A/c won't stay on unless the thermostat is set very low, does not turn on at all if it is set close to the temp.

Had maintenance come, he was not experienced in this particular problem and the head guy won't be back until Tuesday.

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Comments (7)

klem1
8 months ago
If help that's available can't fix it demand management hire a contractor that can. Odds are after waiting until head knocker comes back he can't fix it either. You pay for 24 hour emergency maintenance , management is cutting corners by not holding up their end of the deal.
User
Original Author
8 months ago
Fortunately, the a/c is working, but I do have to keep it on 66 for it to keep working. I'm positive the head guy will know what's wrong, and will fix it.
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User
Original Author
8 months ago
Idk, I guess to irritate you?? I would like an idea of what may be the issue, is that not what this forum is for?
PRO
Austin Air Companie
8 months ago
I would like an idea of what may be the issue, is that not what this forum is for?

HVAC is an in person job that is trying to be done on this board often by enthusiasts who *try* to do this job in the form of acting like they are helping you.

The thermostat is an elaborate switch that sends power to turn the unit on or off. It is not a *gas* peddle.

Once the temp on the thermostat is lower than room temp for AC or set higher for Heat the unit will turn on.

If you have a two speed system moving the dial higher or lower can initiate a faster speed... but most of the time the system in question is often times a single speed system.

Because of this conundrum: what you think you have versus what you actually do have in the form of an HVAC system -- all this when you are saying things that show you lack the knowledge of how a thermostat actually works. (Let's guess)

There is no such thing as an HVAC psychic. Enthusiasts get into this "help" business because they get notoriety, fame and possibly some fortune in the way of "clicks" in return for acting like they are helping you. Acting and doing are two very different things. Or they get to play key board warrior and fight with those who ACTUALLY do HVAC for a living. (Or Used to as in the case of Klem1.)

This isn't to put you down. This is to provide you context to "help" you. It's up to you to listen and choose wisely.

I service the Katy, Texas area.
mike_home
8 months ago
Hi Allison,

This forum is open to everyone to ask questions and seek advice. Knowledge of how HVAC equipment operates is helpful but not required.

I take it you live in an apartment building and you rely on the building's maintenance staff to fix things. Perhaps the head guy (supervisor?) will able to determine why the thermostat is not behaving correctly.

Do you have an old mechanical type thermostat, or is it the type with a digital display? It is possible the thermostat is old and needs to be replaced. You should be able to set the thermostat at 72 degrees and have the AC maintain that temperature. If you are paying the electric bill, then constant cycling on and off wastes electricity. You can explain that to the maintenance supervisor as a reason this problem needs to be resolved quickly.

The user manual of the thermostat can be found on line if you are able to provide the brand and model number of the thermostat. This would be good information to have in the case of a programmable thermostat.
klem1
8 months ago
I yearn for days of yore when the crystal ball was at beck and call
klem1
8 months ago
When I was a kid we watched sci-fi movies about exploring outer space and depicting robots ruling the universe. Exploring outer space has become almost mundane and by all indications robot rule is on the horizon. Case in point people subscribe and pay the website Just Answer for solutions. I'm no exception, I figured it was cheaper than asking lawyers so I paid to ask a legal question. My question was "can jp court award punitive damages". Pretty generic huh? In response Just Answer referred me to the state of Texas law library in Austin. After getting lost in the boondocks my friend wasn't having much luck with asking Seri or some such for directions so I decided to show him how we did it back in the day. Spoting some old gentlmen geathered in front of a country store I asked my friend to pull over. I asked "have any of yall lived around here all your life"? Responses ranged from "Not yet" to "I hope not". Damned old smart alecks !