Is It Considered Normal for an Air Conditioner To Run Every 10 Minutes?

January 25, 2024

Are you experiencing issues with your air conditioning constantly turning on, off, and on again? It’s normal for a central AC system to cycle on and off a few times an hour. On much hotter days or if your home is poorly insulated, you may also find that your AC system never stays off for all that long. However, there are also times when an AC that never runs for very long or cycles on and off constantly can indicate it has some type of issue. In this article, we’ll explain how long and often your AC should normally run so you can more easily determine if it isn’t working correctly or has any issues. Typical AC Cooling Cycles How often your air conditioning will run and how long it will stay off depends on the outdoor temperature, as this will impact how quickly your home starts heating back up after the AC shuts off. Thermostats are typically calibrated to signal the AC to start running when the temperature rises from 1 to 3 degrees above whatever the thermostat is set to. A cooling cycle is when the air conditioning turns on until it cools the home down to the...

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Tips and Tricks for Finding Your Ideal Sleep Temperature

August 14, 2023

Why Good Sleep Matters High-quality sleep is essential for your overall health and well-being. As you sleep, your body rests, rejuvenates, and repairs itself. Throughout this process, the human brain consolidates memories, processes emotions, and regulates several bodily functions. While many people consider a good night’s rest to be at least eight hours, proper sleep is more than just a number. Doctors explain that a healthy amount of sleep includes uninterrupted rest, sufficient duration, and the proper progression through different sleep cycles. Quality sleep also plays a significant role in cognitive function, memory retention, and learning. By getting a good night’s sleep, you’ll be able to improve your concentration, focus, and problem-solving abilities. On the journey to satisfying sleep, the temperature can change everything. The optimal sleep temperature plays a big role in your ability to achieve restful sleep. As your internal thermostat works to keep a stable core temperature during sleep, a sleep environment that is too hot or too cold can disrupt the process. Additionally, feeling too hot as you sleep can lead to night sweats, restlessness, and frequent awakenings, while excessive cold can lead to muscle tension and discomfort. The Science Behind Sleep Temperature Scientists point out...

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10 Mini-Split Maintenance and Upkeep Tips

June 1, 2023

Mini-split maintenance extends your heating and cooling system’s life span, prevents costly repairs, reduces energy usage, and improves indoor comfort. Always leave major upkeep in the hands of a heating and cooling specialist. This way, you’ll enjoy great peace of mind because you’ll have an expert maintaining your system. You can also use our guide on 10 mini-split maintenance and upkeep tips to keep your system maintained properly. 1. Inspect the System A thorough inspection performed by a licensed and certified technician is the first step in effective mini-split maintenance. The tech will walk the entire system, carefully listening to see if the air handler or condenser makes any weird noises. They will also check the air handler’s discharge temperature and see if the short system cycles. Mini-split inefficiency and increased energy costs will result from short cycling. In addition, repeated short cycling causes unnecessary wear and strain on the unit, which can lead to early system failure. This makes regular mini-split maintenance all the more important. If you’re located anywhere in the vicinity of O’Fallon, simply reach out to our professionals at for assistance. 2. Clear Some Space Ductless mini-split systems require less space for installation compared to traditional...

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Does My HVAC Motor Need to Be Replaced?

September 19, 2022

The last thing you want is your AC system to fail you during the summer. You want your HVAC blower motor to be working in peak condition. However, several factors can lead to the HVAC system becoming ineffective. Often, these are minor issues that our technicians at can quickly fix. At other times, they are more complicated issues that require major components be replaced, such as your blower motor. The blower motor is a critical component of your HVAC system. If it’s not working correctly, it will negatively impact the air quality of your home. The following tips can help you decide if it’s time to replace the motor in your HVAC system. What Is Your AC Blower Motor? The blower motor is a component of your air conditioning system that blows cooled air through the vents in your house. The cool air your air conditioner creates is circulated through your ductwork throughout the indoor space. The blower motor ensures that your home’s temperature reaches the level indicated by the thermostat. This is accomplished via a spinning fan that forces air through the ducts and vents in your home. The speed of your blower motor is controlled by its resistor....

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R-22 vs R-410A: Is There a Difference?

September 13, 2022

Older AC systems used to use R-22, whereas nowadays air conditioners use R-410A. Both of these chemicals are refrigerants, which is what AC systems use to absorb heat. The use of R-22 has been almost completely banned, and R-410A is also about to be phased out. To understand why this is, let’s look at how these chemicals work and the differences between R-22, R-410A and other refrigerants. Understanding the Importance of Refrigerant to Your AC System Whether it is R-22, R-410A or another refrigerant, these chemicals are what allow your AC system to cool your home. Air conditioners use a process known as heat transfer to capture heat from the air inside your home. The heat transfer process also works to allow the AC condenser to disperse this heat back outside. Due to the laws of physics, heat energy naturally flows to any areas or surfaces that are at a lower temperature. To cool your home, your AC compresses a gas refrigerant into a liquid. This releases any heat and instantly cools the refrigerant. Inside your home is an evaporator coil, which is filled with this cold refrigerant. Since the air being drawn into the system is hotter than the...

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What to Know About AC Servicing: Timing, Frequency, and Maintenance Tasks

August 10, 2022

Even if you purchased the highest-rated AC unit on the market, it will require service at some point. Otherwise, the quality of its performance decreases as it struggles to function well enough to keep you and your family comfortable. The result is durability issues and poor energy efficiency that can cost you more long-term. The harder the unit works, the higher your electricity bill. Alternately, maintaining your AC unit helps to keep the system running smoothly year after year. The question becomes how often should you have your air conditioner serviced? Some experts recommend yearly checkups. Others recommend having your AC unit serviced every six months. Regardless of the frequency, there are common maintenance standards to improve efficiency. Benefits of Regular AC Unit Service There are many benefits to scheduling regular maintenance for your AC unit. For one, you will enjoy utility bill savings. An air conditioner that performs properly improves the cooling of your home. The reduction of energy consumption translates to reduced power rates and a lower utility bill. You will also enjoy repair bill savings. Since your AC could stop working at any time, regular checkups let you know of any issues with parts or system functions...

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How to Help Your AC Perform at Its Best

July 20, 2022

It’s no secret that an efficient air conditioner is crucial during hot days. When your AC isn’t functioning properly, your home’s air isn’t the only thing that suffers. The energy bill takes a hit, too. Before tackling the ways to fix this problem, here are some things to look for when determining your AC’s performance. Your Unit Cycles Too Often An AC that’s functioning properly should have fairly set schedules of running and turning off. If your unit seems to turn on and off too quickly, there may be a problem with your thermostat. If your thermostat isn’t reacting to the temperature changes correctly, it will tell the AC the wrong information about when and how long to run. The Compressor Has Ice on It A leak in your AC’s coolant line is the most common cause of ice buildup on the unit. Another potential cause is a dirty filter. If there’s ice on the AC’s compressor, you can be certain it isn’t functioning properly. It’s best to call an HVAC professional to get the matter handled. Strange Sounds Although your AC will make certain sounds when functioning normally, sounds that are loud or unusual suggest something isn’t right. If...

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Air Conditioning and Humidity in Your Home

July 15, 2022

If you’ve noticed that your home feels sticky or damp, you may be experiencing high humidity levels. High humidity levels can be caused by a few different things, including the weather, but if your home feels muggy, it’s a good idea to make sure that your air conditioning system is running properly and working the way it should be. High humidity levels in the home can often be a sign that your air conditioning system is failing. Can an AC System Cause High Humidity Levels? Generally, air conditioning systems should help to dehumidify your home, as opposed to increasing humidity in the home. If your home feels stickier or more humid than normal, it could be a sign that a key component of the system has failed or that the air conditioning unit isn’t working efficiently. Most air conditioning systems work by pushing warm air over a series of coils located in the main air conditioning unit. These coils quickly cool the air, and that air is brought back into the home through vents, fans, and ducts, cooling each room to the proper temperature. As the warm air passes over the coils and cools, water vapor in the air also...

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Learn Why Your AC Is Leaking Water

May 18, 2022

An AC comes in handy when dealing with the hot summer climate. It’s one of the best ways to keep your home cool and comfortable. However, over time, you have to deal with repairs and maintenance issues, especially if it is nearing the end of its life cycle. One of the main problems you should be ready to deal with is a leaking air conditioner. If not handled on time, this small problem can evolve into other issues, including mold growth, damaged walls and ceilings, and wet floors, not to mention the poor performance of your AC. To understand why your AC is leaking water, you need to know how an AC works. How Does an AC Work? The first thing you need to know about air conditioners is that they don’t cool the air; they remove indoor heat and transfer it outside. Among other components, the unit works via filtered return vents, an evaporator coil, and a condenser. The return vents suck the warm, humid air from living spaces and blow it over the evaporator coil. The heat is absorbed by the refrigerant, turning it into a hot gas. Free of humidity and heat, the air is then blown...

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How Long Can an AC Run Continuously?

May 15, 2022

Whether you own your home or you’re renting, odds are that your air conditioner is one of the most important appliances in your home during the hot summer months in O’Fallon, MO. Not only does it keep the indoor temperature comfortable, but it also helps to remove humidity from the air. However, some air conditioning systems have a limit on how long they can run continuously. This begs the question: How long can an air conditioner unit run continuously before it needs to be shut off? The answer depends on the type of unit. How Long Can a Wall AC Unit Run Continuously? You may have heard that air conditioning systems need to be rested periodically in order to prevent overheating and damage. Exactly how long the air conditioner can run continuously without causing problems, however, varies depending on factors such as the unit’s size, age, and cooling capacity. In some cases, you may not need to turn your home’s air conditioner off at all! The biggest determinant in how long you should run your AC is whether your home uses central air or a wall/window unit. In general, wall and window air conditioning units with smaller capacities can typically...

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