Short Cycling – The System That Can’t Make Up Its Mind

James Farmer

November 1, 2025

When your HVAC system turns on and off every few minutes, it’s called short cycling. It feels like the unit is working harder, but it’s actually wearing itself out faster.
Chatterbox watches your cycle times, compressor starts, and runtime efficiency, so when we see five or six starts in ten minutes, we know something’s wrong.
Short cycling can stem from incorrect thermostat placement, low refrigerant, or airflow restrictions. Once we pinpointed the root cause, the system ran in smooth, longer cycles, improving efficiency and comfort.
The result: lower electric bills and less wear on expensive components.

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