Air Compressor Short Cycling: Causes and Fixes

Short cycling means the compressor starts and stops frequently, which overheats the motor and wears components faster.

Common Causes

Undersized receiver, narrow pressure band settings, leaks and oversized compressors all cause frequent cycling.

Diagnosing the Cause

Watch how quickly pressure falls after the compressor stops to find whether demand, leaks or storage is the issue.

Fixing It

Add receiver capacity, widen the pressure band, repair leaks and match the compressor to the actual load.

Contact us for storage and control advice to stop short cycling.