Air Conditioning Repair Certification (ETI) Practice Exam

Short cycling in an air conditioning system refers to the compressor frequently turning on and off over short periods. This can lead to inefficient operation, as the system does not have enough time to complete full cooling cycles. Short cycling can occur due to several reasons, such as an oversized air conditioning unit, a malfunctioning thermostat, or low refrigerant levels. When the compressor turns on and off too often, it can lead to increased wear and tear on the system components, potentially shortening the lifespan of the air conditioning unit.

The other options describe different issues that are not typical of short cycling. For instance, a unit running continuously without stopping indicates a failure to reach the desired temperature, while taking too long to cool a space points to performance inefficiencies that could result from other causes. Lastly, the scenario where the outdoor fan runs without the compressor typically relates to different operational issues unrelated to the compressor's cycling frequency.