Extreme attic heat
North Texas attics get punishingly hot in summer. Ducts and equipment sitting in that heat lose capacity before conditioned air reaches the rooms.
Diagnostics
Why does my AC run constantly?
An air conditioner that never shuts off is doing exactly what it was designed to do: replace heat as fast as it enters the house. The real question is where all that heat is coming from — attic temperatures, duct losses, air leakage, solar gain, insulation levels, or equipment that no longer performs to spec.
Every recommendation traces back to something we measured.
Likely causes
What's usually behind it
Duct leakage and poor airflow
Leaky or crushed ducts and undersized returns mean the system moves less air than it was designed to move.
Air leakage and insulation gaps
Conditioned air escapes and hot attic air enters through top-plate gaps, can lights, attic hatches and duct chases.
Solar gain through glass
Large west-facing windows can add load faster than the system can remove it in late afternoon.
Equipment condition
Low refrigerant charge, dirty coils, failing capacitors or an aging compressor reduce delivered capacity.
What we check
- Supply and return temperature split
- Attic temperature and duct condition
- Return air sizing and filter restriction
- Insulation coverage and depth
- Visible air-leakage pathways
- Room-by-room temperature differences
- Equipment age, efficiency and operating condition
Improvements that resolve it
- Duct sealing, repair or redesign
- Attic air sealing and insulation improvement
- Return-air corrections and airflow balancing
- Roof-deck spray foam or conditioned-attic strategies where appropriate
- Right-sized high-efficiency HVAC replacement when the equipment is genuinely the limiting factor
Related solutions
Where the fix comes from
Questions
Common questions
Is constant running always bad?
No. Variable-speed and properly sized systems intentionally run long, low-capacity cycles — that improves humidity control. The problem is running constantly and still not holding the set temperature.
Should I just buy a bigger unit?
Usually not. Oversized equipment short-cycles, controls humidity poorly and does nothing about the leakage or duct losses that created the symptom. We measure the load before recommending capacity.
Next step
Find out what's actually happening in your home
Request your free Home Energy & Comfort Assessment, or call 844-345-2335.
Prefer email? Write to hello@citadelenergyworks.com.