Circuit breakers serve as your home’s defense against current overloads that could result in fire or other disasters, so if the breaker keeps tripping, it indicates that your air conditioning unit is demanding more power than necessary.
Fixing this requires professional assistance from an HVAC contractor with experience in AC repair or an electrician with certification, as these repairs involve high voltage that is dangerous if attempted without proper training and supervision.
Regarding circuit breakers and AC power demands, it’s wise to get the help of experts like River Valley, who specialize in HVAC and electrical issues, to stay safe and sort out those tripping concerns.
Dirty air filter
Unobstructed air filters in the home can force your AC unit to work harder and faster, using up more electricity to remain operational. This may lead to an unexpected circuit breaker trip as the breaker tries to cut power to prevent an overload of current that could potentially damage or even start electrical fires.
When your AC continuously trips the circuit breaker, it may be time to change its filter. This simple yet cost-effective step will keep your AC running efficiently without creating major electrical issues in your home.
Filthy air filters aren’t the only cause of AC breaker trips; fans that send air over condenser coils can also become clogged with dust and debris, forcing them to work harder to distribute air efficiently. Furthermore, blower motors themselves may become damaged over time, in such instances requiring professional attention due to proximity to high voltage components.
To prevent future trips from this issue, ensure your air filter remains clean by regularly replacing and changing it out – this way, you avoid an unexpected trip out!
Frozen evaporator coil
If your AC keeps tripping the breaker, it could be due to your evaporator coil. The evaporator coil absorbs refrigerant from your home’s atmosphere before disbursing it via exterior units into its atmosphere, located inside your air handler.
But when dirt, mud or plant debris gets in through faulty systems and blocks the coils, extra power consumption occurs, and extra charges must be drawn by these systems for proper functioning.
Circuit breakers may trip as your air conditioning draws more amps than expected. To stop this from happening, perform regular maintenance on your AC. For example, changing air filters and cleaning outdoor units are two easy things that you can do to avoid freezing of evaporator coils.
Before attempting to defrost an evaporator coil, make sure that both your system and access panels are completely off at both its panel and breaker levels.
Next, remove any access panels that might obstruct your view of the coils; shutting off your system for several hours or overnight and using a low-heat hair dryer can speed up the thawing process.
Once you’re done, you can turn it back on, but ensure all condensation has drained correctly by running it for some time before raising thermostat settings fully – this ensures all condensation has drained properly!
Low refrigerant levels
Low refrigerant levels are another leading cause of AC breaker trips, necessitating frequent professional compressor replacement to restore refrigerant levels.
An efficient AC system should provide your house with cooling without draining too much energy, provided its air filter and condenser coils are free from dirt. Otherwise, the system has to work harder at performing its task and release excess heat into the outdoor environment; this strain puts additional strain on it that consumes additional power and ultimately trips the breaker.
Call a pro to check your levels and see if there might be a leakage somewhere.
Capacitor issues
Breakers often trip when the capacitor becomes faulty. A capacitor starts your air conditioning motor and requires significant amounts of power for its proper functioning; when its quality degrades, however, more electricity must be consumed by your system, which causes more consumption, triggering your breaker to trip.
Faulty compressor
Your AC compressor is at the core of your air conditioning system and draws significant power when operating. If it has difficulty starting (known as “hard starting”), additional electricity is drawn, and eventually, your breaker trips. An AC technician can install a hard start kit to give your compressor motor an extra electrical “jolt” when turning it on.
Conclusion
Circuit breakers are designed to protect your house against high-voltage shocks and fire hazards. They typically trip when too many appliances are running simultaneously; however, if your AC keeps tripping the circuit breaker, it indicates its improper function and needs to be turned off at both its thermostat and its breaker panel immediately.
Troubleshooting an AC unit should involve calling in an HVAC professional for a comprehensive diagnostic test of your unit. Be sure to mention any issues, such as your breaker constantly tripping, that indicate possible compressor damage; these must be addressed quickly to avoid costly replacement costs.
A professional can also check that there is no refrigerant leak or dirty air filter causing issues in addition to making sure your electrical system can support an increased load from AC systems; they will also clean your outdoor compressor coil as well as repair any damaged lines to prevent further leakage of refrigerant and avoid occurring again in future installations.
