Why Does My Air Conditioner Keep Tripping the Circuit Breaker?
Air conditioning is a modern-day convenience that helps you keep your home cool and comfortable throughout the hottest days of summer. However, these appliances are connected to your home’s electrical systems and can sometimes cause issues that can leave you stranded in the heat. So why does your air conditioner keep tripping your electrical breaker?
What Causes A Tripped Circuit Breaker?
The simple answer is that your air conditioner is pulling more amps from your home’s electrical system than your circuit breakers can allow. Most residential circuit breakers are capable of handling the supply and demand aspect of home air conditioning systems. However, some issues can increase the demand for electrical power that your air conditioner needs to operate.
This can be caused by a variety of issues that range from broken AC parts to the need of upgrading your home’s electrical system to accommodate your air conditioner’s power demand.
The most common reasons as to why your air conditioner may be tripping your circuit breaker include things such as:
- The AC unit is pulling too many amps
- Dirty parts
- Broken or missing parts
- Your units compressor is “hard starting”
Dirty Filters
Dirty filters can cause your AC unit to work harder to pull air through the filter and into your home. This increased demand requires more power, potentially causing power spikes that can overwhelm your breakers and cause trips.
Condenser Coils
With dirty condenser coils, your air conditioner will require more power to push the heat out from your home to the outside unit. This can lead to short circuits and overheating issues within your home and air conditioning system.
Broken Coil Fan
Whether it’s damaged or just worn down from everyday usage, your air conditioning unit uses a fan to help it circulate heat and air. When this fan is struggling to keep up with the demand and has an underlying issue already, it can cause your breakers to trip due to the increased amps required to operate the fan itself.
Loose Wiring
Relying heavily on electrical connections within, your air conditioner contains a maze of electrical wiring and connections. When there’s an issue with these, it can cause shorts to occur within the system which leads to your circuit breaker tripping.
Whether it’s loose or worn from age, electrical issues within your AC system can leave you frustrated and stranded in the heat without a functioning AC system.
Air Conditioner Services Can Help!
With the help of your local air conditioning experts, you can identify the root cause of why your air conditioner is causing your circuit breaker to trip. Sometimes the solution is as simple as cleaning the filters and fans, while other times it may require rewiring services or upgraded electrical panels. These newer panels are capable of handling the day-to-day demand that your air conditioner needs to continue its smooth and reliable operation.
For questions, comments, or concerns regarding your air conditioner and tripped breakers, contact us and call spall today at 570-282-3000 so that we can help you assess and diagnose your air conditioning unit.
