Think about the following case: it’s a hot summer weekend, and you are unwinding with a book in your living room. Your home is comfortably cool, just the way you like it, but then your air conditioner malfunctions and shuts off.
It might be time to call a professional if you notice that your air conditioner is tripping the breaker. There are numerous potential causes for this, and each one calls for a unique approach.
For instance, you might need an ac professional to come out and give your unit a tune-up if you notice that your AC system trips the breaker when it gets too hot outside.
You should never ignore a problem when your air conditioner’s circuit breaker keeps tripping. There could be several causes for it. Continue reading to find out what you can do to stop it from happening again.
Table of Contents
How Do Ac Circuit Breakers Work?
One of the most important safety features is a circuit breaker. It assists in defending your AC against damage brought on by overload or short circuits. The circuit breaker shuts off the power until the issue is resolved and it is reset when too much current is flowing through the electrical wiring. Because of the risk of fire from the high current flow, the AC circuit breaker also safeguards your safety.
Why Is The Circuit Breaker Tripping When The Ac Is On?
Dirty Condenser Coils
Heat from the inside of the house cannot be transferred to the outside unit when the condenser coils are dirty. Due to an electrical short caused by this, the air conditioning system may overheat.
The A/C unit uses more electrical current even when it is running in order to remove the heat from your house, which causes a short circuit.
Dirt, dust, or plant life accumulation in your outdoor unit is the typical cause of dirty coils. You can prevent more issues with your ac by cleaning out these coils.
A Dirty Air Filter
A clogged air filter may be to blame if you notice that when it gets too hot outside, your air conditioner trips the breaker. Filters that are dirty can restrict airflow, increase the temperature of AC units, and trip breaker devices.
You might notice that your air conditioner is not cooling your home as effectively as it used to because they make it difficult for air conditioners to operate effectively at lower temperatures.
Depending on how frequently you use your air conditioner and where you live (it might require more cleaning if there are a lot of allergens or plants in your area), air filters should be cleaned every few months.
Capacitor Malfunction
You most likely have a bad capacitor if your air conditioner won’t turn on before the circuit breaker trips.
Your HVAC system’s capacitor, a crucial part, provides the motor with the initial boost it needs to start operating.
Your air conditioner trips when the motor fails, which causes the capacitor to overload. Additionally, the capacitor may stop working due to power fluctuations.
Your AC capacitor is also prone to overheating. Your air conditioner has to work hard to cool down your home on hot summer days. Your capacitor may overheat as a result. Your air conditioner will use more energy than is necessary if your capacitor is overheated. When your outdoor unit is installed in a location where it receives direct sunlight, it is more likely to occur.
The capacitor needs to be replaced, so you should call a technician right away.
Broken Coil Fan
‘Coil’ fans, which are used inside air conditioning units for cooling purposes and are frequently powered by motors outside the house, are inside the units for cooling purposes. To dissipate heat from your interior unit, this fan blows over the coils.
The coil fan may burn out earlier than expected if there is a problem with these motors, whether it be a problem with wear and tear from use over time or a problem with them being cut out during nearby construction.
A broken coil fan may be to blame if your air conditioner’s fan motor trips the breaker due to insufficient power coming from your circuit. This problem, which results in higher electricity consumption and potential breakers trips, can be brought on by damaged or missing parts of an air conditioning unit.
The Compressor Is “hard Starting”
The compressor is a crucial component of your air conditioner, and as it gets older, it might have trouble starting. An HVAC technician may be needed to check the electricity flow between the fan and your circuit if the circuit breaker keeps tripping.
Anything longer than that could be a sign that your compressor is malfunctioning since a running AC unit should turn on in about one second.
You must contact a specialist to get an accurate diagnosis if your compressor is “hard starting.” The entire compressor might need to be replaced, and the refrigerator’s lines will also need to be cleaned to remove any debris that might cause issues later.
Frozen Evaporator Coils
After a few days, if you notice a weak HVAC airflow and your air conditioner starts tripping the circuit, you may have frozen evaporator coils.
Your indoor unit’s evaporator coils are where the refrigerant is kept. The evaporator coils get so cold when warm air from your home cannot pass through the filters to them that any moisture on them freezes. It may occur if the coils are not routinely cleaned or if there is a problem with the refrigeration system.
The refrigerant struggles to absorb heat from your house due to the ice. In this scenario, your HVAC system must work extremely hard. Furthermore, it begins consuming too much power, which causes your air conditioner to trip the circuit breaker.
The key to avoiding this issue is concentrating on your AC maintenance and cleaning the AC coils.
Loose Wiring & Aging A/c Parts
A complex web of wires inside your air conditioner keeps the whole thing running. Your circuit breaker may occasionally trip as a result of the loosening and disconnecting of these wires over time.
Rewiring your circuit and possibly replacing the metal plate that houses all of your wires are two ways an AC expert will resolve this. A new one can be provided by the ac pro, or you can affordably buy one separately on Amazon!
Low Refrigerant Levels
When evaporator coil cracks and holes allow refrigerant to leak, the refrigerant levels drop. When the refrigerant, a cooling substance, runs out, your system cannot effectively remove heat from your home. Corrosion can eventually cause cracks on the coils due to neglect, a lack of maintenance, or an extremely old unit. Over time, these cracks may allow refrigerant to leak through and result in low refrigerant levels.
Your circuit breaker trips when your system starts drawing too much power because it doesn’t have enough refrigerant.
Make a call to your HVAC technician, who will fill the system with refrigerant and fix any leaks.
Bad Circuit Breaker
The breaker itself may be to blame if your air conditioner’s circuit breaker keeps tripping.
Regular wear and tear can cause the circuit breaker to develop a defect. Its functionality may be hampered if the wires attached to it become loose. The capacitor inside the AC circuit breaker may occasionally malfunction and lead to issues.
This problem can be fixed with a straightforward replacement. It will be replaced shortly after you call your technician.
What Should You Do If Your Ac Keeps Tripping The Circuit Breaker?
A problem inside your air conditioner may be causing a surge of excessive current if it keeps tripping the circuit breaker. It might also be because the circuit breaker is broken. The circuit breaker might also trip as a result of an area power surge brought on by a thunderstorm.
A fire could start if you attempt to reset a breaker that is tripping frequently.
You can try a few different things to determine whether your air conditioner is malfunctioning or tripping as a result of external power fluctuations:
1. Your thermostat and air conditioner should be turned off.
2. Switch on the circuit breaker.
3. Take at least 30 minutes to wait. So that the circuit breaker can reset, the thermostat needs to be left off.
4. Next, switch on your air conditioner and select the cool setting.
You’re good to go if your AC unit starts functioning normally, meaning there isn’t a problem. But if it trips once more, turn it off right away and get help.
Run Your Ac With A Tripped Breaker, Do Not Risk Your Investment.
How much is your mental tranquility worth to you? Consider this: not only are you dealing with a hothouse day in and day out, but when Summer rolls around again, that’s a whole lot more money if your AC breaker keeps tripping and shutting off due to a systemic problem.
Getting a professional AC repair service as soon as you can to identify and address any issues before they become persistent is the best thing you can do for yourself (and the environment).
By taking care of your air conditioner now, you might be able to prevent yourself from having to endure another oppressive summer this year!
