During periods of extreme heat and constant use, you may occasionally need to reset the circuit breaker for your air conditioner. Especially after a severe thunderstorm or power outage. During the hottest months of the summer, Phoenix’s electrical power grid is pushed to the limits and fluctuations in power or brown outs can cause your breaker to disengage. However, if you find yourself resetting your AC circuit breaker two or three times within the same day, you probably have a problem that needs to be addressed. In the interest of safety for you and your family, please do not keep constantly resetting your breaker. The circuit breaker trips when your air conditioner is drawing too much power and is a clear warning that some part of your AC unit is not working properly.
Electrical Issues – A Major Cause of Air Conditioner Repairs
Electrical problems are the cause of over 80 percent of all AC repairs. Your air conditioner is a complex, multi-component system loaded with fans, electric motors, capacitors, condensers, electric wiring, switches and many other electrical parts that can wear down and malfunction. When electrical parts breakdown, it may cause your AC unit to come to a complete halt or make your air conditioner work harder, thereby drawing excess power and tripping the breaker. Here are a few of the most common reasons your AC circuit breaker is being tripped:
Faulty Capacitors
Replacing worn, defective or blown capacitors is a common electrical repair. The startup capacitor provides a high-voltage electrical boost to initiate your compressor. When this startup capacitor fails, your compressor stops working. As with all electrical repairs, we recommend you do not attempt to replace capacitors on your own. Always call professionals for electrical repairs.
Condenser Coil Issues
It is the job of your condenser coils to dissipate heat from your home into the outside air. Over time, condenser coils can become covered with dirt, dust, grime and debris which prevents heat from being dispersed properly. When this happens, your AC unit has to work harder and this may cause your unit to overheat, tripping the breaker. If your condenser coils have not been cleaned recently, it’s a good idea to have them checked.
Low Refrigerant
Refrigerant is held within a closed system of pressurized pipes. If you are running with low refrigerant it indicates there is a leak in your system. Refrigerant leaks should be repaired rather than constantly adding more refrigerant to your system. When you air conditioner is low on refrigerant, you may notice warm air coming out of your vents. Your air conditioner has to work a lot harder when your system is low on refrigerant. Once again, this can cause your AC unit to overheat and trip the breaker.
Electrical Problems Are Best Left to Professionals
It’s important to remember, electrical issues can cause serious problems and result in fires if ignored. We don’t want to scare our customers, but unfortunately, we’ve seen many dangerous situations over the years due to unaddressed electrical issues. If you’re constantly resetting your AC breaker, please give us a call so we can fix the problem.
