Darn, the air conditioner went off again. And, it keeps tripping its breaker. That’s frustrating!
“Should I replace the HVAC system all together? Is it just the breaker? Or, is it something else?” You might wonder.
We understand. Having had a few tripped breakers ourselves, dealing with tripped breakers is more than just an inconvenience.
The source of disrepair can be confusing to target, but more, can become a safety hazard if not addressed quickly and with expediency.
While you may or may not know what’s wrong with your air conditioner circuit breaker or how to fix it, we culled our resources and created this primer on why air conditioners keep tripping their breakers.
If you’re wondering why your air conditioner keeps tripping its breaker, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, the Straightforward Professionals at Streamline Heating and Air will guide you through the seven most common reasons air conditioners trip their breakers.
Common reasons for an air conditioner tripping its breaker
1. Dirty condenser coils 2. Dirty filters in the air conditioning system 3. Issues with the fan on the outdoor part of the A/C unit 4. Compressor failures 5. Frozen evaporator coil 6. Low refrigerant levels in the unit 7. Loose, faulty, or short-circuited wiring and parts in the air conditioning system |
1. Dirty condenser coils tripping the air conditioner’s breaker
Dirty condenser coils can be the culprit behind an A/C unit that keeps tripping its breaker. Condenser coils are responsible for releasing heat from an HVAC system, so if the coils are covered in dirt, grime, or debris, they won’t function as they should.
And that’s bad news bears for your A/C system’s circuit breaker. To maximize performance from your A/C unit, make sure to clean your evaporator and condenser coils often.
You’ll know dirty condenser coils are the reason for your air conditioner tripping its breaker if your air conditioner stays on for five minutes before tripping its breaker again.
2. Dirty air conditioner system filters
A common cause of why an air conditioner system’s breaker trips is because the air conditioning system’s air filter is dirty. The purpose of an air filter is to help remove dirt, dust, and other particles from the air.
As such, the filter can become dirty and clogged with debris if used for a great deal of time. When an air filter becomes clogged, airflow is restricted, and an air conditioner must work much more to cool an indoor area.
What’s more, the increase in electricity usage caused by an A/C system straining itself can trip the circuit breaker. The flow of power is then disrupted to the A/C system.
To fix a tripped breaker that results from dirty air filters, clean or replace the air filter often to keep the air conditioner running and to prevent unnecessary circuit breaks.
3. Issues with the air conditioner unit’s outdoor fan
When an air conditioner fan breaks, the break can trip a circuit breaker. Here are three reasons why:
- The fan is responsible for circulating air over coils. Without a fan, coils can’t keep the system cool, and the air conditioner overheats.
- A broken fan can cause coils to freeze up, which can increase the chance that an air conditioner overheats.
- A broken fan can lead to the compressor overheating, which can cause the A/C unit to trip its circuit breaker.
Often, fan blades may be the culprit. Check that the air conditioner’s fan blades aren’t damaged or blocked by debris. If debris is blocking the fan, you can fix the fan by turning off the power to the A/C.
Then, remove the material that’s blogging the fans. If the fan blades are damaged — or if you feel that the problem resides with the fan motor or other components around the fan — you’ll want to reach out to an air conditioner repair and maintenance team to resolve the issue.
4. Compressor failures cause breakers to trip
Another reason why a circuit breaker may trip is if a compressor isn’t circulating refrigerant through the air conditioning unit.
When the refrigerant isn’t able to circulate through the A/C system, an A/C unit can overheat. If you notice refrigerant leaks or strange noises, call an air conditioning specialist.
If you have an older A/C unit that isn’t working properly due to compressor failures, knowing about how a compressor works can help you nip the problem in the bud.
The contactor (the part of the A/C unit that supplies power to the compressor and other components) closes with a spring-loaded plunger. If dust and dirt cause the contact points of the plunger to become corroded, the contactor will work at a greater degree to close.
As such, this process can burn out the contactor and therefore lead to a failed and damaged capacitor (another important component needed to give your A/C unit the electricity it needs to start). When the capacitor fails or becomes damaged, it needs to be replaced.
Note: You may want to install a hard-start kit for an air conditioner compressor. “What’s a hard-start kit?” you might ask.
A hard start kit helps support the compressor with amperage so the A/C unit can start without as much strain. The hard start kit provides a boost of energy so the compressor can start with greater ease.
Fixing the compressor will help prevent short circuits so your air conditioner doesn’t continue to trip the breaker in your indoor space.
5. The evaporator coil froze up
Aside from broken coil fans and overloaded compressors, evaporator coils can also cause circuit breaker trips. An evaporator coil can freeze up if an air conditioning system isn’t working as it should.
When the evaporator coil freezes up, the HVAC system can overload and cause the breaker switch to trip.
To prevent evaporator coils from freezing up, make sure to clear A/C vents so air can flow back through your A/C system. If the issues continue to persist, you may need to replace broken parts inside your unit to ensure a safer, well-functioning A/C system.
6. Your air conditioner unit is low on refrigerant
Sometimes, the issue of a tripped breaker isn’t structural and has more to do with refrigerant levels and leaks. Air conditioner breakers trip when refrigerant levels drop below ideal levels.
If refrigerant levels drop below acceptable levels, your A/C unit won’t be able to cool itself down. As a safety precaution, your A/C system will cause the circuit to break.
7. Loose or faulty wiring/parts in the circuit breaker
One of the most common reasons your air conditioner keeps tripping the circuit breaker is because of, well, a faulty circuit breaker. The breaker controls the flow of electricity to an air conditioner.
If the breaker isn’t working, it can cause the air conditioner to trip the breaker. If you think your air conditioner trips because of a faulty breaker, first check to see if the breaker is loose or damaged.
- If the breaker is loose: tighten it up
- If the breaker is damaged: replace it altogether.
If you need to replace wires or parts of the circuit breaker, you can visit a local hardware store or ask your trusted HVAC team or electrician to help you.
If wires aren’t connected, an HVAC system can overheat, and the circuit can trip. Finally, if wires aren’t working, you’ll want to call a qualified A/C technician for help.
The reason is faulty wires can cause electrical fires, which can pose a safety risk to all individuals involved. And using a professional HVAC repair technician is a surefire way to address fire and safety hazards.
Did you know?
Many companies offer financing options to help with circuit breaker issues and A/C replacements. Click here to learn more about financing for your next Sarasota, Florida A/C installation and repair job.
A/C keeps tripping? We’re here to help!
If you’ve taken a look at all the different parts of your air conditioning system — evaporator coils, air filters, refrigerant fluid, compressors, fans, main electrical panel, and more — and your air conditioner still keeps tripping the circuit breaker, you’ll want to reach out to an A/C expert as soon as possible.
Calling a professional to take a look at your air conditioner will ensure healthier, more consistent airflow to your indoor space.
At Streamline Heating and Air, our expert air conditioner repairmen are all about simplifying HVAC matters and making you feel more comfortable. For all your heating and cooling needs, feel free to take a look at our related reading material on our blog, or contact us today for simplified solutions and straightforward answers.
Newsworthy note: The demand for air conditioners in North America is on the rise (Statista.com, 2023). Leave it to us to help you address all your air conditioning needs.
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