So, what do you do if your AC circuit breaker keeps tripping?
Many HVAC contractors will tell you to call in a professional, but some of the more DIY inclined folks are figuring out that many of the things you often call a contractor out for can be done yourself for a lot cheaper.
A situation where your AC or heat pump keeps tripping the circuit breaker is no different, and be wary of anyone who tells you otherwise!
Trust me, it isn't rocket science, and you can start troubleshooting yourself when an AC system circuit breaker keeps tripping – without calling out an expensive HVAC contractor.
This article will work our way through the troubleshooting process from the most likely causes to more unlikely situations of an air conditioner tripping the breaker.
How Circuit Breakers Work.
I will start with a short 101 on circuit breakers. If you are already familiar, then skip to the next section.
So what the hell is a circuit breaker anyway? If you want to see why your air conditioner circuit breaker keeps tripping, you'll need to find out.
A circuit breaker is a safety switch built into your home's electrical system. A safety switch will stop the electrical flow to a household component before it can fry itself and start an electrical fire.
For instance, let's say that you have some part of your AC system rated to withstand 20 amps of electricity.
This means that if you were to pass 30 amps of electricity through that component, you'd likely fry the component, at best requiring you to call out an HVAC contractor and, at worst, starting an electrical fire.
Now, enter the role of the circuit breaker – in your properly installed system, a 20-amp circuit breaker would be installed.
This breaker would ensure that if any amperage greater than 20 amps were to be introduced to your system.
The circuit breaker would trip, and your AC system would turn off before getting an electrical fire or frying your expensive electrical components.
Now that we know what a circuit breaker is designed for, allow me to introduce one safety note that you should keep in mind – if you forget everything else that I mention in this post, then remember this:
Important Safety Note:
Only reset a tripped circuit breaker ONCE, never more than once. Never tape it shut, and it should NEVER feel hot to touch.
Your circuit breaker is tripping for a reason, and until you know what that reason is, allow the circuit breaker to do its job and keep you safe.
Troubleshooting When Your AC is Tripping the Circuit Breaker.
We will work our way through some of the more obvious causes for a tripped air conditioning unit circuit breaker.
You'd be surprised at how often the most straightforward answer seems correct.
1. Reset Your Air Conditioner's Circuit Breaker (ONCE, and ONLY once!).
Always be careful with resetting a circuit breaker. If it keeps on tripping, then something is wrong!
Reset it once, and see if your AC unit safely runs. Sometimes, the "gremlins" get into your electrical system.
Always reset a circuit breaker by ensuring that it is entirely in the OFF position first (if not, move it there), then turn it back ON.
Wait and see what your AC does after a few minutes of running. If the circuit breaker trips the second your AC turns on, there is nothing more that you can do yourself.
So leave the circuit breaker off and call your local HVAC professional. The problem is the electrical wiring or a short circuit – something you don't want to deal with.
If it doesn't trip again, it might have been a power surge or too much power from a thunderstorm or something like that.
A good indicator that this is just a one-time incident is to look at some of your other household equipment.
If your stove and microwave all have blinking "RESET CLOCK" lights and your air conditioner isn't working, common sense would dictate that this probably isn't a problem with your HVAC system.
Reset it, and see what happens…then reset your clocks.
If the circuit breaker trips again (but not immediately after the unit is turned on, then continue with step two.
Be aware that you may have a bad circuit breaker. A circuit breaker can fail without tripping, so watch out for that.
Breakers are easily replaceable and a relatively cheap fix but best done by an Electrician.
Just make sure the replacement is properly sized to match the electrical current.
2. Check for a Dirty Air Filter.
The reasons you regularly change your air conditioning filter are numerous, as are the benefits to your health and the longevity of your air.
However, you might not realize that a dirty air filter can also cause your air conditioner's circuit breaker to trip.
Your air conditioner works by taking warm air out of the interior of your home, filtering it, then blowing the warm air over chilled coils, aka evaporator coils inside the indoor unit.
These coils absorb some heat and then transfer it outside your house via the outdoor unit condensing coils, cooling the air inside your house.
If your AC filter is clogged, the airflow through your AC unit will be interrupted, causing it to work longer and harder than if it were fitted with a fresh and unobstructed filter.
Over time, this can cause your air conditioner to overheat and trip your circuit breaker.
Think about it this way – you have to run a mile. So which is easier, a pleasant casual downhill stroll or a mile run up the side of a mountain?
The same thing goes for your air conditioner – just as you have to run a mile, one way or another, your AC has to cool your house to your requested temperature, one way or another.
Make the job as easy for it as you possibly can. First things first, check your air filter.
3. Check Your Condenser Coil After an AC Breaker has Tripped.
For the same reasons as step one, you need to check your condenser coil.
Once the heat is removed from your household air (in step one) gets outside, it has to be transferred into the outdoor air for the process to start again.
To do this, a fan blows outside air over the coil in the outside ac unit, called the "condenser coil."
Make sure that this is free of dirt, leaves and debris. Dirty condenser coils can play a big part on the efficiency of your AC.
If it isn't, then clean it out with your garden hose. Again, think about this as your air conditioner having to run a mile; does it want to run uphill or downhill? Clean the coils and make it easier.
Unfortunately, this is where the DIY troubleshooting should end, in my humble opinion.
Some situations can be taken to a conclusion by your average handyman, but messing with refrigerant and wiring probably isn't one of them!
The good news is that you have already ruled out 60 percent of what could be the issue.
Here are a few things to be educated on, however, before your local contractor shows up:
4. Low Refrigerant Can Cause an AC Circuit Breaker to Trip.
Unfortunately, this is not something that you can do yourself, but the next likely cause would be low refrigerant pressure.
As stated in steps one and two, the most likely cause for a tripped circuit breaker is some change in the system – asking more out of your air conditioner than before.
Low Freon or other commercial refrigerants can cause your air conditioner to work harder than before.
A tripped circuit breaker can be a sign of this, so have your local HVAC technician check your refrigerant levels and do a vacuum check on your system to rule out refrigerant leaks.
5. Loose Wiring, Aging Components and Short Circuits.
Over time and with the changing of the seasons, wires will expand and contract, working themselves loose.
An air conditioner has an average lifespan of somewhere around 8-15 years, depending on your location and how well you've taken care of it.
As you might imagine, an air conditioner in the southern states will be used more than an AC unit in British Columbia.
Unfortunately, this will have to be handled by a professional.
Final Thoughts on When an Air Conditioner Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Keep it simple; as you can see with most of these troubleshooting guides, always work your way from the simplest and most common explanation to the more unlikely problems.
Even if your AC breaker keeps tripping, be patient, and rule out the most likely causes. If all else fails, then call in a professional.
60 percent of the time, it is something you could handle yourself, but if it comes down to it, call a local and independent contractor to come and take a look at your air conditioning system.
If you live near or around the North and Central Okanagan region, call Vernon Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical Services.
We'd be happy to answer any AC Repair or Electrical questions you might have.
This article was written by Jake Gibson
General Manager @ Vernon Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical Services