Spring is the perfect time of year for homeowners to get their air conditioning systems ready for the warmer months. One common issue that can emerge when we transition from the cold winter to the hot summer is that your air conditioner trips its breaker. When this happens immediately after startup or shortly afterward, it’s important to respond correctly to fix the issue.
Why Do Circuit Breakers Trip?
A circuit breaker is basically a safety device that monitors the flow of electricity to a particular circuit. It will trip or shut off the current to that circuit if it detects certain conditions. These include things like overheating, fire, or even sparks. When it comes to your air conditioner, the circuit breaker may trip to protect components like your compressor, fan motor, and internal wiring.
If your circuit breaker trips in the springtime, it could be due to three different reasons. The first is that your AC unit is drawing more current than the circuit breaker is rated for. This is considered an overload. The second reason is due to a wiring fault that is causing electricity to flow along an unintended path. This is known as a short circuit. The last reason that it may trip is due to a ground fault, which happens when the current is leaking from your system to the ground.
Why Springtime Tripping Is More Common
A lot of homeowners notice AC tripping problems in the spring more often than throughout the summer due to a few different reasons. After your circuit has been sitting throughout the entire fall and winter seasons, getting a sudden load from your AC compressor draws a large amount of current. If your circuit was already weak or deteriorated to begin with, that large surge could cause it to completely fail.
As your air conditioning system ages over time, all of its internal components will degrade, including their wiring. Components like your motor windings or your capacitor can draw more current due to reduced efficiency. This increased current can cause the circuit breaker to trip during startup.
If you don’t clean up around your outdoor condenser unit, dirt, leaves, and other debris from the winter can restrict airflow. As your fan motor has to work harder to try to start up, it can demand more electricity. This high withdrawal of electricity can be more than what your electrical circuit is rated to handle.
Springtime is well known to bring more moisture through rain. Moisture can seep into the electrical connections of your outdoor unit and create short circuits and ground faults. To make it even worse, if you’re not getting maintenance for your unit, things like clogged coils, dirty filters, and poor lubrication can increase its workload.
This can cause your circuit breaker to trip, even though the issue could have been prevented with proper maintenance. Understanding that your circuit breakers are specifically reacting to a certain condition can help you determine how to properly troubleshoot it.
Troubleshooting Safety
It’s always important to keep safety in mind when troubleshooting your air conditioning system. One of the very first things that you want to do is turn off your AC unit at the circuit breaker. With AC units operating with a very high voltage, they can be lethal if mishandled. Shutting it off prevents unintentional electrical shock.
It also works to avoid component damage that could otherwise happen if your system continually sits there attempting to restart. Additionally, shutting the breaker off helps protect the circuit breaker that’s functioning under faulty conditions that could otherwise weaken the breaker.
Overloaded Electrical Circuit
An overloaded electrical circuit happens when your air conditioning system demands more amperage than your circuit breaker can safely provide. This can happen if you add a new high-demand appliance onto the same electrical circuit that your air conditioning system is on. This can most commonly happen after you get an air conditioner replacement.
It can be helpful to take a minute to verify if your air conditioner has its own dedicated circuit matching the unit’s required amperage. You can typically see the amperage on the circuit breaker itself. You should always avoid connecting that electrical circuit to any other appliances in your home.
If you have an overload issue, it’s necessary to upgrade the individual circuit breaker to better accommodate the amperage necessities of your air conditioning system. If your system is on an electrical circuit with another appliance, it needs to be separated onto its own dedicated circuit.
Short Circuit
A short circuit occurs whenever the neutral and hot wires come in direct contact with one another. It can also happen if a hot wire touches a metal component of your AC unit. This creates a sudden surge of electricity that causes a circuit breaker to trip in response. You will notice a short circuit when your circuit breaker immediately trips when you turn on your AC.
You may even notice a burning smell near your outdoor unit or at the breaker panel. In some cases, you may see visible scorch marks on your wiring or connectors. A short circuit is highly likely in the spring due to issues, like rodent damage, that can cause the wires to come into contact with each other.
If you suspect that you have a short circuit issue, it’s best to leave your circuit breaker off and contact one of our professionals for further assistance. Our HVAC technicians will take care of replacing any damaged wiring or connectors and ensuring proper insulation and conduit protection. We’ll also remove any debris or moisture that can cause shorts.
Ground Fault
AC units typically develop ground faults due to corrosion, moisture, or worn-out insulation. You’re most likely to experience this issue after a heavy rainstorm or days when the humidity level is really high. You can hear a humming or buzzing noise coming from your breaker panel or the AC unit itself. You may even be able to see visible corrosion or water on the electrical connections.
Our technicians will take the time to replace any damaged wiring or terminals that may be present at your unit. As a homeowner, it’s important to always ensure that your outdoor condenser unit is positioned in a place that has adequate drainage. Ideally, you want your unit sitting up on concrete blocks so that it doesn’t come into contact with any water.
Additionally, your outdoor condenser should be properly grounded and installed according to local electrical code. This adds an extra layer of protection against electrical shock in the event that moisture comes into contact with it.
Know When to Call a Professional
As a homeowner, there are some basic troubleshooting steps that you can try to see if you can restore functionality to your air conditioning system. You can try resetting the circuit breaker if you believe that it was due to a surge of energy from your local power grid. If it immediately retrips, do not reset it again.
It’s a good idea to pull out the air filter and hold it up to a light. If you can’t see through it, you need to replace the air filter with a new one. Beyond these basic troubleshooting tips, it’s a good idea to contact one of our professionals to do a further evaluation of your system.
Exceptional AC Repair Service
El Indio AC offers exceptional AC repair service for Tolleson, AZ and the surrounding towns. We can also assist with all your AC installation, replacement, and maintenance needs. Simply contact our office today to schedule your next service appointment with one of our friendly HVAC technicians.
