AC Breaker Keeps Tripping? Here’s What You Need to Know for a Quick Fix

We know this can be a bothersome problem, but we’re here to help you get it sorted out quickly and easily. An AC breaker that trips often is usually caused by an issue with your circuit wiring or by a malfunctioning appliance.

Identifying the source of the issue before attempting any repairs is essential. Once you’ve identified the source of the problem, we’ll explain how to take care of it in just a few simple steps. If your AC breaker keeps tripping and you’re looking for a quick and easy fix, this article is for you!

What Is an AC Breaker?

An AC Breaker is a crucial safety feature in your home’s electrical systems that helps protect against overloads and short circuits. It works by breaking the circuit and cutting off electricity when it senses an overloaded or short-circuited wire.

You can find these devices in your main electrical panel, as well as individual outlets and switch boxes throughout your home – making sure that you and your family are always safe from harm.

The AC breaker consists of two parts: a circuit breaker switch and a trip indicator. The circuit breaker switch is responsible for cutting off power when it detects an overload or short circuit – this prevents further damage to your wiring and appliances.

The trip indicator shows whether the breaker has been tripped, allowing you to reset it if necessary.

Why Do AC Breakers Trip?

If your AC keeps tripping the breaker, the most common causes are either too much current being drawn from one circuit or a short circuit caused by faulty wiring or a damaged appliance.

If any of these conditions are present, it can cause the breaker to trip and shut off the power to that area of your home.

Other potential causes include a failed motor or compressor in your air conditioner or even dust accumulation on the breakers themselves.

What To Do When Your AC Breaker Trips

Is your AC tripping the breaker? It can be an annoying and inconvenient issue to deal with. But don’t panic – there are a few simple steps you can take to try and fix the problem.

Check your air conditioner’s filter. A clogged filter can cause the breaker to trip by overloading the circuit. Replace or clean it if needed.

Look for any signs of damage on the wiring leading up to the AC unit. If the wiring looks frayed or damaged in any way, call a licensed electrician for help as soon as possible.

If none of these solutions work, it might be time to upgrade your electrical panel or have an electrician install a higher-capacity breaker specifically designed for your air conditioning system. By taking these steps now, you can avoid costly repair bills down the road and get back to feeling comfortable in no time!

Common Causes of AC Breakers Tripping

There are many possible reasons why your AC unit keeps tripping the breaker. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the most common.

A Dirty Air Filter

One of the most common causes of an AC breaker tripping is a dirty air filter. When an air filter becomes clogged with debris, it can cause your system to work harder than it needs to and eventually trip the breaker.

You’ll want to ensure you regularly check and replace your air filters to keep them clean and functioning properly.

Dirty Condenser Coils

Another potential culprit for a tripped AC breaker is dirty condenser coils. These coils are responsible for releasing heat from the system, so if they become covered in dirt or other debris, they won’t function as efficiently and could potentially cause your breaker to trip.

Make sure you routinely inspect and clean your condenser coils for optimal performance. If your AC trips the breaker after 5 minutes of working, this is a possible cause.

Broken Coil Fan

A broken coil fan could also be causing your AC’s breaker to trip. The fan helps circulate cool air throughout the room, but when it stops working properly, this disruption can put a strain on the system and cause it to trip the breaker as a safety measure.

If you suspect that your coil fan may be malfunctioning, contact an HVAC technician right away so they can diagnose the issue and repair any damages quickly.

Problematic Compressor Start-up

One of the more common causes of an AC breaker tripping is a problematic compressor start-up. If your compressor is having trouble starting up, it can draw too much current and cause the breaker to trip. This problem is usually caused by faulty wiring or parts, such as a capacitor or motor winding.

Loose Wiring or Faulty Parts

Loose wiring or faulty parts are also frequent culprits behind AC breakers tripping. Loose connections can create dangerous arcs that will cause the breaker to trip.

Additionally, if some internal part in your AC unit has become damaged and isn’t working properly, it could also lead to an overload that trips the breaker.

Too Little Refrigerant

Another common reason for AC breakers tripping is too little refrigerant in the system. This can happen when there’s a leak in the system somewhere, which causes the refrigerant levels to drop below the required amount for your AC unit to work properly.

When this happens, your unit will have difficulty cooling down and not be able to handle large loads efficiently—causing it to trip its own breaker as a safety measure.

The Compressor Is Grounded

If your AC’s compressor is grounded, then it could be the cause of your breaker tripping. This can happen if a wire becomes loose or disconnected or if the wiring around the compressor has been damaged due to corrosion or wear and tear.

To check for this issue, you should inspect the wiring and connections around the compressor. If all looks okay, you’ll need to call in a professional to take a closer look.

The Evaporator Coil Is Frozen

Another common cause of an AC breaker tripping is a frozen evaporator coil. This occurs when air isn’t flowing properly through the unit, and as such, causes an overload on the system, which trips the breaker switch.

To fix this issue, you’ll need to clear any blockages from your AC vents so that airflow can be restored. You may also need to replace any broken parts inside your unit for optimal performance and safety.

The Circuit Breaker Is Faulty

If your AC circuit breaker keeps tripping, it’s possible that your circuit breaker itself is faulty and needs replacing in order for it to operate correctly again. A qualified electrician will be able to diagnose whether this is an issue by testing the circuit breaker for any signs of wear or damage.

If you do find yourself needing a new one, ensure to get one with an appropriate amperage rating that matches up with your home’s electrical system requirements!

Conclusion

While the steps listed above are excellent ways to identify why your AC breaker keeps tripping, we wouldn’t recommend working with electricity without some form of training. The problems are often relatively minor, but the risks involved when working with electricity simply aren’t worth it to save a few bucks.

The bottom line is that if your AC breaker keeps tripping, the best thing to do is to call a qualified AC technician for help. An experienced technician can diagnose why your AC breaker keeps tripping and then take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

While it may seem like a hassle, having your AC breaker checked out by an expert can help you avoid costly repairs down the road. Safety should always come first when dealing with electricity – so don’t take any chances!