Sudden power outages, thunderstorms, or hurricanes
can damage your AC electrical equipment. But that doesn’t mean every power
outage or thunderstorm will damage your AC electrical equipment. Here are the signs
and causes of Air Conditioner electrical damage that might help you protect
your HVAC unit in case the outages affect your equipment.
2
Signs & 3 Causes of Air Conditioner Electrical Damage
2 Signs of AC Electrical Damage
1.
Frequent Air Conditioner Circuit Breaker
Tripping
If you notice your air conditioner circuit breaker
is frequently tripping, chances are your AC electrical equipment is damaged.
However, you can have this frequent AC circuit breaker tripping problem due to
AC overheating.
AC overheating can happen due to frequent cycling,
lack of airflow, dirty air filter, etc. So, how do you know which one is the
main culprit behind this problem?
For this, you’ll have to call a cooling professional
and identify the core issue. If you haven’t performed regular maintenance
checkups in years, there is a high probability that your AC’s internal parts
are causing this problem.
However, if you have this frequent circuit breaker
tripping problem with your home’s circuit breaker, it’s likely that your AC’s
electrical equipment isn’t damaged. Instead, you should check your other
electrical devices and fix them as soon as possible.
Pro-Tip #1
If you’re facing an AC circuit breaker tripping
problem when you turn on your cooling system, it’s recommended that you keep
your HVAC unit off until the issue is fixed. Because if you keep turning on
your cooling system, you’ll increase the risk of fire in your house.
2.
Circuit Breaker Isn’t Turning Back
If the external circuit breakers of your house
aren’t turning back, there is a high probability that the electrical damage has
gone beyond your cooling system. You can have this problem due to sudden power
surge or thunderstorm. Again, if there is a power outage right after you turn
on your unit, you can also face this problem.
To fix this problem, you’ll have to call a certified
electrician and repair or replace the damaged electrical equipment as early as
possible. Because if you keep using your other electrical appliances in this
unsafe condition, you can damage them too, which will add up the cost of
repairing. Also, don’t forget to consider the safety concerns associated with
this issue.
3 Causes of AC Electrical Damage
1.
Skipping AC Maintenance Checkups
When you don’t do regular AC maintenance checkups,
dust and other micro-particles will accumulate inside the AC unit. Eventually,
the airflow of your cooling system will be hindered. As a result, your cooling
system will have to function longer, and because of this, it’ll overheat. When
your cooling system is constantly running, it’ll start to freeze the AC
evaporator coil. And when your Ac coils get frozen, your AC will require more
power and cause frequent circuit breaker tripping problems. Again, when you
have frozen evaporator coils, it can lead to AC water leakage problems as well.
That’s why, if you haven’t performed the regular AC maintenance checkup in
recent times, you should hire a cooling professional and do all the necessary
repairs and replacements.
2.
Malfunctioning Fan Motor
When your AC fans are damaged, evaporator coils
won’t be able to cool down quickly. As a result, your cooling system will start
to consume more electricity, eventually leading to a circuit breaker tripping
problem. That’s why as soon as you notice this issue within your cooling
system, you should replace the AC fans.
3.
Refrigerant Leaks
Yes, you can have electrical damage when you have a
leak in the refrigerant. When your AC refrigerant gets lower, your cooling
system will have to function longer. This will put immense pressure on your
cooling unit and require more power. Eventually, you’ll have frequent AC
circuit breaker problems.
To solve this problem, you’ll need a certified HVAC
professional.
Pro-Tip #2
If you’re using your cooling system as a primary
unit, you must do two maintenance checkups annually.
Conclusion
AC electrical damages sometimes can be a bit costly.
That’s why you should focus more on how to prevent AC electrical damage rather
than repairing it.
See the summary of this content here – Signs
& Causes of AC Electrical Damage [Infographic]
