One of the most disconcerting air conditioner problems homeowners experience stems from an AC unit blowing a fuse or tripping the circuit breaker when they turn it on.
The first time it happens, it’s easy to just chalk it up to a power surge or similar and replace the fuse. However, if it happens frequently, you have every reason to feel worried. As the top AC repair company in the Hamptons, NY, people in this situation often call us to ask, “How do I stop my air conditioner from blowing fuses?” We’ll answer the question in this post.
Top Reasons Why Air Conditioners Blow Fuses
Some of the common reasons your air conditioner is blowing fuses include the following:
Malfunctioning Capacitor
Your air conditioner’s motor plays an integral role in its operation. If it fails, the system will not work optimally. As a result, the AC unit might draw more power to balance things out. However, the excess power will most likely damage the system’s capacitors. When that happens, the fuse will blow in a last-ditch attempt to save the air conditioner.
Clogged Filter
Clogged filters impede the airflow to and from the air conditioner. As a result, the unit will use more power than normal, resulting in a blown fuse.
Low Refrigerant
While all parts in an air conditioner are important, the refrigerant occupies the top three spots if you rank components by order of importance. If you have a refrigerant leak, the air conditioner will use more power as it tries to compensate for the disruption. Again, a blown fuse might follow a few minutes later.
Dirty Condenser and Evaporator Coils
Dirty AC coils cannot lose heat as efficiently as they should. Again, the air conditioner will use excess power to force out more heat, blowing the fuse.
Wider Circuit Problems
Sometimes, the problem has nothing to do with the air conditioner. Faulty wiring or an electrical circuit overload are common causes of blown fuses.
How To Stop Your Air Conditioner From Blowing Fuses
The answer to “How do I stop my air conditioner from blowing fuses?” basically comes down to avoiding all the probable scenarios resulting in a blown fuse. Here we list some of the things you should do:
Give Your Air Conditioner a Designated Outlet
When you designate your air conditioner to a specific outlet, it faces no risk of overloading the circuit. Talk to your electrician about setting up a designated outlet for your air conditioner. Where not possible, you should avoid overloading the extension box or adapter while using the air conditioner. Unplug any appliances not in use before you switch on the air conditioner.
Call an Electrician To Evaluate Your Electrical Circuit
If you have your air conditioner on a designated outlet and know you’re not experiencing power surges, you should contact an electrician to evaluate your electrical circuit.
Don’t go the DIY route with your electrical problems. Mistakes while tinkering with the fuse box can lead to electrical fires or destroy your air conditioner’s circuitry permanently.
A qualified electrician can evaluate your electric circuit and either give it a clean bill of health or recommend fixes.
Schedule Regular Air Conditioner Maintenance
You can avoid most of the possible causes of a blown fuse listed above with regular maintenance. A qualified HVAC technician can fix refrigerant leaks, replace clogged filters, clean your evaporator and condenser coils, and detect a weakness in the AC motor.
Scheduling maintenance at least once a year is enough to prevent problems that often result in a blown air conditioner fuse.
Turn to the Experts To Solve Your Air Conditioner Problems Permanently
Your air conditioner’s fuse-related issues will only truly go away when you get to the root of the problem and fix it. Are you looking for HVAC technicians you can depend on? Well, look no further!
At Complete Comfort Control, we excel at uncovering all hidden and not-so-hidden problems plaguing air conditioners. If the fuse problem stems from an issue with the air conditioner, you can trust us to find and fix it. And if it’s not, we’ll recommend the best course of action to take.
So stop asking, “How do I stop my air conditioner from blowing fuses?” Call the Complete Comfort Control team in the Hamptons, NY, at (631) 910 6702 to book an appointment.
We are also happy to answer questions surrounding air conditioner usage, such as how long an AC should run, the right thermostat settings, and more. We can’t wait to hear from you!