A circuit breaker is a safety switch that immediately shuts down your entire HVAC system if any kind of power surge happens. When it works as it should, it’s an essential piece of safety equipment; but when your heat pump triggers it improperly, it can be deeply annoying. Here are three reasons why your heat pump might be inadvertently tripping your circuit breaker in your Montgomery, AL home.
Your Air Filters Are Dirty
When part of an AC system, heat pumps work by absorbing hot air from inside your house, passing it over refrigerant to cool it and then passing it back through your home. If you’re using old, clogged and dirty air filters, your heat pump will have to work harder to suck up and push out air in this way. This, in turn, will require it to use more power, which might trip your circuit breaker.
The fix to this problem is a simple one: Replace your air filters with new ones. In general, it’s a good idea to change out your air filters approximately every three to six months.
Your Condenser Coil Is Dirty
A condenser coil is an outdoor unit that pressurizes gaseous refrigerant. After condensing the refrigerant, the refrigerant releases heat and is then able to move back into your AC system to continue interacting with your heat pump and cooling your home.
When the condenser coil is dirty, however, it performs its job less effectively and works longer using more electrical power. Additionally, your heat pump will try to compensate for your condenser coil’s diminished cooling capacity by pumping out hot air with greater vigor. These things can easily trip your circuit breaker.
You’re Low on Refrigerant
As discussed, refrigerant plays a critical role in keeping the air in your home cool. When there isn’t enough of it in your AC system, the unit can’t effectively cool your home. This, in turn, leads your heat pump to try and compensate by pumping out more air and consuming more power, tripping the circuit breaker.
It can be dangerous to handle refrigerant without proper equipment, and it takes a technician to actually determine that you’re low on refrigerant. If you think this is the underlying reason why your heat pump keeps tripping your circuit breaker, we strongly advise you to request the repair services of a skilled AC technician.
These are just some of the reasons why your heat pump might be accidentally tripping your circuit breaker. Most of the underlying reasons for this problem are quite technical and require the services of a trained professional to resolve. To get your AC system into top shape for the summer, request the services of Sensigreen in Montgomery, AL today.
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