Summer is the perfect time to install that window mounted air conditioner to stay cool. But is the power load too much for your home’s electrical unit? Do you ever wonder why the air conditioner circuit breaker keeps tripping? Here’s an article on how to make sure everything electrical in your house is working properly.

Electricity is really just organized lightning. - George Carlin

Replace Your Air Filters

Learn how to care for your A/C unit
The filter is always a good place to start. Source: Green Prophet

It might sound obvious, but one of the most overlooked (and easily solved) problems is simply in the air filters. If you don’t change them every month or so you can really see a buildup start to form. This in turn leads to the system over-exerting itself and taking up more power.

If your air conditioner circuit breaker keeps tripping, the first thing you can do is to change the filters in the system. Here’s what to look for in case you want to be able to tell if your filters need changing.

  • Lint
  • Lots of lint
  • Debris
  • Condensation
  • Mold
  • Mildew
  • Tiny rocks or sand built up
  • Loose netting around the filter
  • Holes
  • Breaks around the edge

Check Your Thermostat

Finding you way around the air conditioner, and the breaker
Set everything to the right temperatures and times. Source: Do it yourself

Another seemingly obvious solution, checking up on your thermostat can also troubleshoot a lot of issues. When it’s the outside A/C unit tripping breakers in your home, the thermostat is the first place to start. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to your thermostat.

  1. Make sure the unit is set to “on and “cool
  2. If digital, replace battery
  3. If programmable, set to an optimal performance during the day (low during the day, cool when you’re home)
  4. Fan should be set to “auto
  5. The thermostat should be set to a temperature lower than the room it’s in

Check Your Circuit Breaker

This is your breaker box
Here's what you need to know to avoid tripping one of these. Source: DIY stack

Even if your circuit breaker panel is new or old, the principal is the same. If a breaker is tripped, that specific breaker shuts off so the rest of the house isn’t affected. Now some HVAC units have a circuit breaker installed in them as a failsafe, so you’ll want to examine that too if this is the case. Your A/C circuit breaker panel is usually located on both the interior and exterior portions of the system.

Make Sure There Is No Condensation

Sometimes you might need professional help
Get your A/C back up and running. Source: DIY Network

Generally speaking, a good rule of thumb is that water and electricity don’t mix. You’ll want to make sure that your air conditioner unit isn’t leaking and that moisture isn’t forming. Otherwise it can lead to issues. While this usually isn’t the case for when your window A/C keeps tripping breakers, in HVAC systems this can be a huge cause for alarm.

When your breakers have been reset, but the unit is still not cooling, check your condensate drain line. There should be a float-switch safety device that shuts off when the compartment is full of liquid. Wet vac the liquid out to get it up and running again.

Want to get professional air conditioning repair? Need to make sure your system works properly this summer? Call a contractor to get the best.

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In this article: Circuit breakers Air conditioners Air conditioner circuit breaker Tripping A/C circuit breaker panel Portable A/C Window A/C A/C breaker
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