A power surge that trips the AC circuit breaker could be caused by a simple electrical issue within the air conditioner. A loose connection, a failed capacitor, or a short in the wiring could be responsible. Those issues can be fixed easily by a professional.

Why does my breaker trip when I turn the heat on?

The most common cause for your furnace to trip your circuit breaker in your blower motor overworking itself. The blower motor can begin to overwork itself when air flow to the motor becomes restricted. One of the largest causes of this is a dirty air filter.

How do I stop my AC breaker from tripping?





Over time, these wires may become loose and lose their connection, and this can cause your circuit breaker to trip from time to time. An AC pro will fix this by re-wiring your circuit and may also need to replace the metal plate that contains all of your wires.

How do I reset my air handler breaker?

Turning Off & Resetting Your AC Unit in 4 Simple Steps

  1. Shut it Off. First, turn off your AC before resetting the thermostat. …
  2. Get to the Circuit Breaker. So far, so good. …
  3. Wait 30 Seconds. After turning off the circuit breaker linked to the AC unit, wait for a full minute. …
  4. Turn it Back On.


Can a thermostat cause a breaker to trip?

If there’s an issue with the wiring to your thermostat, such as a short, this could cause your breaker to trip.

What causes air handler breaker trip?





Bummer. Well, an air conditioner usually trips the breaker because it’s pulling in more amps than the breaker is rated for. That is, if you have a 20-amp breaker and the AC pulls 30 amps, the breaker trips. That’s why breakers trip: to protect you from over currents that can damage equipment and cause fires (yikes).

Why is my central heating tripping?

Your heat pump needs more power to work this hard, so it ends up tripping its circuit breaker. This can also happen if you somehow block or close your home’s indoor vents. The same premise is responsible—obstructed airflow. Change your filter every three months, at a minimum.

Why does my outside AC unit keeps tripping the breaker?

Typically, your AC breaker trips when there’s a short circuit, the AC is overworking or a part is bad or malfunctioning. If you continue to run your AC, you could permanently damage the air conditioner. Get a professional AC repair tech out as soon as you can.

How do I find out what’s tripping my circuit breaker?

To test for circuit overload, the next time the breaker trips, go to the electrical panel and turn off all the switches in the affected area and unplug all appliances, lamps, and other devices. Flip the breaker back on and then turn on the switches and plug in/turn on devices one at a time.

Can a bad AC capacitor cause the breaker to trip?



If your air conditioner is having trouble starting before the circuit breaker trips, it points to a bad capacitor. A capacitor is responsible for starting the compressor, and if the compressor has trouble starting, it could pull too many amps and trip the breaker.

Can a dirty condenser trip a breaker?

Dirty Condenser Coil



This may not make sense, but a dirty condenser coil can cause your system to trip the circuit breaker. Condenser coils can become dirty if you have not been taking care of the air conditioner. In this situation, you would have observed the system to not cool as it used to.

How often should you replace AC capacitor?

about 20 years



In general, you can expect most AC capacitors to last about 20 years. This is a fairly long lifespan, which is why most heating and AC repair companies will take a look at the capacitor last. They expect the capacitor to last for quite some time.

How much does it cost to replace HVAC capacitor?

The average HVAC capacitor cost is around $170. Prices generally range between $120 and $250, including professional installation. Branded units are more expensive, costing upwards of $400 or more. The price you pay depends on the brand, model, voltage and the labor required for installation.

What is the average lifespan of a capacitor?

Manufacturers of electrolytic capacitors specify the design lifetime at the maximum rated ambient temperature, usually 105°C. This design lifetime can vary from as little as 1,000 hours to 10,000 hours or more.

How much does it cost to replace a capacitor?

A professional fix can range anywhere between $60 and $200, plus the cost of the unit. This covers not only wages, but transportation, tools, and union dues as well.



How Much Does It Cost to Replace an AC Capacitor Professionally?

Average Cost High-End Cost Low-End Cost
$170 $400 $120



Where is the capacitor located on an AC unit?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Or quarter-inch screws to remove. Locate the capacitor in the air conditioner the capacitor is the tall cylinder here the most modern capacitors are round but they could be oval.

How do you know a capacitor is bad?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So those are all bad capacitors. This one looks just find them all right so. So you wouldn't have any visual on this telling you that it's bad.