Circuit breakers protect your home from circuits drawing more power than they’re designed to handle. Your heat pump may trip its breaker occasionally under certain conditions, but it shouldn’t reoccur. These are some common reasons your heat pump in Leawood, KS, may repeatedly trip its breaker:
Clogged Air Filter
A clogged air filter restricts airflow through your heat pump, which prevents air from circulating and easily causes overheating. When there’s less air movement, the fan strains more to draw sufficient air. This added strain makes the fan motor draw additional power, which can trip the system’s circuit breaker.
Blocked Outdoor Unit
Like the indoor unit, the outdoor unit relies on sufficient airflow and can also trip the breaker when clogged. Common restrictions include dirt, weeds, tree branches, vines, landscaping architecture, and even snow or ice. Keep at least two feet around the unit and five feet above it cleared of any obstructions.
Faulty Compressor
The compressor easily draws the most power of any component in your heat pump. When there’s a problem, the compressor may draw more power than intended, causing the system to trip the breaker. Faulty compressors require professional heat pump repair or possibly a system replacement.
Seized Fan Motor Bearings
The indoor and outdoor fan motors have bearings that allow the fan to spin freely and must remain lubricated. If the lubrication dries out then the bearings will eventually seize up, causing extreme strain on the fan motor. Aside from a tripped breaker, you may have noticed a screeching sound coming from the fan.
Low Refrigerant
Your heat pump requires a certain amount of refrigerant to properly heat or cool your home. Without the proper amount, the compressor strains to build the pressure needed to vent heat. A service technician checks your refrigerant level at every routine maintenance visit to ensure that there aren’t any leaks.
A heat pump that’s tripping its breaker is a safety issue and prevents your system from heating your home. Routine maintenance is one of the best ways to prevent most of these issues. Call to schedule a heat pump maintenance visit with one of the trusted service technicians at Air-Pro Comfort Systems.
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