It is not unusual for South Carolina to experience thunderstorms all summer, even on hot and humid days. Often they can be serious, with strong winds that can severely damage power lines. When that occurs, you can unexpectedly discover yourself in total darkness, even worse, without an air conditioner!
So when the power has been restored, you simply want to switch your air conditioner back on, particularly on a hot summer day. But, you might be puzzled to discover that your air conditioning system is not working.
Can electrical damage cause it?
Before jumping to conclusions, HVAC contractors suggest you try to reboot your air conditioning system after a power failure.
HVAC Contractor’s Guide on Air Conditioner Reboot
Even a simple thunderstorm can cause lighting to strike, triggering a power surge that can trip the breaker. If it was simply a random blackout and not brought on by a storm, there could still be a surge when the power comes back. That’s simply the breaker doing its task of securing your devices. All you need to do is understand how to reset the breaker and turn the system back on.
1. Turn off your air conditioning system at the thermostat.
2. Then proceed to your electrical panel and look for the air conditioner’s circuit breaker to switch it OFF. Wait about half an hour to turn it back ON to reset the internal breaker of the air conditioning unit.
3. When the time is up, turn the thermostat back to COOL. At this point, your air conditioner will most probably turn back ON. If not, then there is probably electrical damage.
Signs of Electrical Damage on the Air Conditioner
The breaker will not reset
If you notice that most of your external circuits do not turn back on, you will likely have electrical damage exceeding your air conditioning system. It may be caused by a power surge brought about by lightning. When this happens, you need to call an electrician immediately.
Air conditioning breaker keeps tripping
An essential piece of advice: DO NOT turn your breaker back on if it keeps tripping since it might cause more damage to your air conditioning unit and your whole electrical system.
The breaker’s task is to safeguard your structure, circuitry, and devices by turning off the circulation of electrical power when the present circulation is increased. If it keeps tripping, you might risk a fire if you turn it back on.
Electrical Damage Due to Disregarding Maintenance
If you overlooked your air conditioning repair and maintenance in the spring, then your system might have reduced air circulation due to impurities in your unit. When the air filter and the coils get blocked with dust, gunk, and particles, your ac system must work harder and run longer to cool your area. First, you might discover that the system appears to run continuously. Ultimately, the evaporator coil will freeze, which utilizes excessive power and trigger the circuit to trip.
Electrical damage within the air conditioning system
When you’re experiencing signs of electrical damage, the issue might likewise be an easy electrical problem within the air conditioning system itself. It might be caused by:
• Bad capacitor
• Short in the unit’s wiring
• Loose electrical connection
Note: Never try to do this alone, even if it seems too easy for you. Call an HVAC contractor in North Myrtle Beach to do it.
Have your air conditioner maintained in the spring by HVAC professionals to avoid this type of situation. Call North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air today!
Like our Facebook page for more great info about heating and cooling services.
North Myrtle Beach Heating & Air
1001 2nd Ave N
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
843-399-3237
https://www.northmyrtlebeachheatingandair.com/
Serving: North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Landing, Little River, Longs, Cherry Grove