HVAC trips when I turn on the AC. How to diagnose and repair?

3 years ago

A few days back, I found out that the fan of the HVAC system is running (fan inside is running and heating works fine) but the outside condenser unit is not running. The circuit breaker was tripped and whenever I switch on the circuit breaker, it trips again in 3-5 seconds. I changed the circuit breaker and it trips again.

I called a few HVAC guys and they suggested to change the compressor unit guessing that compressor is blown. They didn’t even check it.

This is a 14 years old unit and uses R22 refrigerant. Changing the whole HVAC will cost me 7-8K.

Could anyone advise me how to check if the compressor is actually broken? And if it is, how much will it cost to change just the compressor?

Thank you !!

Ranveer

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Comments (3)

tigerdunes
3 years ago
This site is not a do it yourself especially where electrics are concerned. You are best advised to call a qualified HVAC Pro. He has the knowledge and tools to diagnose the cause of the tripping problem.

TD
mike_home
3 years ago
Some manufacturers such as Carrier/Bryant publish trouble shooting guides for their equipment. You may be able to find the one for your condenser. I would advise not opening your condenser unless you have the skills and equipment to do the required measurements. This is what a HVAC tech should be doing and not diagnosing the problem over the phone.

Prices vary by region and equipment. A compressor replacement is probably $1500-$2000, and possibly more due to the expense of R22.. It is not worth fixing a 14 year old condenser which uses R22 refrigerant.
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Thank you for the replies so far. I thought my reply went through the other day, but this forum just doesn't work great for me for some reason. I lost my original post a couple times as well! I'll try again. what is your thermostat setting... Set to 70 mostly now. what is outside temperature... It was mid 80s lately and what is your supply temp at several locations within your home??? ....what is age of your AC condenser?... I believe it is 15 years old, possibly more - Is your thermostat set correctly? I think so? - Did you change your filters? yes, within the last month/weeks - Check to see if your condenser is dirty The outside fan thing? Yes I cleaned it using Simple Green, but I will do this again - Check to see if there is a refrigerant leak We had it checked a few times in the last few years and it never even needed a top off, we haven't had the freon checked since last summer however. - Is there a leak in your ductwork? I went up there and looked around and did not find anything egregious other tham mentioned in the original post. THere is that rusted area that concerns me. And the main unit was leaking quite a bit of air from the duct to the main unit, and I tried to use HVAC tape to stop it up.
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Mini-Split Warehouse
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Here are 5 telltale symptoms of AC compressor failure. We’ll explain more about each one below.

https://www.minisplitairconditioningsystem.org/

The compressor doesn’t turn on at all

The system is blowing warm air

The system keeps tripping the circuit breaker

The outside unit shakes when it starts up

The outside condensing unit is making strange noises

Circuit breaker tripping.

Does your outside condensing unit keep losing power and tripping the circuit breaker? This is a symptom of AC compressor failure because your compressor may be overheating and drawing too much power, causing the circuit breaker to trip.

Here’s the important thing to know: don’t just keep resetting the circuit breaker and turning the system back on! Your circuit breaker is doing its job and protecting you from a potential fire hazard.

AC circuit breaker tripping: WHAT TO DO FIRST:

As we just mentioned, never keep turning it back on if the AC circuit breaker if it keeps tripping! You can follow the steps below once to make sure there really is a problem before continuing. Sometimes something like a lightning strike nearby can cause a one-time power surge that trips the breaker, and you’ll be fine once you turn it back on.

Here are the first steps to take when your AC circuit breaker trips:

Turn the air conditioning system OFF at the thermostat(s).

At your electrical panel, turn the AC circuit breaker switch to the ON position.

IMPORTANT: wait 30 minutes with the air conditioner OFF. Be sure that the thermostat remains OFF so that your air conditioner’s internal circuit breaker can reset. This can’t happen if the thermostat is signaling for cooling.

After 30 minutes, set your air conditioner back to COOL.

If you’re lucky, everything will work normally after this and the AC circuit breaker won’t trip again. You’re all set!

However, if the AC circuit breaker immediately trips again, or the AC won’t come back on, you have a problem that needs to be diagnosed and repaired by a professional. Read the next section for possible causes.

But what if your system seems to work ok for a little while, but then shuts off and trips the breaker again? If that happens, there’s one more thing you can try: changing your air filter. When your system filter is clogged with dust and debris, the fan motor must work harder and runs longer trying to draw air through the filter. In an attempt to do so, it may draw too much electricity and cause the AC circuit breaker to trip. Try replacing the filter to see if that makes a difference.

HVAC trips when I turn on the AC. How to diagnose and repair?

Comments (3)

tigerdunes

mike_home

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