Why Is My Heat Pump in Sarasota, FL, Tripping the Breaker?

A circuit breaker trips whenever an appliance in your Sarasota, FL, home draws excessive electricity. One of the appliances that may trip the breaker is a heat pump. If your breaker trips when your heat pump comes on, you’re probably dealing with one of these four issues:

Clogged Air Filter

A clogged air filter creates airflow problems since very little air can pass through it. Your heat pump works harder than usual to draw more air through the tiny openings in the clogged filter.

The harder the system works, the more current it draws. This causes the circuit breaker to trip. You can prevent your system from struggling to draw air by replacing your air filter often. Ideally, you should do so every 30-90 days.

Undersized Heat Pump

An undersized heat pump doesn’t have sufficient capacity to meet your indoor temperature needs. As a result, it overworks trying to achieve the temperatures you set on the thermostat. Install a correctly sized heat pump to avoid the problems associated with an incorrectly sized system.

Refrigerant Leaks

A refrigerant is a component that moves heat from one area to another, depending on the season. During winter, the refrigerant moves heat from the outdoor coil to the indoor coil.

If this vital fluid leaks, your heat pump must work harder to bring in enough heat. Schedule repair services immediately if you suspect the refrigerant leaks.

Dirty Outdoor Unit

The outdoor unit absorbs heat during the cold season. When dirt and debris accumulate on this unit, they create a layer that makes it difficult for the outdoor unit to absorb enough heat.

As a result, your system works for an extended period, drawing more current. Schedule maintenance services regularly to have your outdoor unit cleaned thoroughly.

Address the underlying problem causing the circuit breaker to trip rather than resetting the device every time it trips. You can always call All American Heating & Cooling for exceptional heating services whenever you need professional help with your system.

Image provided by iStock