Why is My Air Conditioner Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

The unknown often triggers a natural cause of stress. Whether it’s trying to diagnose a mysterious problem with a car – or the ultimate question as to why is my air conditioner tripping the circuit breaker; the fact remains that some things simply can’t be explained simply. However, when it comes to the AC issue that many Arizona residents experience on a daily basis, the root cause of these problems can be rather simple for an expert AC technician to determine. But are there things you can do yourself to pre-diagnose this common problem?

Here are a few of the common reasons why an AC system will trip the circuit breaker – and what you can do to prevent this from happening again once the problem is solved by a Scottsdale HVAC repair company.

First – Low Refrigerant Can Cause the Breaker to Trip

An AC system is, simply put, an efficient running machine. It requires all of the parts moving together, working together in order to function correctly. The refrigerant or coolant is a critical part of this synergistic cooling design. When the coolant is leaking or running low, it causes the AC system to work harder to attempt to replicate the results the homeowner is searching to achieve. Eventually, if the AC system runs too long – it will simply consume too much energy. And when this occurs, the safety devices built into home and commercial electrical systems will trip the circuit breaker to ensure an overload does not occur.

The solution: Make sure you have your AC system tuned up every year before the hot season approaches. This proactive step will check your AC unit for any leaks of coolant or refrigerant – so this problem doesn’t happen to you when you can least afford.

Second – Aging Components On Your AC Need to Be Checked

As we mentioned above, the AC system is a cohesive system that must work together to achieve positive results. However, mechanical parts are designed to wear out over time. Even if you keep the AC system perfectly clean and tuned up, eventually some of the moving parts will wear out. If this occurs, it can lead to power loss or inefficient operation of your cooling unit.

One of the components that are frequently missed in some AC tune-ups is the electrical connections. The electrical system needs to be checked every year – and if any fittings are loose or worn out due to the elements that they can be exposed to in Arizona, they need to be replaced or tightened up – to avoid electrical problems.

Third – Check Your Air Conditioning Filters

When it comes to routine maintenance and service, the best thing that any homeowner can do to reduce the onset of most problems is to check your air conditioning filters every month. AC units need to breathe in order to run smooth and energy efficiently. The number one factor in reduction of the system’s ability to breathe are air filters that run from the home to the duct work that are blocked with dust, debris and other particles that filter its way into them on a daily basis. As we talked about above, when the system has to work hard to produce similar results, it consumes more energy. And since all electrical systems have limits on how much power they can consume, if this is not regulated – it will trip the circuit breaker of a home or commercial building.

As you can see, most of the root causes of why your AC system is tripping the circuit breaker can easily be solved through some simple maintenance or elbow grease. Be smart and proactive about keeping your AC tuned up in Arizona. You’ll be glad you did.

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Are you looking for ways to extend the life of your AC unit? Call us at 480-359-7141 and we can help you with a maintenance plan that will have your air conditioner working for many years to come. 

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Why is My Air Conditioner Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

3 Tips for Detecting Leaks in Ductwork

According to the US Department of Energy, leaking ductwork inside a home or commercial building is the leading cause of air conditioning inefficiency in America. For those that might not be aware of what ductwork actually is, essentially, it’s the veins of your cooling system. It transfers warm air from the building into the cooling system, and then shuttles the recently chilled air back into the home or office building. Although we know that leaking ducts is not a great thing, detecting leaks in ductwork is one of the most difficult things to accomplish.

Here are a few tips to help you find leaks in ductwork and what you can do to:

Tip #1 – How to Find Leaks in Ductwork at Home or in the Office

Contrary to popular belief, finding a leaking duct system can be discovered by home or commercial building owners initially. In fact, finding a big leak is rather simple – as you can literally feel cool air blowing out of the ductwork or in areas that are close to the duct system. However, some smaller leaks in homes are a bit more difficult to find. But there are a few things you can do at home to find them.

• Use the toilet paper method; which involves the use of toilet paper, ribbon or even incense sticks. Basically, what you’ll do is find the exposed ductwork and hold the toilet paper, ribbon or burning incense near the connected joints to see if air is leaking. You’ll notice a leak if the wind appears to swirl inconsistently.


• Lack of cool air. If you’re not as adventurous as some home owners that try the above method, another thing you can do is monitor the problem is check out the actual temperature inside your home. If your thermostat is set to 68 degrees and it seems to take forever for your indoor air temperature to cool to that level; or if your AC system continually runs; it can be leaking ductwork.


• Look at your energy bills. Since the root issue of leaking ducts is that cool air escapes during the summer and warm air escapes in winter when your heating unit is operational, this will impact your energy bill. If your bills are higher than usual, the culprit could be leaking ducts.

Tip #2 – Understand How Does Duct Leakage Happen so You Can Prevent it in the Future

If you’ve found a leaking ductwork system, and the ductwork repair company has made the repairs, you probably want to prevent it from happening again. Duct leakage is typically caused by two primary issues:

• Small holes that appear inside the actual ducts due to several factors


• Separation of the ducts from joints where they are connected together.

For the most part, ductwork leaks that occur in residential buildings come from joints where two pieces of ductwork are connected together via screw attachments. This can happen for several reasons such as:

• When air circulates it is very dense and can cause the ducts to ‘shake loose’.


• Some ducts are exposed to wind or other elements that enter roof areas and walls inside a home. This wind, combined with dirt, dust and debris can cause leaks.


• Rodents that nest inside your walls and attics can get inside ductwork and literally chew their way through the ductwork. Their fecal material and urine can also cause duct leaks.

If you have the ductwork sealed by a professional company in Scottsdale, they will recommend fixing the root cause of the leaking ducts; so that it hopefully doesn’t happen again.

Tip #3 – Work With Professionals That Specialize in Sealing Ductwork Leaks

There are several good companies that have the right tools, equipment and experience to fix AC issues. However, repairing and sealing ductwork is a specialty that requires the fine touch of an expert. The best thing you can do is work with a duct sealing company in Scottsdale that has experience fixing ductwork in homes or commercial buildings similar to yours. These contractors understand the ins and outs of sealing ductwork leaks and will take proactive measures to ensure the issue doesn’t happen again soon – saving you money and stress in the short and long term.

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Are you losing precious cool air from leaking air ducts? Call us at 480-359-7141 and we can help locate and seal the leak so that you can rest easy knowing your not losing any more air in your walls! 

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3 Tips for Detecting Leaks in Ductwork

Common Summertime Air Conditioner Problems in Arcadia

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had the displeasure of calling the AC repair company in Arcadia on a 100+ degree day. Let’s face it, this is never a pleasant experience – even for the hard working technicians that service the unit outside in the intense heat. However, the reality is that several of the common summertime air conditioner problems in Arcadia and surrounding areas in Phoenix can be simply avoided through routine maintenance and service.

It is important to understand what the issues might be, so we can learn how we as homeowners can proactively prevent these troublesome and often stressful and time-consuming repairs from happening in the first place. Here are three of the most common problems that AC systems experience in the intense summer heat.

First – Air Conditioner is Leaking Water in My Home

The dreaded water leaking inside the home by way of the air conditioning unit is one of the most common AC repair jobs that are called into HVAC offices in Arcadia – especially from June till September. Leaking water is often caused by a condenser coil unit that has either shut down, is plugged or has frozen and simply stops working. An AC system basically works as a closed-loop system, where coolant or Freon is circulated through coils inside the unit, and the condensation unit evaporates the moisture that is collected through this process.

But, if this critical component is not ‘free to breathe’ and is blocked by debris, dust, animal waste or even tiny bugs that find their way into the AC system, it can cause water to collect and spill into the home. The best solution to fix this problem is to have your AC system tuned up by a professional HVAC maintenance company in Arcadia – before the summer season hits. During this routine inspection they will clean and service all areas of your AC unit, including the leading causes of leaking or collecting water.

Second – My AC Unit is Freezing and Not Working

It’s also very common during the summertime that air conditioners will freeze up and simply stop working. But the obvious question that is asked by homeowners in Arcadia frequently is; how can an AC unit freeze when it’s over 100 degrees outside? Let’s explain how these units work to answer this for you.

An AC unit requires proper and unrestricted airflow to keep the cooling coils ‘warm’. Warm air from the home is circulated into the AC system and this helps the coolant tubes from freezing. However, when the air restriction is blocked, the coils will freeze up and simply shut the system down completely. When this happens, it can lead to very expensive repairs.

There are a few things that homeowners can do themselves to reduce this from happening in the first place.

• Replace your indoor filters every month. It gets dusty in the desert – and that dust gets into our homes and into the air we breathe. Clean filters help keep debris and dirt from entering the ducts and then into the AC unit itself.


• Schedule duct cleaning annually.


• Make sure you set up a routine service call every year before the summer season in Arcadia to reduce the chance of your AC unit freezing.

Third – My AC Unit is Blowing Warm Air Instead of Cool Air

The third most popular AC problem is when the unit decides to blow warm air instead of cool air. This is a problem when it’s triple digit heat outside. The cause of this problem is typically that your AC unit is blowing warm air due to a coolant leak. As we discussed above, an AC unit is a closed-loop system, so coolant shouldn’t escape. When it leaks, it loses the ability to efficiently cool the air. The direct result is that warm air will blow into the home. The blocked condensate coils and other AC respiratory conditions can also cause this problem.

The solution to all of these common summertime air conditioner problems is to make sure you are proactive about maintenance and service. Our cooling units in Arcadia undergo a ton of stress because of the extreme temperatures. Do your AC unit and yourself a favor by setting up an annual service and maintenance call with a professional HVAC company in Arcadia – before these problems hit you at the most inconvenient time.

Read related articles:

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Common Summertime Air Conditioner Problems in Arcadia

Is a Home AC Freon Leak Dangerous in Extreme Arizona Heat?

In Arizona, dependence on a solid running AC system is not a luxury – it’s a necessity. Among the leading causes of air conditioning system failure is a home AC Freon leak that not only will impact the overall performance of your cooling system; but it can be dangerous for you and your family in the heat of Arizona.

It’s important to understand some of the dangers of having a Freon leak from your cooling system, how to determine if you have a Freon leak and what you can do to get it repaired as quickly as possible – with as little expense as well.

How to tell if you have a Freon leak

Most of the AC systems that are in use in Phoenix and surrounding communities are closed-loop units; meaning the Freon continually circulates through the cooling unit and does not leak. However, occasionally this can occur. There are a few things you can determine that will help you understand if you are experiencing a Freon leak including:

• The temperature inside your home is not as cool as it should be


• The humidity inside your home is slightly higher than it typically is


• Multiple people living inside the home are experiencing headaches or nausea (the inhalation of CFCs can cause these two symptoms)

If you experience a combination of these symptoms, it’s quite possible that a coolant leak exists and a phone call to a professional HVAC repair company in Scottsdale would be the best course of action.

Is a Home AC Freon Leak Dangerous?

There are several refrigerants used in AC systems in Arizona however the most commonly used is known as R-22 or Freon; especially in older systems. The newer models use R410-A refrigerant that is an environmentally safer product. The reason that most refrigerants can be potentially dangerous is that they contain CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons. This type of chemical compound is monitored by the EPA, and must be installed and disposed of in a particular manner to avoid exposure. Intense exposure to CFCs can cause significant respiratory system damage including the onset of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Chronic Bronchitis.

As mentioned above, when people inhale CFCs, some of the most common symptoms can include headaches and nausea. However, when you combine extreme heat and closed windows that are typical in Arizona homes – these symptoms can accelerate rapidly. It’s due to this fact that homeowners should be very proactive about contacting their HVAC repair company in Scottsdale if they have any indication that a Freon leak is happening.

How Should I Fix a Home Air Conditioning Freon Leak?

The easiest answer to this question is that no homeowner should attempt a DIY home AC Freon fix. Only a certified HVAC repair specialist that has completed EPA training on how to properly handle Freon or AC coolants should attempt to diagnose, and repair any leaks. A home AC Freon leak is dangerous if gone unchecked and not fixed can cause a lot of health concerns to homeowners. If you notice the health symptoms above, one thing that any homeowner can do quickly is to make sure the home is well ventilated until the HVAC Repair Company in Scottsdale arrives.

Be proactive when it comes to AC Freon leaks inside your home. By doing so, this will save you a lot of money in utility bills but it can also help you reduce your chances of coming down with potentially life threatening respiratory health conditions.

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Do you have a Freon leak in your AC unit? Work with Scottsdale’s most experienced and professional HVAC companies, Scottsdale Air Heating  & Cooling. Proudly serving the valley since 1947! Call 480-359-7141 today!

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