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Power Outage Messing with Your AC It could be a lightning strike that caused a power surge, but it doesn’t really matter why the power goes out. The simple act of losing power to your home can trip the breaker on your AC. If your AC isn’t kicking on and you experienced a power outage, make sure you check the breaker.
Why does the power go out when I turn on the AC?
Use the thermostat to turn off the air conditioning. One of the most common issues in AC repair comes when a power surge causes the unit’s circuitry to overload. This kicks off the breaker or “trips” it. That means it has to be reset from the home’s main circuit breaker box.
Can AC cause power outage?
In addition to causing damage to your property, they can also lead to power outages in your area. When the power comes back on but your air conditioner remains inoperable, there’s a set of instructions you can easily follow to restart the system.
Why is my AC tripping breaker?
Typically, your AC breaker trips when there’s a short circuit, the AC is overworking or a part is bad or malfunctioning. If you continue to run your AC, you could permanently damage the air conditioner. Get a professional AC repair tech out as soon as you can.
Why do my lights flicker when my neighbors AC turns on?
Air Conditioners Require Extra Power at Startup The air conditioner switching on at one home may cause the lights to flicker at another home if the homes share a transformer. An electric motor inside an air conditioner requires more energy to start turning than to continue turning.
Should I turn off HVAC during power outage?
A power surge may have tripped the circuit breaker that is associated with your air conditioning system. Check your home’s main breaker box to ensure the switch that controls your system is fully turned on. Leave your air conditioner off for 30 minutes.
How much does it cost to replace an AC capacitor?
An AC capacitor costs between $120 to $250. The price depends on the brand, model, and whether it’s single or dual-run. The average cost to replace a capacitor is around $170, though some AC capacitor prices can be up to $400.
When should I reset my AC unit?
Why Do I Need to Reset My Air Conditioner? The most common reason for an AC unit requiring a reset is when the protection circuit breaker in your AC unit kicks in. This typically happens after a power outage and is in place to prevent fires and explosions.
How do you restart AC after power outage?
How to restart your air conditioner after a power outage Turn off your air conditioner at the thermostat. Turn off your air conditioner at the circuit breaker. Turn your air conditioner back on at the circuit breaker. Wait for 30 minutes. Turn your air conditioner back on at the thermostat.
How do I stop my AC from tripping the breaker?
AC circuit breaker tripping: WHAT TO DO FIRST 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. After 30 minutes, set your air conditioner back to COOL.
Why does my outside AC unit keep shutting off?
If you haven’t had regular AC maintenance, the short cycling could be caused by dirty condenser coils. These coils are in the outside unit of your air conditioner and are responsible for dissipating the heat from your home to the outside air. And as your air conditioner struggles, it can overheat and shut off.
Why do my lights dim when the furnace turns on?
When your furnace turns on, any light fixtures that are running on the same circuit as the heater could flicker because their electricity supply is briefly lowered. If the wires on the on the furnace’s power cord are exposed, this can cause electricity to skip from one wire to another and can start a fire.
Why does my AC not work after power outage?
Usually, the 3 main reasons your AC won’t blow cold air after a power outage include: A tripped circuit breaker. A bad capacitor. Compressor failure.
Can a power outage damage HVAC unit?
While it’s unlikely, yes, it is possible that a power outage—or a power surge, which is different—can damage your HVAC system.
What happens when your capacitor goes out?
The most common problem that bad capacitors can cause is “hard starting.” This is when the compressor of an AC has difficulty starting up, stutters trying to turn on, and then shuts off a short while later. Before a capacitor fails, it may start begin to make a clicking noise.
How can you tell if a capacitor is bad?
Use the multimeter and read the voltage on the capacitor leads. The voltage should read near 9 volts. The voltage will discharge rapidly to 0V because the capacitor is discharging through the multimeter. If the capacitor will not retain that voltage, it is defective and should be replaced.
Can I replace my own AC capacitor?
Answer: Yes and yes. It could be a capacitor, or it could be the compressor. Since capacitors are cheap it may be worth a try to see for yourself if that’s it, if not you will need a technician. There is really no “DIY” fix when it comes to repairing or replacing a capacitor.
