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Why Is My Heat Pump Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

Woman Looking at Control Panel

Heat pumps can cause your Snoqualmie home’s circuit breaker to trip for a variety of reasons. Though it might be frustrating, remember your circuit breaker is there to protect you. A trip may just be a fluke, but repeated tripping indicates an error that needs to be corrected.

Like Wow, It Is Really Trippy

To help you identify potential problems, our All Weather Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals share with you five of the most common reasons heat pumps trip circuit breakers:

1. Dusty Air Filter

When you do not replace your air filter for months, dust and debris clog it. This restricts airflow and sends your heat pump’s components into overdrive. Because they are working extra hard, they use an excess amount of electricity. As a result, the circuit breaker trips.

ENERGY STAR® endorses checking your filter every month for dirt and airflow issues. If it is dirty, do your heat pump, your indoor air quality (IAQ), and your wallet a favor and change it.

2. Covered-Up Vents

It is important to give vents ample room to circulate air. But sometimes you can get carried away decorating your Washington home and end up blocking some vents. 

Like a dusty air filter, this restricts airflow, leading to an overload. Be sure to place sofas, carpets, and curtains away from your vent openings. Let them breathe!

3. Dirty Condenser Coils

When your heat pump’s condenser coils get dirty, the unit has to work at a higher capacity to produce the same amount of heating or cooling. Subsequently, this can produce an overload, which trips the circuit breaker. 

To avoid this, be sure to schedule professional preventative maintenance at least once a year with our All Weather Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration experts. During the visit to your Snoqualmie home, our trained team member will clean debris off your condenser coils, lowering the risk of any future issues.

4. Motor Problems

If the blower motor has any friction—such as rust on the bearings or poor balance—it can run poorly. Often, the motor will then pull more electricity than necessary. 

This overload will trip your circuit breaker. If your motor is making unusual sounds, this may be what is happening. Let one of our pros take care of this for you.

5. Electrical Issues

Frayed or faulty wiring could be the source of the problem, as it often causes short circuiting. Additionally, the culprit could be your circuit breaker itself. Older circuit breakers may give you a false reading. 

If you have noticed other appliances tripping the circuit breaker, it may not be your heat pump’s fault after all. Get in touch with a licensed electrician if you believe this to be the case.

Utilize Our Expertise for Any Heat Pump Issues

Need your heat pump fixed? Contact us because we can help! Our licensed professionals are proud to perform heating repairs, installations, and maintenance here in the Snoqualmie, WA, area. Call All Weather Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration today at 425-463-9814 or request service online to schedule a visit.

Need HVAC Service?

Contact the experts at All Weather Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.

Call us at 425-463-9814!

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