Protecting your air conditioner’s lifespan starts with electrical safety. When air conditioners develop electrical shorts or experience power surges, they sustain undue wear. Whether affecting blower motors or AC compressors, some electrical problems could lead to failure if left unchecked. Learn how to spot electrical issues and resolve them before they create the need for AC replacement.
Faulty Capacitors
Every air conditioner has one or two capacitors. During startup, air conditioners draw a surge of power. Capacitors store energy and release it to help motors start and run efficiently. Your AC has either separate “run” and “start” capacitors or a single capacitor that does both jobs.
When capacitors fail, air conditioners can have trouble starting, or they may be unable to initiate or complete cooling cycles. However, they won’t stop trying. This causes the appliances to short cycle and overheat. It also accelerates normal wear. Repeated overheating can wear down AC compressors and blower motors, and without intervention, these components will need to be replaced.
Power Surges
Unprotected power surges can damage everything hardwired into your electrical system or plugged in throughout your home. Your air conditioner is no exception. Following a power outage, the restoration of your utility company’s power supply often comes with higher-than-normal voltage. These voltage spikes can cause internal electrical malfunctions, damage to wiring, relays, and contactors, and capacitor and compressor failure.
Whole-house surge protection devices (SPDs) prevent excess voltage from entering ACs. Attached to electrical panels, they direct excess voltage into the ground before it causes harm. If you don’t have a whole-house surge protector, you can protect the lifespan of your AC by installing one now.
Damaged Contactors and Relays
AC contactors and relays are magnetic switches that control circuits. In cooling systems, they handle high-power and high-current loads to prevent overloading. When faulty, they can let excess voltage enter cooling systems. This has an effect on compressors and capacitors that’s similar to the impact of unprotected power surges.
Over time, contactors and relays can develop problems with pitting and corrosion. This is especially common in hot, humid locations. Pitting and corrosion increase electrical resistance, and increased electrical resistance generates excess heat. This accelerates wear on key components and increases the risk of electrical fires. Fortunately, HVAC technicians can find and address faulty contactors and relays during annual tune-up service.
Loose and Faulty Wiring
In humid areas, air conditioners can develop problems with loose, frayed, and faulty wiring. Excess moisture degrades wiring insulation and electrical connections. Frequent cycles of wetting and drying make wiring insulation brittle and prone to breaking away. These changes can lead to frequent short cycling, recurring problems with overheating, electrical fires, and repeated short circuits.
You can catch and correct issues like faulty capacitors, worn wiring, and damaged contactors by staying on top of routine AC maintenance. Without timely interventions for these and other electrical problems, air conditioners can fail outright. When you need AC installation or replacement service in Baton Rouge, LA, get in touch with HVAC Essentials.