You probably know that a sudden power surge can harm electronics like televisions, computers, and appliances. But can a power surge damage an air conditioner?
As the provider of AC repair in Cedar Hill, TX, we frequently receive calls from local homeowners who have air conditioner damage due to a power surge. The fact is power outages and other electrical issues can cause fluctuations that put any device connected to the circuit at risk for damage. Understanding the risk that these spikes in electrical currents create and how to mitigate them can prevent problems.
What Causes Power Surges?
For many people, power surges only occur during storms, when lighting hits a home and sends a burst of electricity through the circuits. Although this is one source of power surges, the average homeowner is more likely to experience a power surge for other reasons.
Power surges aren’t always dramatic, and in fact, in most cases, they are only a momentary spike in electricity on the circuit. Older homes with faulty wiring are especially at risk for these quick increases, which can cause widespread problems in just a tenth of a second.
Power outages can also lead to a power surge. During an outage, there’s no electricity at all flowing into your home. However, restoring the service can cause a sudden surge of power that’s more than your electronics can handle.
Regardless of its cause, the answer to “Can a power surge damage an air conditioner?” is yes.
How Power Surges Affect Air Conditioners
A power surge can lead to a malfunctioning AC because the unit contains electrical components. The average air conditioner can handle up to 120 volts of electricity, so any time there’s an increase in voltage, there’s potential for components like wires, the compressor, and capacitors to burn out. Considering that a lightning strike on a power line can send upwards of 1 million volts of electricity into your home at once, it’s easy to see how a sudden surge can damage your equipment.
Not all power surges cause such a massive increase in electricity, and your home’s electrical system and the air conditioner itself have built-in protection against unexpected fluctuations. A small surge can lead to a tripped circuit breaker, for example, while the air conditioner may turn off to protect itself if it senses a power increase.
If you’re wondering how can a power surge damage an air conditioner, the extra power can cause a multitude of issues, including:
- A compressor failure. If the air conditioner is running when a power outage occurs, it can overheat and keep the system from cycling on and off.
- Cooling problems, meaning that the unit cannot complete one or more of the cooling stages.
- Programming failure, which causes the unit to return to factory settings and require a reset.
- Blower motor failure, which prevents the unit from blowing cool air into the ducts.
- Variable speed motor failure, which stops the unit from turning on at all.
An air conditioning professional may be able to repair some of these problems; for example, it’s possible to replace a blower motor or reset the air conditioner’s internal computer. However, sometimes a power surge can cause a fatal malfunction, and the only solution is to replace it. For that reason, it’s important to invest in power surge protection for your home.
How To Prevent Air Conditioner Damage From Power Surges
The best way to prevent air conditioner damage in a power surge is via whole-house surge protectors, which can block the excess power before it reaches any electronics.
Other options include:
- Turning off and unplugging devices during outages in case there’s a significant surge when the power comes back on
- Upgrading old wiring to prevent small surges
- Using power strips that you can turn off during an electrical storm
Get Help When Your Air Conditioning Malfunctions
Now that you know the answer to “Can a power surge damage an air conditioner?” you may be eager to take steps to prevent problems. Or, if you recently experienced a power outage, you may need help troubleshooting an AC unit that’s not working. In either case, turn to the experts at Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating for help by calling 972-291-0740.
Our local HVAC experts can quickly diagnose your air conditioning issue and find a solution to restore reliable cooling.
