Why Does Your Refrigerator Keep Tripping the Breaker？

Image source: Home Efficiency Guide

Constantly running up and down to flip the circuit breaker up is not something that you will want to do.

In this case, the main cause is a refrigerator.

What if it trips and you are not there? Your food will definitely go bad.

Given the importance of a fridge in a household and even business, you will want to bring the situation under control as soon as possible.

In this guide, we are going to discuss the reasons why your refrigerator keeps tripping the circuit breaker and the possible solutions.

Common causes why the fridge trips circuit breaker

Overloaded circuit

Well, this might be the most obvious cause why your circuit breaker keeps tripping. This happens when too much electricity is drawn from the circuit.

The electrical demand of the appliance could be too high than what the circuit breaker can handle.

This will end up stressing the circuit and it will trip constantly.

How do I solve this?

Well, first find out the appliances that are running or connected to the circuit. Too many appliances running at a time can lead to circuit overload.

So, try to cut down on the number of electric appliances running on the circuit at any given moment.

Short circuit

This is another possible cause of the constant tripping of the breaker by the fridge.

A short circuit occurs when the wiring in the circuit is not installed correctly.

Wires that are touching each other or have loose connections can lead to short circuits.

How do I solve this?

find out the cause of the short circuit. Is it on the circuit or on the fridge?

You can test this by connecting another appliance on the same circuit. If it does not trip, then the fridge is the most possible cause.

Check the wires on your refrigerator and make sure that they are not touching each other and are connected properly.

Defective circuit breaker

This is also another common cause of tripping the circuit breaker by your refrigerator. Circuit breakers can go bad after many years of use.

The contacts inside the breaker get dirty and corroded, which makes it harder for them to close when you turn on the switch. This leads to tripping the breaker constantly.

What is the solution?

If you suspect that your circuit breaker is defective, then call a licensed electrician to inspect it and replace it if necessary.

Even when it comes to replacing the circuit breaker, ensure that it is of premium quality and meets the requirement of the refrigerator.

Worn out compressor motor windings

The compressor motor of your refrigerator has windings that rotate when you turn it on.

These windings wear out over time, causing them to overheat and eventually blow a fuse or trip a circuit breaker when they get too hot (overloaded).

A failed compressor will also cause you to lose all of your food since there will be no cooling happening inside the fridge! So, if your fridge keeps tripping its circuit breaker, check for this first! How do I solve this? The solution is simple; get a new one or have yours repaired by an HVAC technician.

Dirty condenser coils

The condenser coil of your refrigerator is located outside of the fridge. It is the part that gets dirty and needs to be cleaned every now and then. If this part becomes too dirty, it will not be able to transfer heat from inside the refrigerator to outside, leading to overheating and tripping of circuit breakers or fuses. This is a common problem for fridges that are used in areas with high humidity such as basements or laundry rooms.

What is the solution?

The solution is simple: clean it! This can be done easily by using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or even just a broom handle. You can also use a wet sponge or cloth if the dirt isn’t too bad.

Ground fault surging

A ground fault is structurally similar to a short circuit. The only difference is here ‘hot’ wire comes into direct contact with a ground wire. This results in an electrical surge that will eventually lead to the tripping of the fridge circuit breaker.

To solve this, you will have to inspect all the electric switches so that you can find out if the ground fault is the main culprit.

If you spot any burnt signs near the hot wire, then that is a sure sign that you have ground surge.

Damaged fridge fan

The main function of a fan in a fridge is to generate cold air. If the fan is not working, then obviously it will not be able to generate cold air. This will result in a warm and humid atmosphere inside the fridge.

The first thing that you need to do is to inspect the vents of the fridge and see if there is any dust or dirt that may be blocking the fan from functioning properly.

If this does not work, then you might have to replace your faulty fan with a new one.

Damaged thermostat

A thermostat also determines the amount of current that a fridge draws from the circuit. It does this by monitoring the temperature of the fridge.

Thermostats are usually located within the fridge. If this is not working, then there is a possibility that you have a faulty thermostat.

If this is the case, then you will have to replace your faulty thermostat with a new one.

Buy quality electrical components

Image source: Howtofixit

On different occasions, we have suggested replacing various components that are attributed to the constant tripping of the breaker by the fridge.

So, ensure that you replace the relevant components with the quality ones.

For example, when it comes to the circuit breaker, ensure that you get genuine ones that are compatible with your fridge.

Conclusion

I hope now you have hints on why your refrigerator keeps tripping the circuit breaker.

Remember to follow all the necessary safety measures while finding out the problem in the circuit breaker.

For example, turn  off the main switch before you check the breaker and even the live wires.

And if you are looking for quality circuit breakers in China, let us help you.

At ICRFQ, we are a reputable sourcing agent for electrical components in China.

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