I've been living in my house for three years, and I've noticed that my fuse keeps blowing whenever I try to use the air conditioner in one of our bedrooms. Two bedrooms are connected to the same breaker, and since we don't have central air, we rely on window units during the summer. It used to be fine to run the AC all day, but now, just plugging it in causes the fuse to blow. It's really uncomfortable when it gets muggy and hot, and I'm not in a position to hire an electrician right now. Any advice on what might be going on and how I can fix this? My house was built in 1913 in Pennsylvania.
4 Answers
Man, that's rough! I totally get how frustrating it can be. In my old place, I discovered some old knob and tube wiring was causing issues. I know you said money's tight, but it might be worth calling around to find an electrician who can at least give you an estimate or some advice on the issue you're facing.
How old are your AC units? If they’re 15 years or older, they might be on their last legs and pulling more power than they should. Try some maintenance like cleaning the filters or looking for any blockages. In the long run, getting another circuit run could help ease the load on that breaker.
Whatever you do, don’t change the fuse to a higher amp model. You’ve got an electrical issue that needs attention because blowing fuses are a sign of something drawing too much current. If getting an electrician isn’t in the cards right now, it might be safer to tough it out without the AC. You really don’t want to risk a fire from faulty wiring or a failing unit.
It sounds like your AC unit might be drawing more power as it ages, which isn't uncommon. However, I wouldn’t rule out a possible short circuit somewhere in the wiring or the AC unit itself. If you can, get a clamp meter (they're pretty cheap—about $25 at places like Harbor Freight). It can help you see how much current the unit is pulling through the cord.
I agree, it's better to be safe! It’s also good to think about what else is on that circuit. If you have another appliance running, it could be pushing your circuit over its limit.