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HVAC tripping. Electrician or HVAC person? Fancy filter problem?

9:52 AM 08/31/2011

 

tanner

Brooklyn, NY

Since a couple days after the storm, my HVAC keeps tripping.  As in, it won't even go on, it just trips as soon as I flip the switch back to ON.  I called an HVAC guy who said I should call an electrician, though that seems to contradict some rec's I have read online.  Anyone here have thoughts?  Also, btw, about a month ago I switched from those cheap blue fliters to the fancy allergen ones.  Could those be stressing the system too much and causing the problem?  And finally, if anyone happens to have a strong HVAC person to recommend, and an electrician to boot, that would be appreciated.  Thanks veyr much.

 

 

Heating and Cooling
8 answers
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  • vote

    arkady

    Park Slope, NY

    Sounds as if you need an electrician.  You have a short somewhere - maybe a leak got to a connection.  The filters aren't the problem.  There's no more stress w/ those fancy filters than there would be w/ several months of cathair on the blue ones & the unit will still work.

    11:00 AM 08/31/2011 | -1 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    steam_man

    Carroll Gardens, NY

    To help identify which tech to call figure out if the unit is tripping the circuit breaker in the panel (call the electrician) or if the unit is turning itself off and the incoming power is still fine (call the HVAC service company). Done deal, question answered.

    11:03 AM 08/31/2011 | 1 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    tanner

    Brooklyn, NY

    thanks.
     

    11:47 AM 08/31/2011 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    cmu

    Though if the unit's internal safety is failing and it overloads & trips the breaker, you'd be in (call HVAC service) scenario. Surely HVAC service could immediately tell you if the incoming service is bad?

    1:47 PM 08/31/2011 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    tanner

    Brooklyn, NY

    True, but the recommended HVAC guy said (on phone) that if he comes out and determines immediately that it's just an electrical problem, it will still cost me $125 for the service call.  I took his and steam-man's and arkady's advice and called the electrician.  He came already (Sal from L&B, as recommended here - seemed terrific 718.431-0565) and said it is actually a problem with the thermostat, which I need to replace.  So assuming that does the trick, I guess the answer was: electrician.  Thanks.

    1:57 PM 08/31/2011 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    steam_man

    Carroll Gardens, NY

    Can't see how the thermostat would cause a (likely) 15-20 A breaker to trip but hey, whatevs. So long as you are back up and running, glad to have helped!

    2:35 PM 08/31/2011 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    denton

    Greenwood, NY

    A good HVAC guy should be able to do voltage testing and simple electrical work like repace a breaker.

    5:45 PM 08/31/2011 | 0 Votes

     

     

    Comments (1)

    • comfortexpertusa

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      7:41 AM 04/05/2012

          

  • vote

    comfortexpertusa


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    7:42 AM 04/05/2012 | 0 Votes

     

     

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