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HVAC Forums => HVAC Help => Topic started by: Gary5579 on February 01, 2026, 12:12:19 PM

Title: American Standard Heat Pump Kicking breaker
Post by: Gary5579 on February 01, 2026, 12:12:19 PM
Hello all, I just joined this group because my heat went out last night and its 15 degrees here.  I woke up this morning freezing and discovered the thermostat read 55 degrees.  I checked the breaker and it was kicked, so I reset it and turned on the heat again at the thermostat.  It paused a second, which is usual, then acted like it was going to start, then CLICK, the breaker tripped again.  I tried this several times and did the same.  My outside unit had ice caked on the grill on top, which protected the big fan motor on top, so I cleared the ice.  I also noticed there was ice below the fan inside the unit. My question is, can the interior blower motor actually freeze up while it's running?  During this cold spell it has been running constantly.  And I don't think it's a capacitor since it tried to start...if the capacitor blew it wouldn't have the power to try to start, is this correct?  Any advice is much appreciated.  Thanks!