Is It Important to Ground an Air Conditioner?

Grounding

• Grounding is of utmost importance when installing an air conditioner. Window units will generally be grounded because they connect to a 110-volt electrical outlet that includes a ground wire. The situation is different with central air conditioning units. You need to take special care to ground these units because it helps to eliminate the risk of shock or electrocution when you either operate or work on the air conditioning unit.

Resistance

• Grounding an air conditioner is important because of the way that electricity travels. Electricity travels through the path of least resistance. When you have a ground wire that is properly attached as recommended by the manufacturer, the electrical current will follow this path if there is an electrical discharge, rather than through your body. If your air conditioning unit is not grounded, your body can become part of the electrical current and will be the path the electricity follows. This can be a jolting experience.

Voltages

• Electrical energy is supplied in different levels for different applications in the heating and cooling industry. A 24-volt current is one of the more common voltages that technicians work around and with on a regular basis. Those voltage is used primarily for the control circuits that control the air conditioner. Window air conditioners usually run on 110 volts of electricity, while central air conditioning units run on 240 volts. It takes only a little voltage to cause a shock and not much more to cause electrocution and death. Grounding can help avoid this possibility, so long as you use safe practices with regard to wiring and repair.

Receptacles

• Installation of window air conditioning units may require some additional grounding work if the air conditioner unit is used in a room where only two-pronged receptacles exist. In most cases where this is encountered, the homeowner should contact a qualified electrician to change the receptacle to a properly grounded three-pronged receptacle. Attempting to bypass this grounding mechanism can be dangerous.