Tripped circuit breakers are frustrating and troublesome, particularly if it seems like the furnace is the cause. If your breaker shuts off once and typical performance resumes after you reset it, there is no abrupt cause for distress. In this situation, an unforeseen power surge is the most likely cause.
However, you can’t neglect the issue if the breaker gets thrown over and over. This might happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces utilize electricity to operate the blower motor and other pieces. Before you arrange furnace repair, review the most typical reasons your furnace would be tripping the circuit breaker and how you can handle it.
1. Overheated Furnace
Does your furnace run for just a few minutes before throwing the breaker? This may imply poor airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents require your furnace to work harder. The resulting electrical draw could overload the system, strain the circuit andthrow the breaker. Try these tips to restore normal airflow and fix the trouble:
- Change the air filter.
- Open all air registers and ensure none are blocked by furniture, curtains or rugs.
- Don’t leave anything against the furnace or otherwise impede airflow into it.
2. Overworked Circuit
HVAC equipment should be on its own circuit, but this might not occur in older homes. Review the labels on your electrical panel to determine if another appliance shares a circuit with your furnace. As a brief measure, you can unplug the secondary item or avoid operating it while the furnace is working. A safer, more permanent solution is to have an electrician install an individual circuit for your HVAC system.
3. Short Circuit or Ground Fault
Does your furnace trigger the circuit breaker immediately upon startup? This could be a result of an electrical issue inside the furnace. An exposed wire might be shorting out the circuit when it brushes against a neutral wire or leads to a ground fault if it comes into contact with a grounded wire or metal object. Either of these things can affect the electrical draw enough to trigger the circuit. You’ll be better off with an HVAC professional like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to find and fix the issue.
4. Electrical Panel Issue
If you eliminate any concerns with your furnace, the electrical panel may be the source. Lax connections or damaged breakers will sometimes lead to erratic performance. If you have an older residence, you could need to have the panel replaced if it’s too old, damaged or poorly installed. In this situation, you need the expertise of an electrician.
Your furnace could keep tripping the circuit breaker regardless of your efforts to repair the problem yourself. If this occurs, leave the furnace off and get in touch with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. Our HVAC Experts can help you identify the issue and recommend the needed repair. We’re proud of our repair, so we support it with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more information about us, or to arrange furnace repair, give us a call at 954-736-4314 right away.
*Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.