4 Reasons Why Your Furnace is Throwing Your Circuit Breaker and How to Solve It
Tripped circuit breakers are annoying and stressful, especially if it seems like the furnace is the source. If your breaker shuts off once and usual performance starts after you reset it, there is no immediate cause for unease. In this situation, a surprise power surge is the most likely source.
However, you can’t neglect the situation if the breaker gets thrown again and again. This may happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces utilize electricity to run the blower motor and other components. Before you arrange furnace repair, review the most typical reasons your furnace may be throwing the circuit breaker and how you can stop it.
1. Overheated Furnace
Does your furnace work for just a few minutes before throwing the breaker? This could imply reduced airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents force your furnace to work harder. The increased electrical draw might overheat the system, strain the circuit and trip the breaker. Try these tips to restore unimpeded airflow and take care of the problem:
- Swap out the air filter.
- Open all air registers and ensure none are restricted by furniture, curtains or rugs.
- Don’t place anything against the furnace or otherwise restrict airflow into it.
2. Full Circuit
HVAC equipment should be on a lone circuit, but this might not occur in older homes. Inspect the labels on your electrical panel to learn if another appliance shares a circuit with your furnace. As a temporary measure, you can unplug the secondary item or avoid running it while the furnace is in use. A safer, more ongoing solution is to have an electrician create an individual circuit for your HVAC system.
3. Short Circuit or Ground Fault
Does your furnace trigger the circuit breaker right as it begins running? This may be evidence of an electrical malfunction inside the furnace. An exposed wire may be shorting out the circuit when it brushes against a neutral wire or causes a ground fault if it meets a grounded wire or metal object. Either of these things can increase the electrical draw enough to flip the circuit. You’ll do best with an HVAC pro like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to find and fix the problem.
4. Electrical Panel Trouble
If you rule out any concerns with your furnace, the electrical panel may be to blame. Lax connections or faulty breakers may lead to erratic performance. If you live in an older house, you may need to have the panel replaced if it’s too old, damaged or inadequately installed. In this case, you need assistance from an electrician.
Your furnace might keep tripping the circuit breaker regardless of your efforts to resolve the issue by yourself. If this occurs, leave the furnace off and contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for assistance. Our HVAC Experts can help you diagnose the issue and advise the needed repair. We’re proud of our work, so we back 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 today.
*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.