4 Reasons Why Your Furnace Is Tripping Your Circuit Breaker and How to Fix It
Tripped circuit breakers are annoying and stressful, especially if it seems like the furnace is the source. If your breaker gets thrown once and regular operation resumes after you reset it, there is no immediate cause for distress. In this instance, an unforeseen power surge is typically the source.
However, you can’t neglect the situation if the breaker flips over and over. This can happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces count on electricity to operate the blower motor and other components. Before you arrange furnace repair, review the most typical reasons your furnace could be blowing the circuit breaker and how you can avoid it.
1. Handle Furnace
Does your furnace start for a brief time before throwing the breaker? This could indicate reduced airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents require your furnace to work harder. The higher electrical draw might overheat the system, strain the circuit and flip the breaker. Here are some tips to restore consistent airflow and take care of the trouble:
- Change the air filter.
- Open all air registers and make certain none are blocked by furniture, curtains or rugs.
- Don’t place anything against the furnace or otherwise impede airflow into it.
2. Circuit
HVAC equipment should be on a dedicated circuit, but this might not happen in older houses. 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 on. A smarter, more permanent solution is to have an electrician put in a dedicated circuit for your HVAC system.
3. Short Circuit or Ground Fault
Does your furnace trigger the circuit breaker immediately upon startup? This is frequently an electrical within the furnace. An exposed wire might be shorting out the circuit when it touches 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 want an HVAC Expert like Service Experts to find and resolve the trouble.
4. Electrical Panel Issue
If you rule out any malfunctions with your furnace, the electrical panel might be the source. Poor connections or malfunctioning breakers can lead to inconsistent performance. If you own an older residence, you could need to have the panel replaced if it’s obsolete, damaged or incorrectly installed. In this instance, you need assistance from an electrician.
Your furnace might continue to trip the circuit breaker in spite of your efforts to repair the issue on your own. If this is the case, leave the furnace off and call Service Experts for help. Our HVAC Experts can help you diagnose the situation and advise the necessary repair. We’re take pride in our service, so we stand behind it with a Service Experts Guarantee for a year. For more details about us, or to request furnace repair, call us at (866) 963-7996 now.
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