Tripped circuit breakers are irritating and troublesome, especially if it seems like the furnace is the source. If your breaker trips once and regular operation resumes after you reset it, there is no sudden cause for distress. In this situation, a surprise power surge is the most likely source.
However, you can’t ignore the issue if the breaker trips multiple times. This can happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces use electricity to operate the blower motor and other components. Before you schedule furnace repair, consider the most typical reasons your furnace might be tripping the circuit breaker and how you can prevent it.
1. Overloaded Furnace
Does your furnace start for a brief time before throwing the breaker? This could point to weak airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents require your furnace to work harder. The resulting electrical draw can overload the system, strain the circuit andflip the breaker. Try these tips to restore unimpeded airflow and take care of the trouble:
- Swap out the air filter.
- Open all air registers and ensure none are blocked by furniture, curtains or rugs.
- Don’t lean anything against the furnace or otherwise reduce airflow into it.
2. Overloaded Circuit
HVAC equipment is best used on a dedicated circuit, but this might not occur in older homes. Check the labels on your electrical panel to find out if another appliance shares a circuit with your furnace. As a temporary measure, you can unplug the secondary item or avoid operating it while the furnace is working. A smarter, more permanent solution is to have an electrician create an individual circuit for your HVAC system.
3. Short Circuit or Ground Fault
Does your furnace flip the circuit breaker immediately upon startup? This could be a result of an electrical problem within the furnace. An exposed wire could be shorting out the circuit when it touches a neutral wire or leads to a ground fault if it comes into contact with a grounded wire or metal object. Either of these issues can affect the electrical draw enough to trip the circuit. You’ll be better off with an HVAC professional like Midway Services to identify and repair the issue.
4. Electrical Panel Issue
If you exclude any problems with your furnace, the electrical panel could be to blame. Poor connections or faulty breakers could lead to finicky performance. If you own an older house, you may need to have the panel replaced if it’s outdated, damaged or poorly installed. In this situation, you need the expertise of an electrician.
Your furnace may keep tripping the circuit breaker in spite of your efforts to remove the issue on your own. If this is the case, leave the furnace off and reach out to Midway Services for assistance. Our HVAC Experts can help you identify the issue and advise the necessary repair. We’re take pride in our work, so we support it with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more information about us, or to schedule furnace repair, give us a call at 727-219-2471 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.