Tripped circuit breakers are frustrating and troublesome, especially if it seems like the furnace is the cause. If your breaker gets thrown once and regular performance resumes after you reset it, there is no abrupt cause for unease. In this case, a surprise power surge is typically the source.
However, you can’t ignore the situation if the breaker trips repeatedly. This may happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces rely on electricity to run the blower motor and other parts. Before you schedule furnace repair, think about the most likely reasons your furnace could be tripping the circuit breaker and how you can avoid it.
1. Overheated Furnace
Does your furnace work for just a few minutes before flipping the breaker? This might indicate reduced airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents require your furnace to work harder. The resulting electrical draw could overwork the system, strain the circuit andflip the breaker. Consider the following tips to restore consistent airflow and fix the trouble:
- Replace the air filter.
- Open all air registers and make certain none are obstructed by furniture, curtains or rugs.
- Don’t place anything against the furnace or otherwise reduce airflow into it.
2. Overloaded Circuit
HVAC equipment does best on a dedicated circuit, but this may not be the case in older residences. Check the labels on your electrical panel to learn if another appliance shares a circuit with your furnace. As a temporary precaution, you can unplug the secondary item or avoid running it while the furnace is working. A better, more ongoing solution is to have an electrician put in a new circuit for your HVAC system.
3. Short Circuit or Ground Fault
Does your furnace trigger the circuit breaker right as it begins running? This is frequently an electrical problem within the furnace. An exposed wire might be shorting out the circuit when it touches a neutral wire or leads to a ground fault if it touches a grounded wire or metal object. Either of these problems can affect the electrical draw enough to trigger the circuit. You’ll do best with an HVAC specialist like A1 Chesney Service Experts to find and fix the trouble.
4. Electrical Panel Issue
If you rule out any trouble with your furnace, the electrical panel could be the culprit. Lax connections or faulty breakers may lead to erratic performance. If you own an older residence, you could need to have the panel replaced if it’s too old, damaged or poorly installed. In this case, you need assistance from an electrician.
Your furnace may keep tripping the circuit breaker despite your efforts to repair the situation on your own. If this is the case, leave the furnace off and reach out to A1 Chesney Service Experts for help. Our HVAC Experts can help you troubleshoot the issue and advise the necessary repair. We’re proud of our repair, so we stand behind it with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more information about us, or to schedule furnace repair, call us at 587-315-5271 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.