4 Reasons Why Your Furnace is Tripping Your Circuit Breaker and How to Solve It

Tripped circuit breakers are aggravating and stressful, particularly if it seems like the furnace is the cause. If your breaker gets thrown once and typical performance returns after you reset it, there is no abrupt cause for unease. In this instance, a surprise power surge is probably the reason.

However, you can’t ignore the issue if the breaker flips again and again. This may happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces require electricity to run the blower motor and other pieces. Before you schedule furnace repair, consider the most likely reasons your furnace may be throwing the circuit breaker and how you can prevent it.

1. Overheated Furnace

Does your furnace start for just a few minutes before flipping the breaker? This may imply poor airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents compels your furnace to work harder. The resulting electrical draw might overwork the system, strain the circuit and trip the breaker. Here are some tips to restore unimpeded airflow and take care of the trouble:

• • Replace the air filter.

• • Open all air registers and make sure none are blocked by furniture, curtains or rugs.

• • Don’t put anything against the furnace or otherwise reduce airflow into it.

2. Overloaded Circuit

HVAC equipment should be on a lone circuit, but this might not occur in older houses. Examine the labels on your electrical panel to find out if another appliance shares a circuit with your furnace. As a brief precaution, you can unplug the secondary item or avoid operating it while the furnace is working. A better, more ongoing solution is to have an electrician install a dedicated circuit for your HVAC system.

3. Short Circuit or Ground Fault

Does your furnace trigger the circuit breaker as soon as it starts? This may be evidence of an electrical problem in the furnace. An exposed wire might be shorting out the circuit when it reaches a neutral wire or leads to a ground fault if it touches a grounded wire or metal object. Either of these issues can affect the electrical draw enough to flip the circuit. You’ll be better off with an HVAC pro like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to find and repair the problem.

4. Electrical Panel Trouble

If you exclude any trouble with your furnace, the electrical panel might be the culprit. Lax connections or malfunctioning breakers may lead to irregular performance. If you live in an older home, you may need to have the panel replaced if it’s obsolete, damaged or incorrectly installed. In this instance, you need help from an electrician.

Your furnace could continue tripping the circuit breaker in spite of your efforts to repair the situation on your own. If this is the case, leave the furnace off and call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for help. Our HVAC Experts can help you troubleshoot the issue and suggest the needed repair. We’re proud of our service, so we back it with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more info about us, or to arrange furnace repair, reach us at 866-397-3787 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.