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

Tripped circuit breakers are annoying and stressful, particularly if it seems like the furnace is the culprit. If your breaker gets thrown once and normal function resumes after you reset it, there is no abrupt cause for distress. In this case, an unrelated power surge is probably the reason. 

However, you can’t avoid the situation if the breaker gets thrown multiple times. This may happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces utilize electricity to power the blower motor and other parts. Before you arrange furnace repair, think about the most typical reasons your furnace may be throwing the circuit breaker and how you can prevent it. 

1. Overloaded Furnace 

Does your furnace work for just a few minutes before tripping the breaker? This can imply poor airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents require your furnace to work harder. The resulting electrical draw might overheat the system, strain the circuit and trip the breaker. Consider the following tips to restore unimpeded airflow and take care of the problem: 

• Replace 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 dedicated circuit, but this might not occur in older homes. Examine the labels on your electrical panel to determine 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 in use. A smarter, more lasting solution is to have an electrician put in 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 is frequently an electrical malfunction inside the furnace. An exposed wire could be shorting out the circuit when it reaches a neutral wire or causes 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 trigger the circuit. You’ll be better off with an HVAC Expert like Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to identify and repair the issue. 

4. Electrical Panel Issue 

If you rule out any concerns with your furnace, the electrical panel could be to blame. Loose connections or faulty breakers may lead to inconsistent performance. If you live in an older house, you may need to have the panel replaced if it’s too old, damaged or incorrectly installed. In this situation, you need assistance from an electrician. 

Your furnace may keep tripping the circuit breaker regardless of your efforts to resolve the issue on your own. If this happens, leave the furnace off and reach out to Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help. Our HVAC Experts can help you diagnose the issue and advise the required repair. We’re proud of our work, so we back it with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more info about us, or to schedule furnace repair, reach us 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.