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 culprit. If your breaker gets thrown once and regular function resumes after you reset it, there is no immediate cause for distress. In this case, a surprise power surge is the most likely reason.

However, you can’t ignore the situation if the breaker trips over and over. This might happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces count on electricity to operate the blower motor and other parts. Before you request furnace repair, think about the most common reasons your furnace would be blowing the circuit breaker and how you can avoid it.

1. Overloaded Furnace

Does your furnace run for a brief time before tripping the breaker? This can stem from weak airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents compels your furnace to work harder. The increased electrical draw might overheat the system, strain the circuit and throw the breaker. Consider the following tips to restore normal airflow and resolve the problem:

• • Swap out 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. Overloaded Circuit

HVAC equipment should be on a dedicated circuit, but this may not be the case in older homes. Check the labels on your electrical panel to determine if another appliance shares a circuit with your furnace. As an interim measure, you can unplug the secondary item or avoid running it while the furnace is working. A better, more lasting solution is to have an electrician create a dedicated circuit for your HVAC system.

3. Short Circuit or Ground Fault

Does your furnace trigger the circuit breaker immediately upon startup? This points to an electrical problem within the furnace. An exposed wire might be shorting out the circuit when it brushes against a neutral wire or leads to a ground fault if it touches a grounded wire or metal object. Either of these issues can surge the electrical draw enough to trigger the circuit. You’ll want an HVAC professional like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to identify and repair the problem.

4. Electrical Panel Trouble

If you exclude any trouble with your furnace, the electrical panel could be to blame. Shaky connections or faulty breakers could lead to finicky performance. If you own an older home, you could need to have the panel replaced if it’s outdated, damaged or incorrectly installed. In this situation, you need help from an electrician.

Your furnace could continue to trip the circuit breaker regardless of your efforts to resolve the problem yourself. If this is the case, leave the furnace off and get in touch with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for support. Our HVAC Experts can help you diagnose the problem and recommend the necessary repair. We’re take pride in our repair, so we stand behind it with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more info about us, or to request furnace repair, reach us at 866-397-3787 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.