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

Tripped circuit breakers are aggravating and troublesome, especially if it seems like the furnace is the cause. If your breaker shuts off once and average performance starts after you reset it, there is no immediate cause for distress. In this case, a surprise power surge is typically the cause.

However, you can’t neglect the problem if the breaker flips multiple times. This can happen with both electric and gas furnaces. After all, even gas-fired furnaces rely on electricity to run the blower motor and other pieces. Before you schedule furnace repair, consider the most common reasons your furnace might be blowing the circuit breaker and how you can handle it.

1. Overheated Furnace

Does your furnace run for a brief time before tripping the breaker? This might indicate restricted airflow. A dirty filter or closed air vents require your furnace to work harder. The resulting electrical draw could overload the system, strain the circuit and trip the breaker. Here are some tips to restore consistent airflow and take care of the issue:

    • 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 block airflow into it.

2. Overloaded Circuit

HVAC equipment is best used on its own circuit, but this might not occur in older houses. Review the labels on your electrical panel to learn 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 smarter, more ongoing solution is to have an electrician create 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 could be a result 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 meets a grounded wire or metal object. Either of these things can surge the electrical draw enough to flip the circuit. You’ll want an HVAC specialist like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to identify and repair the trouble.

4. Electrical Panel Problem

If you exclude any problems with your furnace, the electrical panel could be to blame. Shaky connections or damaged breakers could lead to irregular performance. If you have an older home, you may need to have the panel replaced if it’s too old, damaged or poorly installed. In this case, you need help from an electrician.

Your furnace could continue to trip the circuit breaker despite your efforts to remove the problem by yourself. If this is the case, leave the furnace off and contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for help. Our HVAC Experts can help you identify the situation and suggest the needed repair. We’re confident in our service, so we back it with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for a year.* For more details 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.