You flick on the furnace one winter day, ready to warm up after coming in from the cold. Instead of feeling your house get nice and cozy, you hear a click as the furnace trips its circuit breaker. You know that a tripped circuit breaker every once in a while is no big deal, so maybe it’s just a temporary power surge – but that’s not the case if your furnace breaker keeps tripping.
Tripping the breaker again and again is a sign that something is seriously amiss with your furnace. Below, learn the top reasons why your circuit breaker might be tripping. Then, call us for furnace repair services in Bahama, NC.
Don’t Keep Resetting That Furnace Breaker!
Before outlining the reasons why your furnace keeps tripping the circuit breaker, heed this word of warning: Do not continue resetting the breaker to get your furnace working again! Circuit breakers trip when there’s too much electricity going through them. If more electricity goes through the breaker than it’s built to handle, it’ll trip to prevent fires from sparks and melted wiring.
By repeatedly resetting the furnace breaker, you could be risking a huge fire or an expensive electrical problem. It’s not worth it.
Top Reasons Why Your Furnace Breaker Keeps Tripping in Bahama, NC
So, your furnace breaker keeps tripping, and you’re wondering what to do about it. First, a technician will have to diagnose the cause. Here are the top reasons why furnaces trip the circuit breaker.
The Furnace Is Overloaded
If your furnace runs for a few minutes and then trips the breaker, it’s most likely because the heating system has become overloaded. This means that the unit is working much harder than it should and shuts down to “rest.”
Several things can overload your furnace, such as:
- Blocked or closed air vents: If vents are closed or blocked, air can’t move through them, and your system will keep running in an attempt to heat your home. Ensure that your vents are fully open and look for blockages. An HVAC repair crew can also look deeper inside your vents with a camera.
- Debris around the furnace: Just as vents need proper airflow, so too does the heating system itself. Is anything leaning against the unit or the intake that could restrict airflow?
- Clogged air filter: The manufacturers design your heating system’s filter to capture airborne contaminants, but when it’s dirty, you’ll need to replace it. Leave a clogged filter in place, and the furnace could keep tripping the breaker.
- Broken parts: If you’ve checked all of the above and the problem persists, blower motor issues or capacitor failure may be to blame for your tripped circuit breaker.
In all cases, you’ll need to call for furnace repair if your furnace breaker keeps tripping.
The Heating System Has a Ground Fault or Short Circuit
If your furnace shuts off almost as soon as it turns on, the problem is probably a ground fault or short circuit inside the unit. Both issues cause your furnace to pull more electrical current, which in turn trips the breaker.
- Ground faults happen when a bare (hot) wire touches either the ground wire or a metal surface.
- Short circuits happen when a neutral wire touches a hot wire.
Rodents gnawing on the wires, shoddy repairs, or broken parts can cause both problems.
You’ve Got an Overloaded Circuit
Furnaces work best when they run on their own circuit because of their heavy electrical demands. However, in many homes, especially older ones, furnaces run on a circuit that they share with other appliances. Running another appliance at the same time as the furnace can overload the circuit.
To test if this is happening, disconnect any other devices connected to your furnace’s circuit and then try to run the heating system. If the furnace runs flawlessly, you’ll know that an overloaded circuit is your problem.
The Circuit Breaker May Be Failing
Lastly, the circuit breaker itself may have a problem, such as loose or faulty wiring. You’ll know this is the issue if other devices in your home turn off randomly, not just your furnace.
A technician will fix the issue by tightening loose electrical connections. Alternatively, if this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the wiring or possibly the entire circuit breaker panel.
Call Us if Your Home’s Furnace Breaker Keeps Tripping in Bahama, NC
If your furnace breaker keeps tripping, don’t wait to call Tech-on-Deck for speedy heater repair in Bahama, NC. We also offer preventive HVAC maintenance, electrical panel upgrades, and cooling services.