Why Is My Furnace Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

As winter sets in, few things are more frustrating for a homeowner than a furnace that keeps tripping the circuit breaker. Not only does this leave you without heat, but it can also signal an underlying electrical issue that needs to be addressed. Whether it’s an overloaded circuit, a short in the wiring, or a problem with the furnace itself, a tripped breaker is a clear sign that something isn’t right.

This situation can be concerning for several reasons. First, there are potential safety risks from electrical faults that could lead to fires or shocks. Additionally, repeated breaker trips can put strain on your furnace, potentially leading to costly repairs down the line. And of course, an unreliable heating system makes for a very uncomfortable home during the cold months.

In this post, we’ll explore the common causes behind furnaces tripping circuit breakers and provide step-by-step guidance on what homeowners can do to troubleshoot and resolve the issue. We’ll also cover when it’s time to call in a professional HVAC technician for expert diagnosis and repair.

Understanding How a Circuit Breaker Works

Ever wonder what that circuit breaker panel in your basement is really all about? Those little switches are actually an important safety feature in your home’s electrical system. Their job is to automatically cut power when they detect an overload or short circuit in the wiring to prevent potential fire hazards.

Each breaker has either a bimetallic strip or electromagnetic coil inside that controls the switch. When too much electrical current starts flowing through a circuit, it causes that component to heat up and bend, physically flipping the switch to cut off power. It’s like a circuit overload forces the breaker to pull its own plug!

There are a few key scenarios that can trigger a breaker to trip:

Too many devices on one circuit – If you have too many appliances, electronics, lights etc. all drawing power from the same circuit, it can exceed the breaker’s amperage limit and cause an overload situation.

Faulty wiring – If the insulation on your wiring has a break or fault somewhere, it allows the electrical current to stray off its intended path. The breaker detects this errant short circuit and shuts everything off.

Grounding issues – Sometimes current can escape the normal wiring conductors and find an unintended ground path. Breakers are designed to catch these ground faults and kill the power to prevent shocks.

So when your furnace causes a breaker to trip, it means the circuit overloaded in some way that the breaker had to put a stop to. It’s doing its job, but also signaling there’s likely an electrical issue with your furnace system that needs troubleshooting. Time to grab your toolbox!

Common Reasons a Furnace Trips the Circuit Breaker

So we’ve covered how circuit breakers work as safety switches, shutting off power to prevent electrical hazards. But what actually causes furnaces to overload or fault those circuits in the first place? Here are some of the main culprits:

Overloaded Circuit

You know that feeling when you try cramming one too many devices into a power strip? Your furnace can experience a similar overload. Furnaces require a hefty amount of electrical power to run, especially during peak heating months. If your furnace is sharing a circuit with other large appliances or too many outlets, lights, etc. it may be more than that breaker can handle. When the total amperage draw gets too high, bam – the breaker gives out to prevent that circuit from becoming a fire hazard.

Short Circuit

Wiring issues inside your furnace can also cause breaker trips. Think of it like a break in the insulation of an extension cord that lets the current leak out. That’s essentially a short circuit – the electricity is straying from its intended path through the wiring. Your breaker detects this errant flow and shuts everything down before it can potentially start an electrical fire. Short circuits can stem from loose wiring connections, damaged insulation, or a malfunctioning component allowing electricity to ground out.

Ground Fault

Speaking of grounding issues, a ground fault is another way your furnace can overload a circuit breaker. This happens when the electrical current finds an unintended path to ground. Maybe moisture got into the system and created a short to ground. Or perhaps the furnace itself wasn’t properly grounded during installation. Whatever the reason, current escaping the normal wiring conductors trips those ground fault breakers for safety. While not as common as overloads, ground faults are a serious issue since they increase the risk of shocks or arcing that could lead to fire.

Blower Motor Issues

That big blower motor is what circulates air from your furnace throughout your ductwork. If it starts going bad, it can really strain the furnace’s electrical system. An overheating or failing blower motor will draw excessive amperage, potentially overloading the circuit. You may notice some clanking or screeching sounds if the blower motor is struggling. Or you could smell hot electrical odors as the motor works harder and harder until finally, bam – breaker trips.

Dirty Air Filter

This is one of the easier fixes. If your furnace’s air filter is clogged with dust and grime, it makes the blower motor work much harder to push air through. All that increased strain on the motor can quickly overload your furnace’s circuit.

Faulty Furnace Components

There are also a number of furnace parts that can fail and cause breaker trips – from the capacitor that gives blowers their startup boost, to the limit switches that detect overheating. Electrical issues with the igniter, control board, or any major furnace component can lead to overloads.

So in summary, overloaded circuits, electrical shorts, ground faults, struggling blower motors, airflow issues, and straight up part failures are some of the main reasons your furnace might be taxing its circuit breaker. The breaker is just doing its job to prevent a hazardous electrical situation. But repetitive tripping is a clear sign that there’s an underlying issue requiring some furnace TLC.

Steps to Take When Your Furnace Trips the Circuit Breaker

Uh oh, there goes the circuit breaker again! When your furnace keeps kicking that little switch, it’s definitely cause for concern. But don’t panic – there are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take before calling in the pros.

Turn Off the Furnace

First thing’s first – safety. Any time you’re dealing with electrical issues, you’ll want to shut off the furnace completely. Give that reset button on the breaker a firm push to kill all power to the furnace circuit. That way you can poke around without risk of shocks or further damage.

Check the Air Filter

Next up, check that air filter. A clogged filter blankets the furnace, forcing it to work way too hard. Sliding out the filter, does it look like a brick of dust and hair? If so, swap in a fresh new one. This allows proper airflow and takes strain off the blower motor – two big energy hogs.

Inspect for Obvious Signs of Damage

With the furnace off, go ahead and give it a visual once-over. You’ll want to keep an eye out for any obvious issues like damaged wiring with cracked insulation. Use your senses too – do you smell any burning odors or hear unusual sounds like grinding when you try to restart the furnace? Those could indicate serious internal problems.

Reduce Electrical Load

If your furnace shares a circuit with other appliances or rooms, try unplugging them to reduce the total electrical load. You may just have too many energy hogs on one breaker, forcing the furnace’s amperage draw to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Contact a Professional

Tried all those basic steps but your furnace still keeps tripping that breaker? At that point, it’s wise to call in some professional backup. An experienced HVAC technician will have the tools and know-how to properly diagnose the root cause. It could be anything from an electrical short to a faulty blower motor or capacitor. 

Don’t keep resetting and crossing your fingers – consistent breaker trips are a sign of an issue that needs resolving to prevent safety hazards or expensive furnace damage down the line. Save yourself the headache and schedule a service call to get your heating system operating properly again.

Why It’s Important to Address Furnace Electrical Issues Promptly

Dealing with a furnace that keeps tripping breakers is a huge pain. That little red switch just keeps mocking you every time you try to reset it. But as tempting as it might be to just keep flipping that breaker back on and hoping for the best, it’s really important to actually identify and fix the underlying electrical issue. Here’s why:

Safety First

Electricity and fire hazards are nothing to mess around with. Those breakers are there for a reason – to prevent overloaded circuits from overheating and potentially sparking an electrical fire. Or worse, leaving you with exposed live wires that could deliver a nasty shock. Ignoring consistent breaker trips puts your home and family at serious risk. Not worth it!

Prevent Further System Damage

Even if the breaker is doing its job and shutting things down, those repetitive overload situations put a ton of strain on your furnace components. The blower motor, capacitors, control boards – all that electrical stress adds up over time. Next thing you know, you could be looking at expensive repairs or full system replacement way before you should.

Maintain Efficiency

A furnace operating with electrical faults or damage simply can’t run as efficiently as it should. That means higher energy bills as it struggles harder and harder to heat your home. Why pay more just to live in the cold? Get those electrical issues squared away for peak money-saving performance.

The bottom line is that a furnace repeatedly tripping your circuit breaker isn’t something you can just ignore. Take it seriously, make the call, and get your heating system running safely and efficiently again!

When to Call a Professional Technician

So you’ve tried some basic DIY troubleshooting – swapped the air filter, unplugged other electrical loads, given your furnace a good visual inspection. But that pesky breaker just won’t cooperate and keeps tripping no matter what! If you’ve walked through those initial steps without solving the issue, it’s probably time to admit defeat and schedule a professional service call. Here are some telltale signs you need an expert set of eyes:

The Breaker is Tripping Repeatedly

This one’s an obvious red flag. If you replace the filter, shut off other appliances to reduce the circuit load, and that breaker stubbornly flips off every single time the furnace fires up, something more serious is likely going on internally that you can’t diagnose on your own.

You Smell Burning or See Melting/Damage  

Trust your senses on this one. If you get a whiff of electrical burning smells around the furnace area or notice any visible scorching, melting, or cracked wiring insulation, that could indicate exposed live wires. Not something you want to be messing with – shut it down immediately and get a technician out there.

Strange Sounds or Erratic Operation

When furnaces start making really bizarre noises like grinding, squealing, or rattling, it’s a good sign something is wrong. Same goes for if the furnace seems to be cycling on and off erratically or behaving in an abnormal way. This could mean a key component like the blower motor or capacitor is failing.

The main advantage of calling in an HVAC professional is they have the proper training, tools, and diagnostic expertise to quickly identify the root electrical issue. Whether it’s a wiring fault, circuit overload, bad part, or something more complex, a certified tech can safely inspect and resolve any serious furnace electrical problems. 

As a homeowner, trying to self-diagnose and repair electrical issues is extremely risky. Save yourself the headache and potential safety hazards by scheduling a service appointment.

Preventing Future Furnace Circuit Breaker Issues

So you’ve got your current breaker situation under control. But you don’t want to be dealing with this same headache again a few months from now, right? Taking some preventative steps can really pay off in avoiding future furnace electrical dramas. A little routine TLC goes a long way.

Regular Tune-Ups

Just like you get your car’s oil changed and tires rotated, your furnace needs its own version of periodic tune-ups too. During these maintenance visits, a certified HVAC pro will inspect and clean all the key components, checking for any potential issues with wiring, electrical connections, airflow problems – you name it. Catching little problems early on prevents them from snowballing into bigger (and more expensive) repair needs down the road.

Filter Swaps

This one seems obvious, but it’s so easy to overlook or procrastinate. Regularly swapping out those clogged furnace filters reduces unnecessary strain on the blower motor. The harder that motor has to work, the more amps it draws, increasing the risk of overloading the circuit. Set a recurring calendar reminder if you need to!

Electrical Upgrades  

If your home’s electrical system is pretty outdated, it may be worth having an electrician come take a look. They can assess whether installing a dedicated furnace circuit could provide more electrical capacity. Or maybe your breakers just need an upgrade to a higher amp rating. This eliminates issues of your furnace overloading a circuit shared with too many other outlets and appliances. A valuable investment for older properties.

Keep an Eye (and Ear) On It

Don’t just “set it and forget it” with your furnace! Make a habit of keeping an ear out for abnormal operational noises that could indicate electrical issues. Do periodic visual inspections too, checking for any new issues like scorch marks, damaged wiring, etc. Catching red flags early prevents them from escalating.

The bottom line – taking these basic preventative measures can save you a mountain of future service calls and repair costs from dealing with repetitive breaker trips. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Don’t Get Left Out in the Cold – Call Christian HVAC for Furnace Electrical Repairs

There’s nothing worse than being left shivering when your furnace keeps tripping that circuit breaker. Electrical issues with your heating system are not something to be ignored – safety hazards like fires are no joke, not to mention the expensive repair costs of letting problems persist.

At Christian Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, we have the trained expertise to quickly diagnose and resolve any furnace electrical faults. From circuit overloads to wiring shorts, our certified HVAC techs will get your system operating safely and efficiently again. Don’t keep resetting that breaker and crossing your fingers – call the professionals!

If your furnace is giving you any electrical grief this winter, pick up the phone and dial (215) 488-5795 to schedule an appointment with Christian HVAC today. We’ll make sure your home stays warm and cozy all season long.