• December, 16 2024

Furnaces and circuit breakers

First, the good news:

Breathe a sigh of relief if your furnace resumes normal operation after you reset the circuit breaker once.

That’s a normal stoppage, probably due to a problem with the electric grid or a very brief shortage or surge caused by weather.

Another possibility: Does your furnace share a circuit with electrical devices such as lamps? This is occasionally necessary but always risky. Make sure your furnace has a circuit of its own.

However 

If it keeps tripping, you have a problem that requires more action.

• Connections at the electrical panel may be loose. Or the electrical panel and/or the breaker are so worn they need to be replaced.

• Dirty air filters or other snafus could be causing the furnace to overload. Does it start for a while, then inexplicably stop? This is an example of an overload.

If the filter is clean, look for vents that may be blocked or closed. Check to see if the airflow is sluggish. 

Another, more troublesome possibility: A component has gone bad.

• The furnace may be to blame if it trips the circuit breaker as soon as you start it.

Chances are it’s an electrical problem. That will require a professional HVAC technician to detect and repair.

Heating problem? Elite HVAC promptly serves Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Long Island.