Why Is Your Heating System Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

When the lights in your house go out unexpectedly, checking the electrical panel to see if a circuit breaker has tripped is one of the first things you do. Circuit breakers trip due to an increased demand for voltage the circuit can’t handle. If you’ve recently started resetting the breaker because your heating system–whether it be a furnace or a heat pump–keeps tripping it, it may be high time for a heater repair or replacement. 

Here a commercial air conditioning service company discusses the possible reasons your heater is experiencing a rise in voltage.

Clogged filter. A lot of heating dilemmas begin with a simple clogged filter. Your furnace filter traps dust, hair and other gunk in order to protect your blower fan. If you fail to clean or replace it every three months or so, it will be filled with filthy particles and eventually become clogged. This forces the blower fan to work twice as hard as normal and overload the circuit. Make sure to regularly change your furnace filter to avoid dealing with this issue.

Tight compressor. A compressor that’s lost lubrication will become stiff and tough, causing it to overheat and overload the circuit. A burnt-out compressor must be replaced immediately by an expert HVAC contractor. In fact, installing a new compressor is costly enough that some people opt to entirely replace the heat pump unit instead. 

Blower not turning off. It’s possible for the blower fan of your heating system to cycle continuously without shutting off. This is often caused by a problem with the thermostat or damage to the electrical relay. This round-the-clock stress can lead to a circuit breaker tripping — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing since you don’t want the blower running all the time.

If you’re looking for reliable residential and commercial HVAC service, Comfort Zone of North Florida Inc. is a leading provider of top-rated heating and air conditioning solutions in and around Orange Park, FL. Our company is committed to providing honest service and industry-leading products to ensure a safe and comfortable living or working space for our customers. Call us today at (904) 407-0070 or fill out our contact form to set up an appointment.