Payne
Overcurrent / Electrical Short
Furnace frequently trips the household circuit breaker.
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Shorted blower motor windings, shorted inducer motor, pinched line-voltage wiring, failed control board, incorrect breaker size
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Repeated breaker tripping indicates a serious electrical issue. Turn off the breaker and do not reset repeatedly.
- Inspect wiring: With power off, check all line-voltage wiring in the furnace for melted insulation, loose connections, or wires touching the cabinet.
- Check motors: Smell and visually inspect blower and inducer motors for burn marks or melted insulation.
- Isolate components: Disconnect blower motor leads and try powering the furnace. If the breaker no longer trips, the blower motor is likely shorted.
- Replace failed components: Replace any motor or control board that shows signs of electrical failure.
- Verify breaker size: Ensure the breaker matches the furnace nameplate rating.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
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