What Is a Furnace Reset Button and What Can Cause It to Trip?
Of course, a well-operating furnace is key to keeping a home warm and comfortable throughout the winter season. If the unit malfunctions, the house may turn into a freezing environment quickly. Therefore, early identification of potential furnace issues is key to avoiding problems down the line.
Reset button tripping is one of the more common furnace issues resulting in the entire furnace shutting down. Let’s see what this furnace reset button is for and what can cause it to trip unexpectedly.
What is a furnace reset button?
With a quick check into the furnace’s blower compartment, you should be able to locate the reset button easily. It’s typically yellow or red.
This button is a safety feature. For instance, if the furnace temperature exceeds the recommended upper-temperature limits, the button shuts down the entire system. This is very important, as it ensures that the circuit breaker isn’t triggered.
However, the reset button may occasionally malfunction, causing a furnace to reset continuously. Repeated unplanned shutdowns result in a furnace’s diminished performance, which can cause the temperature inside a house to drop.
These unwanted resets are referred to as “trips.” The reset button tripping can occur due to various potential causes.
Things that cause the furnace reset button to trip
A furnace that resets at random (and is not the result of significant temperature spikes) needs inspecting. Let’s look at some common issues that can cause reset button tripping.
Overheating – This is the most common cause of reset button trips. Furnaces installed in areas without proper airflow often overheat regularly. The furnace’s sensors react as if temperature limits have been exceeded.
Dirty air filter – Several problems can arise due to a dirty HVAC filter, and faulty reset button tripping is one of them. As the furnace warms up your home, it pulls the air through the filter. Over time and without regular maintenance, the filter becomes clogged and can trigger the reset button tripping.
No fuel – The reset button is also triggered whenever a furnace runs out of fuel. Refilling the fuel tank should solve the problem.
Flame sensor issues – As time goes by, the flame sensor inside a furnace gets coated with debris and dirt. If not regularly maintained, the coated flame sensor can cause reset button trips.
Closed gas valves – The gas valve connected to a furnace supplies it with fuel from the tank. If it’s shut down in error, the fuel won’t get to the furnace, causing reset button trips, just as an empty tank would.
Dealing with reset button trips
While some solutions to faulty reset buttons are as simple as opening the gas valve or refilling the fuel tank, hiring a heating and air expert can solve and help prevent HVAC- and furnace-related problems inside your home.
Modern Air Conditioning & Heating is a Boulder City-based HVAC company offering 15 years of experience in residential and commercial HVAC services for all makes and models. You can also call us directly at (702) 919-4365.
