The proper functioning of your furnace unit is crucial to a comfortable winter season, and you may need an occasional HVAC service to ensure this. With a functional furnace, you can ensure a desirable indoor temperature. However, malfunctions with the furnace can quickly change this and you may find your home turn into an ice cave. This is why it is important to identify and resolve furnace problems at the earliest.
A common furnace problem is that the reset button keeps tripping. When the button trips, it immediately turns off the furnace unit. The button itself is meant to shut down the unit in certain situations. However, when the button trips and turns off the furnace for no good reason, it can become quite annoying. It can also hike up the furnace’s energy consumption as it gears up and shuts down again and again.
Here is a look at what a furnace reset button is and the possible reasons why it may trip repeatedly.
Where the Furnace Reset Button is and How to Use it
A furnace reset button is typically included in the furnace unit inside the blower compartment. You can easily identify it from the red or yellow color in which it is usually displayed. The basic purpose of a reset button is to serve as a safety feature. It helps shut down the furnace when the furnace is too hot. This essentially prevents the overheated furnace from triggering the circuit breaker.
As noted above, a furnace may need to be reset sometimes, such as when it is too hot. That is where the reset button comes in handy. However, if your furnace is resetting repeatedly, it is quite possible that the reset button is being triggered by a malfunction. Here are some causes that can trip the furnace reset button.
Common Causes That Trip the Furnace Reset Button
If your furnace is resetting repeatedly, it is time to identify what is causing the reset button to trip. Here are some likely causes.
- Overheating is the number one cause of reset button trips. If your furnace is cloistered somewhere where there isn’t enough airflow, it may become overheated repeatedly, leading to frequent reset button trips.
- No Fuel. When your furnace runs out of fuel, whether a gas or oil furnace, the unit’s reset button may be triggered; a quick check on the fuel tank will let you know whether a fuel outage is the cause. If it is, you can have the tank refilled.
- Dirty Air Filter. The air filter of your HVAC unit is a vital component. The furnace pulls air through this filter when warming up your home. The air filter traps dust, dirt, and other debris, preventing them from entering the furnace unit. As a result, the filter can become clogged over time. A dirty and clogged air filter can also trigger the furnace reset button. The solution is as simple as replacing or cleaning the air filter.
- Closed Gas Valves. If a gas valve connected to the furnace is deliberately or unintentionally shut down, this blocks the fuel supply to the furnace. The result is that the reset button trips repeatedly until the valve is reopened. You may want to check the gas valves when facing this problem.
- Flame Sensor Problems. Over time, the flame sensor of your furnace unit can become coated with dirt and debris. This prevents the sensor from functioning properly, causing the reset button to malfunction as well.
Resetting a Furnace Manually
There are times when you may need to reset a gas furnace manually. To do so, turn off the pilot light, tune the thermostat to the lowest setting, and turn off the power and gas supply to the furnace. Then hold a lit match to the opening of the pilot flame. Once the pilot flame is lit, restore the power and gas supply to the furnace. Finally, press and hold the reset button for 30 seconds.
Hiring a Reliable Heating and Air Expert in Greenville, SC
If you are having trouble with the furnace reset button, you may need the help of a professional HVAC expert. Here at General Air, we offer a comprehensive range of HVAC services in Greenville, SC. Whether you want an HVAC component installed, repaired, or replaced, we have you covered. Message us today to hire our services or get a free quote.
