Gas Furnace Fan Trips Breaker

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plumbtired

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I have a Rheem 90% efficiency gas furnace that has just started acting up. I've had this scenario happen twice in the past four days:
The furnace comes on in the morning for the first heating cycle per my programmable thermostat = all is well. A half hour later, for the second heating cycle set on the thermostat, the burner kicks on (I can hear it) but the fan doesn't start. I checked the thermostat...it indicates that the heating cycle is on...and the fan is set on "automatic." However, I found the circuit breaker tripped. Once I reset the breaker, the fan immediately came on...and all was well for the duration (until the next time this happened, that is). In re-checking the thermostat, I see nothing amiss there. Since this has happened on only two mornings out of four, I am stymied...

Anyone have a clue what my problem may be? Thanks!
 

Thatguy

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Might also be the start capacitor or the circuit breaker itself.
 

BurleyMike

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Are we talking about the breaker in your main panel or an internal breaker in the furnace? Either way I would bet the cap on the blower to be faulty.
 

plumbtired

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Thanks for all your responses, forum members.

To BurleyMike: I'm talking about my electrical panel's circuit breaker for "furnace" (as labeled)...it has tripped twice.

I'm visualizing $$$ in repairs! The furnace dude is due here tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 8) so I'll get the "good" news then. Since this is Appliance Death Month (oh, yes, this is an established event in my family!), I am not surprised that this year it's our furnace. The furnace is now 12 years old and has been regularly maintained but, in this day and age of throw-away appliances, it has probably lived a good, long life without any major repairs...until now! Weep for me, please!! :(
 

Thatguy

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Thanks for all your responses, forum members.

To BurleyMike: I'm talking about my electrical panel's circuit breaker for "furnace" (as labeled)...it has tripped twice.
The furnace is now 12 years old
It sounds like a very mild overload, but if you can pull your breaker's trip curve off the internet it can be checked easily.

If my HVAC replacement age samples are representative of the whole 100 million units out there, only 1/4th fail this soon.
 

plumbtired

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Seems to be fixed now

The Furnace Dude showed up Tuesday (the 8th) and immediately discovered the problem...actually there were two. The flame sensor was dirty, as well as one burner's sensor. After cleaning them, he re-installed them, telling us all is fine now (no more warning lights showing on the furnace's control panel). We probably will replace our electrical service's furnace breaker, though, since breakers tend to weaken each time they are tripped.

Thanks for all the input from you forum members!:D
 
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