Can a Power Surge Damage a Furnace in Bozeman, MT?

Are you having problems with your furnace and air conditioner? Premier Systems can help when you call 406-333-0177.

Have you recently endured a thunderstorm and wondered, "Can a power surge damage a furnace?" Without protection, your furnace can experience severe damage from a power spike. As the source of expert furnace repair in Bozeman, Premier Systems can help you understand the causes of power surges, how they adversely affect your furnace, and how to protect yourself.

What Causes a Power Surge?

To understand what causes a power surge, you should first learn how it differs from a power outage, though many people consider it the same thing. A power outage occurs when you lose power; a power surge happens when your electrical system experiences a spike in power.

Several common events can cause a power surge.

Power Grid Issues

Your electrical system frequently switches between the available power grids, and while rare, the transfer can cause a surge in power. A spike can also occur when the electrical company has a malfunction, such as a flux in the power lines that deliver electricity to multiple homes.

Faulty Electrical System

If you have old, exposed, or frayed wires, they may have trouble regulating the ebb and flow of power, thus causing a surge they would otherwise prevent.

Lightning Strikes

Lightning striking a home or city's electrical grid is one of the most common causes of a power surge. When it strikes the vicinity of your home, it can send millions of volts through your system.

Power Outage Recovery

Power outages aren't usually a cause for concern. However, when the power comes back online, it often results in a surge of power. In rare circumstances, this can overload your appliances or wiring and cause damage to your furnace.

Power Overload

Larger appliances like a central air conditioner or refrigerator can cause energy spikes when they activate. This surge can transfer to other appliances, frying things like your circuit boards and other components.

How a Power Surge Can Damage Your Bozeman Furnace

Can a power surge damage a furnace? Yes, it can have several detrimental effects on your heating system.

Damaged Control Board

Damage to the control board is one of the most common results of a power surge. As the brain of the furnace, when the control board experiences damage, it can't communicate with the thermostat and won't properly regulate the temperature or activate the heating system.

Overloaded Blower Motor

The blower distributes the heated air throughout your home, and a power surge can fry the motor. In this case, your furnace will still heat the air but won't adequately deliver it to your various rooms.

Destroyed Transformer

Your furnace's transformer regulates the power for your furnace and converts it to the correct voltage. When a power surge damages it, your furnace won't turn on.

Damaged Ignition System

Your furnace relies on an ignition system to heat the air. In gas furnaces, this takes the form of a gas valve or pilot light, but electrical furnaces use similar systems. With a damaged ignition system, your furnace may not turn on at all or may activate but not heat the air.

Protecting Your Furnace From Bozeman Power Surges

Thankfully, you can use several effective methods to eliminate or significantly reduce the likelihood that a power surge will damage your furnace.

Unplug the Furnace

To avoid the possibility of a power outage damaging your furnace when the power returns, unplug the furnace whenever you don't have electricity. To protect your other appliances, you can also unplug them or shut off the power at your circuit breaker.

Upgrade Wiring

To reduce the chance a faulty electrical system fries your appliances, upgrade your wiring. You can determine you need better wiring if you see frayed cords, experience flickering lights, or frequently blow fuses.

Install Surge Protectors

While you can install an individual surge protector for all your important appliances and devices, consider the benefits of installing a whole-home protector. Though a greater investment, it provides more complete protection.

Premier Systems Can Protect and Repair Your Furnace

Now that you know the answer to "Can a power surge damage a furnace?" you can better protect yourself and keep your family safe and warm through the winter. No matter what preventive or repair services you require for your HVAC system, always rely on a qualified technician for help rather than risk doing it yourself.



Whether you have questions about the causes of burned furnace circuit boards or want to increase the efficiency of your air conditioning, Premier Systems can help when you call 406-333-0177.