What Causes Furnace Circuit Board To Fail?

Are you experiencing trouble with your furnace? Let the experts at Gladiator Services tackle it so you have reliable heating when you need it most. 

Your furnace serves as one of the most important functions in your home when the temperature dips and you need comforting heat. However, when the furnace circuit board malfunctions and leaves you without heat, you're left scrambling, trying to find a solution. 

What causes furnace circuit boards to fail? The experts at Gladiator Services, Englewood Cliffs’ reliable heating and air conditioning company, reveal the top reasons behind circuit board failure in this helpful guide. Discover common heating system problems that you may face and how to treat and prevent them. 

What Is a Furnace Control Board?

The furnace circuit board, also called a control board, serves as the brains of the heating system. It oversees how the following components operate with a gas-powered furnace:

• Flame sensor
• Gas valves
• Ignition
• Motor blower

When the circuit board malfunctions, it impacts the system as a whole. One non-working part of the furnace creates a domino effect and causes the rest of the heater to fail. Therefore, it's essential to keep the control board in excellent condition and keep track of any problems that arise. 

What Causes a Furnace Circuit Board To Fail: Top Reasons Behind Furnace Malfunction

If your home has a natural gas furnace, electronic component failures can cause the system to stop working. As such, you won't be able to heat your home during a power outage. However, your circuit board may fail for any number of reasons. Discover some of the top causes of circuit board failure below. 

Power Surges

Has severe weather been in the area recently? Strong storms with lightning can lead to power surges that compromise your furnace circuit board. You might not even realize the damaging effects of power surges, as some can impact sensitive furnace circuit boards without causing your main electrical panel to trip. 

Keep an eye out for possible surges, such as powerful storms and even downed power lines due to nearby car accidents. A surge can damage your circuit board and require HVAC repairs, even if other electrical systems in your home work just fine. 

Loose Wires

Your furnace will vibrate throughout every heat cycle, which can cause some wires to shake loose. Adjusting these wires and keeping them tight will prevent further issues with your circuit board. 

Clogged Air Filter

You should change your HVAC air filter regularly. Not only will it improve your indoor air quality, but it also prevents major issues with your furnace, including the failure of your control board. Clogged filters full of dust and trapped allergens limit airflow from your furnace. 

Lack of airflow can directly affect the motor blower and cause it to overheat. If that happens, the fuse on your circuit board can burn out and even spark an electrical fire. Stick to a regular schedule of changing your air filter to avoid this problem. 

Faulty Motor Blower

The furnace's motor blower sends heat throughout your vents. Sometimes, this component will start to experience issues and require more power than usual. The excess power it uses can cause the fuse to blow and make the entire furnace shut down. 

A broken motor blower is one of the more extensive furnace problems that homeowners face. Experts will need to determine if the repair is economical or if it's wiser to replace the furnace. They may recommend replacement, especially if the furnace is over ten years old. 

Dirty Fuse

A buildup of dirt and grime on the furnace fuse can impact your heating system. The more dirt that covers the fuse, the greater the chance that it won't provide the electricity needed to heat your home. Make sure that you maintain your system and regularly clean any grime from the fuses.

Aging

If you type "What causes furnace circuit board to fail" into any search engine, you'll probably find the age of the control board among the search results. Much like furnaces, circuit boards don't last forever. A circuit board commonly fails before the end of the furnace's lifespan. 

Several factors can reduce the control board's life span, including:

• Power surges
• Thermal expansion
• Vibrations causing wear and tear

All the stress from these elements causes the board to deteriorate over time. If your system starts to fail after years of operation, have a licensed furnace technician inspect it. The best solution may be to replace the furnace instead of just the control board. Upgrading your system can also improve your home's energy efficiency.

How HVAC Professionals Resolve Common Furnace Problems

Knowing what causes furnace circuit boards to fail can give you a better idea of how to prevent it in the future. Reach out to a licensed technician to address the problem. Some issues, such as loose wiring, dirty fuses, and clogged air filters, have simple fixes, whereas a faulty motor blower requires more extensive repairs. 

No matter the reason behind the control board failure, an experienced technician can inspect the entire furnace and its electrical components. They can pinpoint where the problem stems from and correct it quickly to restore your heating. 

Scheduling routine furnace maintenance is a great way to avoid all these HVAC issues. Experts recommend performing annual maintenance before the start of the heating season to make sure that everything is in order. A technician will inspect the entire system, clean internal and external components, and conduct repairs if necessary. 

With annual maintenance, you can extend the life of your furnace, save money on repair costs, and avoid circuit board failure. 



Contact Gladiator Services for Superior Heating Repairs

Now that you know what causes a furnace circuit board to fail, don't hesitate to reach out to HVAC experts for fast repairs. Gladiator Services specializes in heating repairs, whether you face issues with your furnace pressure switch, circuit board, or other component. Reach out to our team at (201) 512-8972 to receive a free quote and schedule service on your heater.