Furnace or space heater causing breaker trips?

[Rom Tom]

Anyone else seeing an uptick in service calls for tripped breakers now that heating season started? my Cousin was telling me she had three customers this week where their furnace or space heaters are overloading circuits and she also told me about one lady who was running two space heaters on the same circuit as her microwave so the breaker kept popping and she thought her furnace was broken, I laughed so hard when she was telling me
Sometimes the problem isn't the appliance, it's how people are using them when it gets cold. so yeah, just a heads up as we head into winter

 

[carl_repair]

yeah, you have no idea! heating devices like furnaces and space heaters draw a significant amount of power. A single space heater can draw 1500 watts, which is enough to strain many standard 15amp or 20amp household circuits

 

[Steve H.]

Oh yeah, happens all the time once it gets cold. Most people forget a 15A circuit can’t handle a space heater and the microwave at the same time LOL breaker trips aren’t always broken appliances, just overloaded circuits.

 

[Alan]

Yep, exactly what @Steve H. said! Space heaters alone can draw 12 to 13 amps on a 15A circuit, and throw in a microwave or other appliance, and boom. The breaker trips. Not a furnace problem, just basic circuit overload. A good tip is to spread high-draw devices across different circuits or use dedicated outlets if possible. Winter makes everyone rediscover their breaker panel!