urnace repair after power surge in Menlo Park

Furnace Electrical Surge Damage Repair in Menlo Park

Homeowner Mark from Menlo Park contacted us after a strong electrical surge in the house caused the furnace to stop working completely. According to the client, the lights flickered several times before the heating system shut down, and after that the furnace would not start. Each time the system attempted to run, an unusual humming noise was heard and the unit went into safety lockout.

A full diagnostic inspection was performed to determine the extent of the damage. The voltage surge affected multiple electrical components, and additional overheating marks were found on part of the wiring near the transformer, which required an extended inspection of the control circuit and power connections.

Problems found during inspection:

✅ Burned transformer
✅ Damaged control board
✅ Blown fuse on the control board
✅ Abnormal noise from inducer draft motor
✅ Overheated wiring section in power circuit

Electrical surge events often damage electronic components and motor windings due to sudden overcurrent. In this case, the inducer motor was still running but produced abnormal noise, which is a common sign of internal winding damage and possible future failure.

Work performed:

✔ Control board replacement
✔ Fuse replacement
✔ Inducer draft motor replacement
✔ Repair of damaged wiring section
✔ Transformer and power circuit inspection
✔ Full furnace testing under load

Approximate repair cost was around $2000. After completing the repairs, the furnace was fully tested, all safety circuits were verified, and the system is now operating normally.

Recommendation: After electrical surges, HVAC equipment may have hidden damage even if the system still runs. If lights flicker, breakers trip, or power goes out, it is recommended to inspect the furnace as soon as possible. Installing a surge protector for HVAC equipment helps prevent expensive repairs in the future.