Furnace Reset Button Explained: Savvy Mavi’s Complete Guide (With the

0 comments

If you’re here, odds are something isn’t working—and your search history looks a little like this:

furnace reset button
how to reset furnace
where is the reset button on a furnace
is there a reset button on a furnace
reset button on furnace not working

And somewhere in the middle of all that frustration, you probably wondered whether there’s a magic switch you’re missing.

As Savvy Mavi, I’m here to give you the truth—without panic, without jargon overload, and without pretending that every furnace works the same way. We’re going to talk about furnace reset buttons, blower motor reset buttons, gas vs. electric furnaces, and—most importantly—how modern systems like the Goodman MBVK electric furnace completely change the reset-button conversation.

Because spoiler alert: sometimes the reset button isn’t the fix—and sometimes it doesn’t exist at all.

Is There a Reset Button on a Furnace?

Let’s start with the big question:

Is there a reset button on a furnace?

The Savvy answer is: sometimes.

Some furnaces have one. Some have several. Some have none you can safely touch. And some—especially modern electric furnaces—handle resets internally without a big red button waiting for you to press it.

That’s why homeowners get confused when they ask:

where is the furnace reset button located
where is the reset button located
furnace reset button location

The answer depends on what type of furnace you have.

Gas Furnace vs. Electric Furnace: Reset Buttons Are Not the Same

Before you start pulling panels off, you need to know what you’re dealing with.

Gas Furnace Reset Button

A gas furnace reset button is usually tied to safety systems that protect against overheating or ignition failure. That’s why people search for:

gas reset button
gas furnace furnace reset button
how to reset gas furnace
how to restart gas furnace

In older systems, this might be a visible button. In newer ones, it’s often part of a control board or safety circuit.

Electric Furnace Reset Button

An electric furnace reset button works differently. Electric furnaces don’t burn fuel, so they rely on:

internal limit switches
breakers
control boards

That’s why searches like:

where is the reset button on electric furnace
how to reset electric furnace
how do you restart an electric furnace

often lead to confusing answers.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, modern electric furnaces are designed with layered safety controls that automatically shut the system down and restart once conditions return to normal—without requiring manual resets.

This is exactly where the Goodman MBVK electric furnace stands apart.

The Goodman MBVK: Why Reset Buttons Matter Less Than Ever

The Goodman MBVK electric furnace represents modern HVAC thinking. Instead of relying on a single furnace reset switch, it uses:

Advanced electronic control boards
Internal safety limits
Variable-speed blower technology

In other words, it doesn’t wait for you to fix a problem—it protects itself first.

That’s why many MBVK owners search for:

furnace reset switch
heater reset button
where is the reset button on a furnace

…and never find a traditional one.

That’s intentional.

Furnace Reset Button Location: Where People Expect to Find It

Let’s address expectations—because they matter.

When homeowners search for furnace reset button location, they’re usually checking:

Inside the blower compartment
Near the blower motor
On the limit switch
On the control board

This leads to related searches like:

blower motor reset button
blower motor reset button location
furnace blower motor reset button
furnace blower reset button

In older systems, especially gas furnaces, a blower motor reset button might exist as a small red or black button mounted on the motor housing.

But here’s the Savvy truth: most modern furnaces no longer use manual blower motor reset buttons.

How to Reset Furnace (The Right Way)

If your furnace stops working, here’s the safest, most universal answer to how to reset furnace—whether gas or electric.

Step-by-Step: How to Restart a Furnace Safely

Turn the thermostat off
Shut off power at the breaker
Wait 3–5 minutes
Restore power
Turn the thermostat back on

This process resets the control board and clears many temporary lockouts.

This is the correct approach for:

how to restart a furnace
how to reset heating system
how to restart gas furnace
how do you restart an electric furnace

Goodman specifically recommends power-cycling as the reset method for many modern furnaces, including electric models, as outlined in Goodman Manufacturing’s official technical resources.

Why the Reset Button Trips in the First Place

Reset buttons—and safety shutdowns—don’t activate randomly.

Common causes include:

Restricted airflow
Dirty filters
Blocked vents
Overheating
Electrical issues

This is why people experience:

reset button on furnace not working
furnace shuts down repeatedly

Resetting without fixing the cause is like silencing a smoke alarm while the kitchen’s still on fire.

Airflow: The Root of Most Reset Problems

If I had to put Savvy money on one issue, it’d be airflow.

Poor Airflow Can Trigger:

Furnace reset switch activation
Blower motor shutdowns
High-limit safety trips

That’s why so many searches connect reset issues to the blower:

how to reset furnace blower
how to reset furnace blower motor
gas furnace blower motor reset button

According to HVAC.com’s educational guides, restricted airflow is one of the most common reasons furnaces enter safety shutdown mode.

Pro tip: change your filter before you hunt for buttons.

Honeywell Furnace Reset Button: Another Source of Confusion

A lot of people search for Honeywell furnace reset button, assuming it’s part of the furnace itself.

Here’s the Savvy clarification:

Honeywell usually makes thermostats, not furnaces.

Resetting a Honeywell thermostat is not the same thing as resetting your furnace. If your thermostat is unresponsive, that’s a separate issue—and resetting it won’t fix a furnace safety lockout.

What About a “Picture of Reset Button on Goodman Furnace”?

This search pops up constantly:

picture of reset button on goodman furnace

Here’s why.

Homeowners expect a visual reference—a big obvious button they can identify and press. But on modern Goodman furnaces, especially electric models like the MBVK, there often isn’t a single visible reset button to photograph.

Instead, resets happen through:

internal limit switches
control board logic
breaker resets

If you see a diagram online showing a red button, it’s usually:

an older gas model
a blower motor from decades ago
or a generic example—not your exact furnace

Gas Furnace Reset Button vs. Electric Furnace Reset Button

Let’s simplify.

Gas Furnace Reset Button

Often associated with:

ignition safety
flame rollout protection
burner overheating

That’s why people ask:

gas furnace reset button
gas reset button
how to reset gas furnace

Electric Furnace Reset Button

Usually handled through:

circuit breakers
internal thermal limits
control board resets

Which is why searches like:

where is the reset button on electric furnace
how to reset electric furnace heater

often lead back to power cycling—not button pressing.

Why the Goodman MBVK Needs Fewer Resets

The MBVK’s variable-speed ECM blower plays a huge role here.

Benefits include:

Better airflow control
Reduced overheating
Fewer emergency shutdowns

The ENERGY STAR program highlights variable-speed systems as improving reliability by reducing mechanical stress and temperature extremes—exactly why modern furnaces trip safety limits less often.

Less stress = fewer resets.