A dirty furnace burner can lead to clogs that may cause this gas to back up into your home. Fire Hazards - A dirty burner is one that is more at risk of catching fire. Regular cleaning and maintenance can help you prevent a fire that could have tragic consequences for you and your family.
Dirt can accumulate around and insulate the motor, forcing it to retain heat, which can lead to a fire. Exposed or corroded wiring can cause the voltage to get too high, increasing the risk of an electrical fire. Overly tight or damaged motor bearings can heat up as the furnace runs.
You Don't Have Heat
Your furnace not heating happens because its burners are clogged, which can cause your burners to shut down, resulting in you not having access to heat. In some cases, your furnace may still be able to give off heat, but it won't be able to activate the fan.
Yard debris, animal nests and other obstructions can block the furnace flue, restricting oxygen. This leads to soot buildup and bad ventilation, decreasing efficiency and increasing the risk of flame rollout. Flame rollout is when fire gets out of the heat exchanger and burns the parts inside your furnace.
Fire Risks
Furnaces and other heating items are designed to safely combust material to generate heat, and most have several failsafes to avoid fires. Over time, however, these failsafes can corrode or otherwise break down.
For starters, HVAC repair experts confirm that any furnace that has been in use for 20 years is nearing the end of its lifespan. The components of a 20-year-old furnace suffer a lot of wear and tear over the years. The aging process plays a significant role in lowering the efficiency of the furnace.
Strange Noises
Many healthy furnaces will maintain a consistent whirring sound, which is handy in letting you know that it's in good working order. If you begin to hear strange noises—banging, rattling, irregular hums, groans, rattles, etc. —then that could mean that there's something wrong with the furnace.
Worn-out or frayed wires can create short circuits, leading to sparks or even fires. Another potential risk is a malfunctioning ignition system. If the ignition system fails, it may cause gas to build up in the furnace before igniting, resulting in a dangerous explosion or fire.
A furnace explosion is usually the result of ignition and instantaneous combustion of highly flammable gas, vapor, or dust that has accumulated in a boiler. The effect of the force from the explosion is often much greater than the boiler combustion chamber can withstand.
If your flame is yellow or orange, or if you see pops of yellow or orange, that is a sign that you have a combustion problem that should be addressed by a professional. Long streaks of any color, such as yellow, orange, or green means your furnace needs adjustment or cleaning from a professional HVAC technician.
Not cleaning your furnace can have major negative impacts on you and your family! All of that particulate matter that your furnace attracts gets distributed through the air in your home, meaning poor indoor air quality that can irritate asthma and allergies.
A dirty furnace filter is discolored. It's gray or brown instead of its original white or light color. You'll notice a thick layer of dust, dirt, and debris covering the filter's surface. The filter may look clogged or matted, with visible clumps of dust and hair.
Brownouts are an attempt to minimize damage to the overall power grid but that drop in voltage, followed by the increase as the system in that area returns to full power, can harm some household appliances and HVAC systems.
Heater furnace filters are specially designed to protect both the furnace and air conditioner from collecting dust. If the filter is not regularly changed, dust can and will accumulate until the filter eventually collapses. The filter may then get sucked into the furnace, allowing the dust it carried to catch fire.
Furnaces that overheat may shut down since the units contain internal limit switches that trip to protect the internal components. When furnaces overheat, the system can create a burning smell.
"Each year in the U.S., the use and misuse of heating equipment—including furnaces, fireplaces and space heaters—accounts for about 64,000 home structure fires, more than 500 deaths, 1,400 injures and nearly $1 billion in direct property damage," said Illinois State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis.
Ask twenty professional HVAC contractors the question, “How Much Does A New Furnace Cost?” and you'll probably get the same answer... “It depends.” On average, the cost of a new furnace can range from $2,000 - $14,2001. However, factors like furnace efficiency, type, size, and much more can impact this range.
Although it is possible for a gas furnace to either catch fire or explode, it's highly unlikely. If there is a danger of this happening, the furnace will usually simply shut off—as it's designed to. Regular maintenance will further reduce this already unlikely event.
Pilot flame color changes
A yellow flame is a clear sign that the gas is not burning properly. Dirty or partially blocked systems can produce this. It's also another sign that a call to your trusted HVAC contractor is needed to save money and keep you a bit safer.
The color of the flame indicates how much oxygen the furnace receives and how effective the combustion process is. The furnace flame should always be blue. A blue flame means the furnace is receiving adequate oxygen and is burning the fuel supply properly.
If the flame sensor fails, your furnace may not be able to start or may shut down shortly after starting. Common causes of flame sensor failure include corrosion, dirt buildup, or a broken wire. The gas valve controls the flow of gas to the furnace. If the gas valve fails, your furnace won't be able to produce heat.
The Average Furnace Lifespan
A well-maintained furnace can last at least 15 to 20 years, but completing annual maintenance and being diligent with repairs can extend its life even longer.
While all furnaces generate some ambient noise, they run quiet enough not to be disruptive most of the time. However, loud buzzing or humming can indicate various mechanical or electrical problems, either when the furnace starts up or throughout its operation.