Furnace Overheating: Is It Possible?
Furnaces are designed to provide indoor heat during the winter. While this is a highly effective way to keep warm, furnaces can lead to dangerous situations. Although this phenomenon can happen in any household, there are ways to avoid it with proper preparation.
What Happens When a Furnace Overheats?
Most people associate an overheated furnace with unexpected house fires. The unit can catch fire, and flames can quickly spread throughout the rest of the home. While fires are a distinct possibility, this is not the only life-threatening danger.
Regardless of the brand, all fuel-burning furnaces produce carbon monoxide. If the heat exchanger is damaged, this affects how fast the furnace cools down and can potentially cause carbon monoxide poisoning inside the home. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening issue that needs immediate attention. All household members must leave the home before calling the gas company if carbon monoxide is detected.
A working pilot light is essential for the safety of the household. If the heat exchanger is cracked, pilot lights automatically shut off the gas line. If the furnace has not been properly maintained yearly, this light may not be able to prevent dangerous overheating. A professional technician can inspect the entire furnace for any potential complications.
How to Tell if the Furnace Is Overheating
Strange noises and the smell of burning oil are common indicators of an overheated furnace. If the furnace is actually on fire, the burning smell intensifies near the room where the furnace is located.
Although furnaces are not entirely silent, banging noises are never normal. Furnaces that clack will need to be repaired to prevent a fire from occurring, and as the furnace ages, this becomes more common.
Overheating furnaces may unexpectedly shut down during a cycle. Newer furnaces with safety sensors can turn off the system if it is overheating, but this does not fix the issue. Once it starts again, the furnace must continue to shut down at random intervals to prevent a fire. By paying attention to background noise in the home, household members are much more likely to detect overheating.
How to Prevent Overheating
Annual maintenance should be conducted by a trained professional with the experience and equipment to inspect all furnace components. A typical inspection includes examining the gas line, ductwork, burners, and heat exchanger.
In addition to professional assistance, homeowners can help prevent overheating. Furnace filters should be changed once every few months, depending on how often the furnace is used. A clogged air filter requires the furnace to work harder to heat the entire home. Air filter replacement can prevent damage to the heat exchanger and boiler. A variety of furnace filter replacements are available online.
Blocked vents are another common problem. Furniture that covers any part of the vent can cause furnaces to overheat. Moving the furniture just a few inches away from the vent will make a positive difference.
Before calling a gas company, homeowners are encouraged to check their thermostats. This is easy to overlook. By taping a mercury thermometer next to the thermostat, homeowners can see if the temperatures match. The correct temperature is always shown on the mercury thermometer.
About Tiger Temperature
Tiger Temperature specializes in furnace maintenance and installation services for residents of Thibodaux, LA. With every service call, homeowners can expect honest advice, transparent pricing, and long-lasting solutions. Call Tiger Temperature today to learn more about their friends and family plans!
