The return of cooler temperatures boosts your dependency on home heating equipment in the fall. If your furnace isn’t operating properly, it may develop into a fire hazard and jeopardize your family’s safety.
As stated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating systems are a major source of home fires, leading to approximately 50,000 blazes, 500 civilian deaths and more than $1 billion in direct property damage each year. Space heaters and fireplaces start most of the fires affecting heating equipment, but central heaters, such as furnaces, are responsible for just about 12% of these blazes. Learn more about the most likely causes of furnace fires and how to avoid them.
Causes of Furnace Fires
Aging furnaces are more exposed to safety concerns since they may be designed differently and fall into disrepair through the years. Nevertheless, whether your furnace is more than a decade old or brand new, you should be aware of these causes of furnace fires.
Overheated Motor
A furnace motor can overheat in several ways. Here are the main risks:
- A clogged filter can restrict airflow and force the motor to work harder. At some point, the motor can overheat, raising the risk of fire.
- Dirt can accumulate around and cover up the motor, forcing it to absorb heat, which can trigger a fire.
- Exposed or damaged wiring can cause the voltage to increase too much, increasing the risk of an electrical fire.
- Excessively tight or damaged motor bearings can heat up when the furnace runs. Without adequate lubrication, the bearings can eventually catch fire.
Clogged Furnace Flue
Yard debris, animal nests and other obstructions can block the furnace flue, lowering oxygen. This leads to soot buildup and bad ventilation, decreasing efficiency and raising the risk of flame rollout. Flame rollout is when fire reaches past the heat exchanger and burns the parts inside your furnace. If this problem remains, your heating equipment could be severely damaged, and the fire can spread to areas outside the furnace.
Clogged Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is a restricted combustion chamber where the heat generated by your furnace is moved to the air circulating within your home. A heat exchanger clogged with soot or corrosion has the same impact as a blocked furnace flue—reduced performance and a higher risk of flame rollout.
Cracked Heat Exchanger
Several problems occur if corrosion breaks the heat exchanger. First, it affects suction within this chamber, resulting in less airflow and increased flame rollout. Second, it releases fumes, like carbon monoxide, into your home. Breathing CO gas can be fatal, so never neglect your carbon monoxide alarms. CO gas can also flash back to the source of the leak and ignite if a flame is found.
Improper Gas Pressure
Furnaces need an exact mixture of natural gas and air to generate safe and efficient combustion. Too little pressure is often the result of clogged burner orifices. This problem makes the burner flames more likely to roll out. It also causes unwanted condensation in the heat exchanger, increasing the rate of corrosion.
Conversely, high gas pressure can lead to excessive heat within the furnace, which can cause the soot inside the heat exchanger to combust. Such fires can easily spread to other areas.
How to Prevent Furnace Fires
Based on the different ways a furnace can catch fire, here are the steps you can take to prevent furnace fires:
- Replace the air filter on a regular basis: Check the filter monthly and change it when it appears dirty or every three months, whichever comes first.
- Keep an eye on the furnace flue: Periodically check the exterior vent for obstructions and clear out any you find.
- Don’t store combustible items around the furnace: Things such as cardboard boxes, paper, clothing and other combustibles should be kept at least 3 feet away from the furnace and all other heating equipment.
- Add a flame rollout switch: This safety device detects if a fire or hot exhaust gases are inside your furnace’s burner compartment. If the rollout switch trips, have your furnace inspected as soon as possible to diagnose and repair the problem before it produces a furnace fire.
- Request annual furnace maintenance: It isn’t always easy to notice if your furnace is performing unsafely. Whether you notice warning signs or not, don't forget furnace maintenance every fall.
Schedule Furnace Services Today
Is it time for your annual tune-up? Do you need help resolving a problem with your furnace? Whatever the case, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is here for you. Our HVAC professionals can inspect, clean and test the system to guarantee safe operation. If anything looks out of place, we’ll perform a repair or a modification, offering you peace of mind that your furnace is unlikely to catch fire. For more details or to schedule furnace maintenance,
please contact your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office today.