Important Information About Overheating Furnaces
Furnaces are well worth the comfort they bring, but it’s vital that homeowners keep up with furnace maintenance and address any issues as they arise. While they don’t overheat often, understanding the risks and signs of an overheating furnace can prevent more serious issues.
Hazards of an Overheating Furnace
Like any appliance in the home, furnaces can pose a serious threat to homeowners should they be damaged. Some of the concerns include:
- Furnace fire: No one wants to deal with a fire in their home, but this is one of the most concerning issues with a furnace overheating. Dealing with the problem as soon as it’s noticed is essential to prevent the worst-case scenario.
- Carbon monoxide leak: Overheating can crack the heat exchanger of a furnace unit, allowing dangerous carbon monoxide to leak out. Because carbon monoxide poisoning is often undetectable and deadly, getting a professional eye on the unit may be the only way to prevent it.
- Increased energy bills: An overheating furnace uses more fuel than it needs to and often does so inefficiently, leading to higher monthly utility costs.
- Damage to the heating unit: Operating incorrectly can cause greater damage to the heating unit, potentially requiring a more costly repair or even a replacement of the furnace. Dealing with the issue before more damage can occur often saves homeowners from this nightmare.
Signs a Furnace May Be Overheating
Usually, there are a few signs of overheating before a furnace catches fire or more serious issues develop.
- Burning smell: Burning smells from the furnace are normal when they first kick on for the season, and the heat exchanger burns through the layer of dust that has settled, but it shouldn’t be a recurring issue. Persistent burning smells from the furnace or vents or the smell of burning plastic or metal is an immediate red flag.
- Noises from the furnace: Furnaces are not silent but should be easy to ignore. Loud humming noises, banging, or rattling indicate a mechanical issue that can quickly cause the unit to overheat or malfunction.
- Incomplete cycles: Heating systems incorporate safety features to turn the unit off if it malfunctions or has issues that may cause more serious damage. A furnace that turns on and off intermittently or shuts off without completing a cycle may be overheating.
Keeping a Furnace Safe From Overheating
Replacing the air filter regularly is the easiest way to keep the furnace healthy and operating efficiently. Regular air filter replacement makes it easier for the HVAC unit to push air through the home, reducing energy needs and minimizing pressure on the furnace.
A furnace filter free of dust buildup is less of a fire hazard and keeps the home cleaner. While the furnace filter replacement schedule varies depending on filter type and the environment, most follow a one —to three-month schedule.
Annual inspections also keep the furnace operating safely. Professional oversight keeps the unit running in top form and can even catch issues before they cause major problems.
About Hunter Service Group
As a family-owned business, Hunter Service Group prioritizes trust and reliability when meeting generator, electrical, and HVAC needs. Its highly trained technicians have spent nearly a decade prioritizing customer service and flat-rate pricing, keeping San Antonio residents comfortable every season. Contact Hunter Service Group for furnace maintenance today!
