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Gas furnaces are excellent for heating homes and businesses. However, dirty furnace burners can cause serious complications like carbon monoxide leaks and increased fire risks. Knowing the symptoms of dirty furnace burners will tell you when to clean the burners in your heating unit to keep everything safe and functional.
We at Complete Comfort Heating, A/C & Plumbing Repair offer expert furnace repair in Carmel, IN, as well as top-tier heating services. In the post below, our professional HVAC technicians share the most common warning signs of a dirty furnace burner so you’ll know when to get immediate furnace repair and maintenance.
1. Yellow Pilot Flame
Soot and dirt buildup can cause major problems with a heating system’s effectiveness and safety. Examining its pilot light is one way to know if your gas furnace burners are dirty.
If the flame is blue, the light is burning correctly. However, a yellow flame signifies a problem, especially if the flame changes color and flickers constantly. The pilot light should always be hot, blue, and steady.
The reason for the blue-to-yellow color change is either incomplete combustion from clogged burners or a mechanical problem. Unfortunately, incomplete combustion raises the risk of carbon monoxide leaks. Contact an HVAC professional immediately if you notice a yellow pilot light flame to identify and remedy the problem.
2. No Heat
An obvious sign that your furnace isn’t working is the absence of heat. Though many problems could cause the heating system to stop producing warmth, it’s still one of the top symptoms of dirty furnace burners.
Furnace burners will shut off if they have too much debris clogging them. Sometimes they can produce some heat but not enough to trigger the blower fan and circulate that warmth throughout your house. The burners should burn hot enough to alert the sensor inside the combustion chamber to turn on the fan.
In either case, your home will stay cold due to a lack of heat from the furnace. Cleaning the burners is the best way to restore the system’s function.
3. Strange Smells From Vents
Your furnace could produce sufficient heat and distribute it through the ductwork even with dirty burners. However, you might smell a problem before you notice issues with your heating unit’s performance.
When the burner flames burn the dirt buildup around the component, they create an oily, rubbery scent. The smell is unpleasant and noticeable as heated air flows through ductwork and exits from air vents.
Don’t wait too long to call an experienced HVAC contractor to inspect your furnace if you smell a smoky, oily odor every time it cycles on. Burning debris could damage the burner assembly and other components. The longer the problem continues, the more damage the furnace could develop.
4. Insufficient Heat
Sometimes the symptoms of dirty furnace burners appear minor, like insufficient heating. In this case, your furnace appears to be working correctly. Yet, your home might not get as warm as it typically would, or you might feel cold spots in different rooms.
Uneven heating is inconvenient, frustrating, and avoidable if the culprit is a filthy burner. Routine maintenance will keep your furnace running smoothly by removing debris from the burners. Maintaining your system will also help pinpoint the cause of insufficient heating by eliminating dirty burners as the likely culprit.
5. Unusually High Energy Bills
It’s not uncommon for energy bills to increase slightly during the winter season. Your HVAC system is likely your home’s biggest energy consumer, so running your heating unit regularly will cause the monthly bills to increase. Still, unusually high energy bills are cause for concern.
When burners are filthy and clogged but still functional, the furnace will consume extra energy to make up for the component’s reduced performance. The heating system will overwork itself to reach and maintain your desired temperature. This aditional work usually causes an extra spike in energy expenses until the problem gets bad enough to prevent the furnace from working.
Reach Out to Complete Comfort Heating, A/C & Plumbing Repair Today
If you notice the symptoms of dirty furnace burners with your Carmel, Indiana heating system, call our Complete Comfort Heating, A/C & Plumbing Repair team immediately for help. As one of the top heating and air conditioning companies serving the area, we have the skills, tools, and expertise to address any furnace malfunction and keep your HVAC equipment running smoothly.
We’re available 24/7 for HVAC emergencies. Call (317) 868-7468 or contact us online today.