Can a furnace cause a fire?

You become more dependent on home heating systems each fall as winter weather starts to arrive. Your family's safety may be in jeopardy if your furnace isn't operating correctly and poses a fire danger.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating systems significantly contribute to the 50,000 home fires that occur each year, 500 civilian fatalities, and more than $1 billion in catastrophic property damage. Space heaters and fireplaces are the primary causes of fires involving heating equipment, but only about 12% of these accidents involve central heaters, such as furnaces. Please find out more about the primary causes of furnace fires and how to avoid them.

Causes of Furnace Fire

Older furnaces may be built differently and may have worn out over time, making them more prone to safety problems. You should be aware of these causes of furnace fires regardless of how old or new your furnace is.

The motor that generates heat

A furnace motor may overheat for a variety of reasons. The main risks are as follows:

• A clogged filter can restrict airflow, increasing the motor's workload. Eventually, the motor could overheat, raising the possibility of a fire.
• The motor may become coated in the dirt over time, which will cause it to hold heat and perhaps catch fire.
• When the voltage rises too much because of exposed or faulty wiring, the risk of an electrical fire may increase.
• Motor bearings that are too tight or worn out may become heated when the furnace is operating. The bearings could eventually catch fire if they are improperly greased.

Yard waste, animal nests, and other impediments might obstruct the furnace flue, reducing the oxygen level. Soot accumulates, and ventilation is inadequate, which lowers efficiency and increases the risk of a flame rollout. This is known as flame rollout when a fire extends past the heat exchanger and begins to burn the furnace's internal parts. If this problem keeps happening, it could damage your heating system, and the fire could even spread to places far from the furnace.

Obstructed Heat Exchanger

Through the heat exchanger and a confined combustion chamber, your furnace produces heat delivered to the air circulating in your home. A soot- or rust-clogged heat exchanger will work less well and have a higher chance of flame rollout, just like a blocked furnace flue.

Broken heat exchanger

A heat exchanger crack caused by corrosion could have a number of consequences. It first lowers the suction in this chamber, which causes a reduction in airflow and an increase in the flame rollout. Second, it allows fumes, including carbon monoxide, into your home. Since breathing carbon monoxide can be lethal, you should never ignore your carbon monoxide alarms. Additionally, if a flame is lit, CO gas may catch fire and flashback to the source of the leak.

Inadequate gas pressure

Furnaces need a certain amount of natural gas to burn fuel safely and efficiently. Insufficient pressure is typically caused by burner orifice obstruction. This issue increases the likelihood of the burner flames exploding. Furthermore, it causes unwanted condensation inside the heat exchanger, which accelerates corrosion.

In contrast, high gas pressure may cause the furnace to overheat and cause the soot inside the heat exchanger to catch fire. These fires may spread to other areas.

How to Prevent Furnace Fires

Based on the various ways a furnace could catch fire, the following are some precautions you could take to avoid furnace fires:

• Replace the air filter regularly: If it feels dirty or after three months, whichever comes first, check the filter once a month.

• Check the furnace's flue: Examine the vent's exterior for obstructions, and remove any you find.

• Away from the furnace, keep combustible materials away: Keep everything, including cardboard boxes, paper, clothing, and other combustibles, at least 3 feet away from any other heating equipment.

• Put in a switch to extinguish the flames: This safety feature checks the burner chamber of your furnace to see if a fire or hot gases are coming out of it. If the rollout switch trips, check your furnace immediately to find the problem and rectify it before it causes a furnace fire.

• Annual furnace upkeep is necessary. Determining whether your furnace is dangerous is only sometimes straightforward. You should always have your furnace serviced in the fall, even if there aren't any signs of something wrong.

Schedule Furnace Services Immediately

When should you perform your yearly maintenance? Do you need help with a furnace problem? You have access to HVAC Repair Guide specialists for every need. Our HVAC technicians may check, clean, and test the system to ensure it runs safely. If anything seems out of the ordinary, we suggest a repair or adjustment so you can relax, knowing your furnace won't catch fire. Contact your nearby HVAC Repair Guide Experts office as soon as possible for more details or to arrange furnace maintenance.