Avoid the Scare of an Overheating Heater
Having a heater in the home helps take the edge off of the cold winter temperatures. However, heaters and furnaces must generate tremendous amounts of heat to warm a home. In doing so, problems can occur that allow the heat to build up in the unit, causing it to overheat. When they do, they can fail to provide heating power to the home or cause serious damage. Homeowners should take the time to learn to spot the signs of an overheating furnace, as well as prevention tips to avoid the dangers.
Dangers Posed When Furnaces Overheat
Heaters and furnaces have one basic difference. A heater will use electrical power to heat a home, either with a heat pump or resistance heating. A furnace will burn some fossil fuel to generate heat. One of the major concerns with furnaces is a compound called carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an invisible and odorless gas that is generated when burners don’t completely combust the fuel. It can leak into the home, posing serious threats to humans and pets. Installing carbon monoxide detectors near furnaces is recommended to give the family warning in the case of a leak so they can avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Both heaters and furnaces share the threat of fire as they heat the home. Both types of units generate high heat levels that are distributed throughout the home. If the internal insulation is damaged or some control or safety component has failed, the heat may build up so much that metal melts and fire escapes its containment. The damage it can cause after it is uncontrolled could be devastating.
Signs of an Overheating Furnace
The signs of an overheating furnace are often invisible. In many cases, serious damage occurs once the visible signs are present. Learning to spot damage with the other senses is the best way to spot the signs of overheating furnaces. Some of these signs can include:
- Burning smells
- Loss of heating power due to a tripped safety device
- Humming noises
- A noticeable warm spot near the furnace
- High gas bills
- Long or short cycles
It is important to note that burning smells are common upon startup in the fall. These odors indicate a dirty burner and ductwork and do not indicate potential fires.
If any of these signs are evident, a professional should be called immediately to make repairs and keep the home safe from potential damage.
How to Prevent Overheating Furnaces
The best way to handle an overheating furnace is to prevent it altogether. Preventing an overheating furnace is simple, with one DIY task and one professional service. First, homeowners should change their air filters every three months. This ensures proper airflow, allowing the heat exchanger to easily pull heat into the home. Second, professional heater maintenance service allows technicians to look for potential problems and test safety devices for operation. This service and air filter replacement can ideally prevent the chance of an overheating heater.
About Morrow Mechanical
Morrow Mechanical has been serving the local community for over twenty years. Their teams offer fast repairs with upfront pricing and a maintenance program to keep the heater and air conditioner running all year long. Call today for heater repair services in Spring, TX.
