Serious Furnace Problems You Should Know About

Modern furnaces are designed to be as safe and durable as possible; we rely on them a lot; and they use some serious energy; you wouldn’t want a load of natural gas seeping into your home for instance.

Sometimes, while rare, things can seriously wrong, and these machines need immediate attention. It’s important to be aware and prepared for these situations so you can spot the signs and quickly call for professional help.

1. Gas furnace – Rotten egg / sulphur smell

If you have a gas furnace then there is a very rare chance that you could experience a gas leak. If you do then you may notice a rotten egg smell in your home. If you notice this type of smell and it doesn’t seem to go away then you could have a gas leak.  The stronger the smell, the more substantial the potential leak.  

Don’t spend time trying to investigate it. If you suspect you have a gas leak leave your property and call a professional.

2. Dusty smell that doesn’t go

It’s not uncommon for furnaces to make a dusty smell when you first turn them on; but a persisting dusty smell should not be ignored. This can indicate that your furnace has components that are burning out and this can be very dangerous.

If you notice a lingering dusty smell call for a professional furnace repair right away.

3. Furnace vent is blocked

A blocked furnace exhaust/vent is bad for a number of reasons:

• It puts pressure on the system

• It can lead to fire/explosion

• Carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide can leak back into the home

Most modern furnaces should have shut-off feature so the above instances should not happen; but either way the furnace will not operate if the vent is blocked.

Furnaces vents tend to get blocked more in the winter with heavy snowfal, but they can also get blocked from straying birds and other animals any time of year. The flue from your furnace may go out through the side of your home or sometimes out of the side of your roof.

It’s good to know where your furnace vent is so that you can check it when heavy snow comes and remove any potential blockage – or call for a professional.

4. A build-up of soot

It’s normal for small amounts of soot to accumulate in furnaces – particularly older models, but large amounts can indicate that carbon monoxide is in the air and that the furnace is not functioning as it should.

If you notice this don’t attempt to remove the soot, call a furnace repair technician immediately.

5. Signs of corrosion

Visible rust or corrosion should ring alarm bells for any furnace owner. This tends to suggest that your furnace is in a compromised state and could be dangerous. You should contact a heating professional as soon as possible.

6. Changes in the flame color

A healthy flame in your furnace burner is a steady blue color. A yellow or orange flame suggests problems. If the flame is also jumping about a lot then you could have a heat exchanger crack, which can be particularly problematic and warrants swift attention.

If you notice any of these problems with your furnace, or have any other concerns and you live in the Berlin, New Britain or greater Hartford, CT area then contact Riley Plumbing Company – your top-rated furnace repair company: 860-225-1534