The return of cold temperatures boosts your dependency on home heating equipment every fall. If your furnace isn’t working properly, it may develop into a fire hazard and endanger your family’s safety.

As reported by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), heating systems like furnaces are a major factor of home fires, leading to almost 50,000 blazes, 500 civilian deaths and more than $1 billion in significant property damage each year. Space heaters and fireplaces generate the majority of fires concerning heating equipment, but central heaters, such as furnaces, are accountable for about 12% of these blazes. Learn the leading causes of furnace fires and how to prevent them.

Causes of Furnace Fires

Older furnaces are more exposed to safety hazards since they might be manufactured differently and slide into disrepair over the years. Nevertheless, whether your furnace is more than a decade old or brand new, you should know about these causes of furnace fires.

An Overheated Motor

A furnace motor can overheat in various ways. Here are the biggest risks:

A clogged filter can restrict airflow and cause the motor to work more. Eventually, the motor can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Dirt can accumulate around and insulate the motor, forcing it to retain heat, which can lead to a fire.
Exposed or corroded wiring can cause the voltage to get too high, increasing the risk of an electrical fire.
Overly tight or damaged motor bearings can heat up as the furnace runs. Without the proper lubrication, the bearings could eventually light on fire.

Clogged Furnace Flue

Yard debris, animal nests and other materials can block the furnace flue, restricting oxygen. This causes soot buildup and weaker ventilation, lowering efficiency and increasing the risk of flame rollout. Flame rollout is when fire reaches past the heat exchanger and burns the parts inside your furnace. If this problem remains, your heating equipment can be seriously damaged, and the fire could spread to areas outside the furnace.

Obstructed Heat Exchanger

The heat exchanger is a restricted combustion chamber where the heat created by your furnace is moved to the air circulating within your home. A heat exchanger blocked with soot or corrosion has the same impact as a blocked furnace flue—reduced performance and a bigger risk of flame rollout.

Cracked Heat Exchanger

Numerous problems can take place if corrosion cracks the heat exchanger. First, it affects suction inside this chamber, leading to less airflow and increased flame rollout. Second, it emits fumes, such as carbon monoxide, into your home. Inhaling CO gas can be fatal, so never ignore your carbon monoxide alarms. CO gas can also return to the source of the leak and ignite if a flame is present.

Improper Gas Pressure

Furnaces need a precise mixture of natural gas and air to ensure safe and efficient combustion. Too little pressure is often because of clogged burner orifices. This problem makes the burner flames more likely to roll out. It also produces unwanted condensation inside the heat exchanger, increasing the rate of corrosion.

On the other hand, high gas pressure can lead to excessive heat inside the furnace, which can cause the soot inside the heat exchanger to burn. Such fires can quickly spread to other areas.

How to Prevent Furnace Fires

Based on the different ways a furnace can light on fire, here are the steps you can take to prevent furnace fires:

Replace the air filter regularly: Check the filter each month and change it when it appears dirty or every three months, whichever comes first.
Keep an eye on the furnace flue: Examine the exterior vent for obstructions and clear out any you find.
Don’t place combustible items close to the furnace: Things such as cardboard boxes, paper, clothing and other combustibles should be kept at a minimum 3 feet away from the furnace and any other heating equipment.
Add a flame rollout switch: This safety system recognizes if a fire or hot exhaust gases are inside your furnace’s burner compartment. If the rollout switch triggers, have your furnace inspected as soon as possible to diagnose and repair the problem before it causes a furnace fire.
Schedule yearly furnace maintenance: It isn’t always easy to notice if your furnace is operating unsafely. Whether you notice warning signs or not, prioritize furnace maintenance every fall.

Schedule Furnace Services Today

Is it time for your yearly tune-up? Do you need help taking care of a problem with your furnace? Whatever the reason, Service Experts is here for you. Our HVAC pros can inspect, clean and test the system to guarantee safe operation. If anything doesn't seem right, we’ll perform a repair or a modification, giving you peace of mind that your furnace is unlikely to catch fire. For more details or to schedule furnace maintenance, please contact your local Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office today.