There are a few symptoms of dirty furnace burners you should know. It’s important to address this common heating problem. When burners are dirty or clogged, your furnace will struggle to maintain peak performance. However, soot buildup is generally unavoidable, given how a furnace operates. Ignoring the symptoms can lead to damage that may require extensive repairs or furnace replacement.
Your local heating contractor should send a technician to inspect and clean your furnace once a year. That doesn’t mean the burners won’t get dirty between service calls. Here are six symptoms of dirty furnace burners that signal it’s time to clean them or call a professional:
1. The Flame Changes Color
The flame in a gas furnace should always be blue, strong, and steady. This means it is working correctly. A yellow or orange flame can be a sign of dirty burners. However, it can also mean there’s a lack of airflow into the furnace or clogs in the burners, preventing the gas inside from burning right. There may also be a carbon monoxide leak. If you see a yellow or flickering flame, call a professional to determine the cause of incomplete combustion.
2. Your Furnace Smells Strange
Smokey, rubbery, or oily odors while your furnace is running can indicate dirty burners. The flame can burn any buildup present. This can potentially damage the burner assembly and other parts of your furnace and be accompanied by other hazards. Therefore, don’t ignore any unusual smells coming from the unit.
3. Weird Noises
Dirt on the burners in your heating unit can cause small explosions in the combustion chamber. If these explosions are strong enough, they can damage the heat exchanger. Audible signs this is occurring include popping, rattling, or booming noises. There’s a high potential for severe damage, so call for help if you hear any strange sounds from your furnace.
4. There’s Not Enough Heat
The symptoms of dirty furnace burners vary with each model and occurrence. Dirt buildup can weaken the flame, preventing your furnace from properly heating your home. As a result, it may not get as warm as it should. You might experience inconsistent temperatures, rapid fluctuations in temperatures, or cold spots in certain parts of your home.Â
5. There Is No Heat
While it’s inconvenient to not have enough heat, dirty furnace burners may prevent the unit from producing any heat at all. Too much dirt can cause the burner to shut off. However, even if the burner is still working, the furnace’s heat output may not be enough to turn the fan on. The fan is triggered by a sensor that tracks the combustion chamber temperature, so if the chamber doesn’t get hot enough, the fan won’t turn on to distribute any warm air produced.
6. Your Energy Bill Is High
Since dirty burners make it harder for a furnace to provide heat, the system may work harder to compensate. The extra work causes the unit to use more energy, so you may notice your energy bill is higher than usual. A high utility bill is one of the most common symptoms of dirty furnace burners. However, it can also indicate other problems in your HVAC system, so call a professional to take a look at it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will My Furnace Still Work If the Burners Are Dirty?
The furnace will continue running until the buildup of dirt and soot is bad enough to shut down the system. Waiting until this happens wastes energy and can lead to costly damage.
Can I Clean the Burners in My Furnace?
Cleaning the burners requires opening the furnace access door. If there’s a burner cover, loosen the screws and remove it. You can then use a shop vac or a household vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to clean the burners. Scrub any stubborn buildup with a small wire brush. Then, using compressed air, blow loose carbon deposits through the fins on each side of the burner.
Do Other Furnace Parts Need to Be Cleaned?
The burners aren’t the only parts of a furnace that can become contaminated. The blower assembly, especially if it has a squirrel-cage fan, is also prone to getting clogged with dirt. Dust and dirt buildup can occur on the heat exchanger as well, which requires special tools to remove and clean. Your local heating contractor can take care of all of these during annual maintenance.
Contact Sky Heating & Air Conditioning
Our Portland, OR, HVAC maintenance professionals perform annual service to help eliminate or avoid the symptoms of dirty furnace burners. Regular maintenance can improve system performance, avoid costly repairs, and save energy as well as prevent unexpected equipment failures that require premature replacement. Maintenance services are included as part of our Sky Signature Protection Plan. To learn more or schedule furnace maintenance, contact us online or call (888) 961-4282.