Furnaces play a critical role in every Alaskan home. But can they explode? Can they catch on fire? Are they dangerous? It’s imperative that you make sure to check your furnace often, especially in the months you use it the most. In the brutal, freezing Alaskan weather, you are bound to use your furnace all throughout the winter, which means the furnace is on sporadically on a daily basis to provide maximum warmth to your home.
When you use your furnace a lot, it may increase the risk of maintenance that needs to be performed to keep you and your family out of dangerous conditions. In this blog, we are going to talk about the dangers and precautions of owning a furnace and how to prevent them from catching on fire or exploding. At HeatSource Mechanical, our Alaska HVAC experts are here to answer your top furnace questions.
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Will My Furnace Explode?
The short answer is yes, it is possible for your furnace to explode. But it is highly unlikely especially with the build of modern furnaces, which include high safety standards to decrease the risk of an explosion. However, even though it is unlikely your furnace will explode, it can happen if you do not take proper care of them or practice precautionary measures in keeping your home safe.
Furnace Explosions: How Often Do They Happen?
Your furnace can explode, which is why it is extremely important to take care of it and perform maintenance on it every so often so this doesn’t happen. When dealing with a furnace, there are multiple electric wires and configurations at play, which is where the fire danger comes into effect.
Furnace explosions can happen when maintenance has not been performed on an annual basis. After a year of heavy use, your furnace can experience a lot of wear and tear. When you use your furnace frequently, it is possible for it to be overworked. This may means things do not work like they used to, causing problems, malfunction, and signs of danger. Understanding when you need a furnace replacement or knowing when you need it serviced will help prevent these risks.
Warning Signs Your Furnace May Explode
In order to prevent furnace explosions, here is a list of early warning signs to look out for so you aren’t caught off guard:
- You will be able to smell the fuel – One of the easiest signs to look out for potential furnace explosions is being able to smell the gas and fuel coming from your furnace. This could mean your furnace is experiencing some sort of leak, which is extremely dangerous and can be flammable. If you smell fuel, do not inspect the furnace yourself. Instead, exit the house, apartment, or building and call a technician.
- Your carbon monoxide detector will go off – Another easy sign to spot a possibility of a furnace explosion is your carbon monoxide detector going off. This alarm informs you that there has been an unsafe or hazardous leak somewhere in your house and to evacuate immediately. Although a carbon monoxide detector doesn’t warrant an explosion, it doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen at any time. That is why it is extremely important to seek help if there’s any possibly that there could be a toxic gas floating around.
- Weird noises coming from the furnace – If you are hearing strange noises coming from your furnace, such as a rattling or banging noise, there is a good chance your furnace is not Functioning properly. If something got stuck in your furnace, it could cause major damage or an explosion.
- Experiencing more heat than usual – Your furnace is your best friend when you are feeling cold and when you are itching for warmth. You know the temperature at which you feel most comfortable, but if you are feeling excessive heat, it may be a sign of a furnace explosion. If you suspect there may be something wrong with your furnace, turn off the appliance immediately and get help from a professional.
Are you suspecting problems with your furnace? Speak with our team of professionals.
Furnace Fires: What Causes Them?
Pay Attention to Air Filters
One of the easiest ways a furnace can catch on fire is if the air filter is blocked. An air filter is essential when it comes to furnaces because that is what makes the heating system function properly.
The furnace air filter is responsible for circulating the heat efficiently and effectively throughout your home and makes sure unwanted dust, dirt, and pollen stays out. Over time, if the air filter is not cleaned out or replaced, it could overheat due to the amount of leftover debris that has accumulated over a period of time. This may result in your furnace catching on fire. In order to prevent furnace fires, please be sure to change out your air filters on a regular basis.
Gas Pressure Might Be Too High
You must also make sure that the gas pressure on your furnace isn’t too high. In order for the furnace to function the proper way, the gas must be at the right pressure when entering the combustion chamber. Please be sure you are regularly monitoring the gas pressure to avoid running into any problems with your furnace.
Are All Furnaces Dangerous?
No, not all furnaces are dangerous and we certainly do not want you feel afraid about purchasing a furnace because of the repercussions. Furnaces are a great investment, especially if you live in Alaska. You know how the weather can get, and we Alaskans will find just about anything to keep us warm – but sometimes blankets and fuzzy socks just won’t cut it.
Furnaces can be dangerous if you do not keep up with regular maintenance on it. If you want to keep your furnace around for a long time, you will want to make sure you are taking proper care of it. Furnaces that are older and outdated could pose more of a problem, as opposed to modern furnaces. With the growth of technology, these furnaces tend to run better and operate at a higher capacity.
With the help of this guide, you can know what to look out for early on and be sure to reduce the risk of a furnace fire starting in your home. It’s important to take care of your appliances, as they do wonders for us especially when we need them the most.
Turn to HeatSource Mechanical
At HeatSource Mechanical, we understand the dangers these appliances come with, which is why our team of professional can help make sure you, your family, AND your house stays safe all year round. Our local experts offer amazing HVAC maintenance services, repairs, replacements, and installations.
We want you to be able to sit back and relax without worrying about any furnace problems with the help of our expertise. HeatSource Mechanical will make it easy for you and provide a solution for almost any occasion or mishap.
Less stress, more efficiency. Schedule an appointment with us today!
