How To Know If Your Natural Gas Furnace Is Malfunctioning
Posted on: 28 November 2017
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It is imperative to know whether your natural gas furnace is having problems, because some of those problems are not just an inconvenience, they are dangerous. To ensure that you are perfectly aware of when it is time to shut down the furnace and call for an emergency HVAC technician to assist you, you will want to review the following scenarios.
The Pilot Light Keeps Going Out On Its Own
The pilot light needs to remain on in order for the furnace to function. If it keeps going off on its own and you do not know why, you will need a professional to figure out the cause for you. Until then, it could be a dangerous situation, especially if you are smelling an odor coming from the furnace when the pilot light goes out.
You Smell Something Like Rotten Eggs
The rotten egg smell is notorious for being associated with a natural gas leak. Therefore, if you happen to notice this type of smell, you will want to immediately evacuate the property. Not only are the fumes on their own dangerous to you and your loved ones, but a natural gas leak could lead to a fire. All it could take is a single spark, such as one from a cigarette lighter or a small spark from flipping a light switch, for an explosion to occur. The emergency HVAC technician will shut down your furnace and red tag it, which means no one is allowed to turn it back on until the problem has been fixed, as it is that big of a danger.
The Pilot Light Flame Is Changing Colors
When the pilot light is functioning properly, the flame should be a vibrant blue color. You may notice a very small yellow tip on the flame. Therefore, if the flame is any other color, such as orange or red, you have a serious problem. There is a sign that there is not the correct amount of combustion happening and your home and your health could be in danger. When left alone, this could result in carbon monoxide poisoning.
Should you find that you are facing any of those issues, you will not want to waste time. You must get on the phone and set an appointment with a reputable HVAC technician as soon as possible. Until then, you might need to stay elsewhere if the interior of your home will get dangerously cold during the winter without the furnace running.