Symptoms of Dirty Furnace Burners in Colleyville, TX: How to Detect and Fix the Issue

When winter arrives here in Colleyville, TX, you expect your gas furnace to be dependable enough to keep your house comfortable. However, this hinges on having a furnace that has all its components in excellent shape.

For example, your furnace will not work effectively if the burners are dirty. Unfortunately, it’s a common issue for people who skip routine maintenance tune-ups. What are the symptoms of dirty furnace burners?

Triple A AC, Heating, & Plumbing, the leading provider of furnace repair services in Colleyville, TX, covers all the possible signs you need to know in this post.

You Have Discolored Flames in the Furnace in Your Colleyville, TX, Home

Can you see a yellow or orange flame while your burners are working? This clearly points to a symptom of dirty furnace burners.

A clean burner system that is excellent in shape will produce a steady blue flame while working. Dirt, debris, or soot accumulating on the burners will disrupt the combustion process, leading to discolored flames.

Your Carbon Monoxide Goes Off Intermittently

One of the other downsides of allowing accumulated dirt and debris to disrupt the combustion process is that your furnace may produce unwanted byproducts, such as carbon monoxide while running.

This colorless, odorless gas can be highly hazardous to your family. In small doses, it can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. In large enough doses, it can be fatal. So, if your carbon monoxide detector keeps going off while you use the furnace, immediately shut down the system and call in an experienced technician.

Your Furnace Makes a Loud Popping Sound During Ignition

Delayed ignition is the reason you hear a loud popping sound when your furnace is about to start a heating cycle. Why does this happen?

Dirty furnace burners make it harder for the combustion chamber to ignite. This means more gas than usual entering the chamber. When the burners finally ignite, it will be like a mini explosion due to the gas buildup.

As you can imagine, the loudness of the popping sounds or other strange noises due to this issue depends on how much gas has accumulated in the combustion chamber. If the ignition delays long enough, your furnace could explode.

So, delayed ignition ranks as one of the most dangerous symptoms of dirty furnace burners—one that should have you ringing up the emergency lines of your local furnace technicians as soon as possible.

Your Furnace Emits Unpleasant Odors While Running

Have you noticed unpleasant odors coming through your vents while the furnace runs? That’s one of the top symptoms of dirty furnace burners. The smell comes from the flames burning accumulated dirt, debris, and carbon deposits.

However, if the smell seems more pungent, it’s likely something else, such as excessive mold buildup or gas leaks. Either way, you need to schedule a professional inspection as soon as possible.

Your Energy Bills Are Higher Than Usual

There are many reasons why your furnace will use up more energy than usual, but dirty burners are one of them. A furnace with clogged burners will need to work harder than normal to produce enough heat to keep you warm. The extra workload means more burnt fuel.

Therefore, if you notice increased energy bills in the winter without a possible explanation, you probably have a furnace with dirty burners.

You Have Cold Spots Around Your Home

Uneven heat distribution is one of the top symptoms of dirty furnace burners. A furnace with clogged burners can’t produce consistent heat because some sections of the burner are not working as they should. As a result, you’ll notice some parts of your home colder than others.

Increasing the temperature on the thermostat will only provide a temporary reprieve and will strain your furnace even more.