“A Step-by-Step Guide!” (5 minutes of reading)
Did you know that dirty burners can prevent your furnace from working optimally? An essential part of furnace maintenance is cleaning the burners. And the fact that you can do it yourself will astound you. Cleaning furnaces at the start of each cold season is ideal. Although a professional furnace tune-up includes cleaning the furnace burners, you may not have the time to arrange for a specialist to do it or you may wish to save maintenance costs. If you have been researching how to clean furnace burners, keep reading as we provide a comprehensive gas furnace cleaning guide (Wegman, 2022).
Why is it so important to do so?
Cleaning and maintaining your heating unit is an important step in maximizing its usage. If your furnace is blowing cold air, regular maintenance can help identify and resolve the underlying issue, improving your indoor comfort. Even though there is not a service-wide standard checklist to maintain furnaces, a technician may examine the following parts: heat exchanger, blower fan, burners, and code history. It is important that you (as a homeowner) do not inspect or clean your own furnace igniters because they are extremely dangerous parts to misuse. However, with the help of this article we provide detailed guide for you to do it your own, check out this page for further assistance.
There are several precautions you have to take before you begin cleaning your furnace:
- Before doing any furnace maintenance, make sure to cut off the fuel and electrical power.
- Have the necessary equipment and replacement components on hand, such as the appropriate screwdrivers to remove the combustion chamber door.
Before getting started on your furnace cleaning, there are some essentials that you’ll need for the job:
- Screwdrivers
- Ratchet & Socket set A vacuum cleaner with an upholstery brush attachment
- Small stiff bristle brush
- New return air filter
- Emery cloth
- Lubricating machine oil (needed for old 20-year furnaces)
9 Steps for Cleaning a Furnace Burner
1. Cut Off the Power Supply
Before you begin cleaning the gas burner, make sure that all of the gas furnace’s electrical is turned off. To cut off the power, use the power switch or breaker.
2. Remove the Access Doors/Panel
Some types of heaters might have different designs for their doors. Some could be spring-loaded, while others slide off. If you are unsure, the instructions will let you know how to remove the furnace doors.
3. Open the Burner Box to Locate Burners
Some are located inside the metal casing, and others are housed in a separate burner box. Observe where the burners are located when you locate them. Be sure to photograph the new location of the burner so that you will not misalign it when installing it. Remove the burner by unscrewing the screws and holding it in place with the small wrench or electric drill.
4. Remove the Burner
The burners are made to resemble automobile exhaust systems. This procedure is made more difficult than necessary by the metal sheet that holds the burner in place. Before removing the first burner, it must be handled carefully. Look for the bottom and confirm that it is labeled as such. Place everything back where it belongs if you don’t have any labels.
5. Clean Each Burner
Scrub off the residue with the brass wire brush on the wall of the chamber where the fuel is burnt. Then you use your compressed air or air compressor to blow through the opposite end and thus release any carbon deposits inside the burner. You could also brush away the deposits on the burner. Proceed with the exercise until you cannot find any further carbon deposits. While doing this, ensure the burner’s fins are clean, usually by blowing away any accumulated dirt or dust.
6. Clean the Flame Sensors
A flame sensor is a small rod mounted behind the last burner; however, it is almost always ignored. Its base is of porcelain. The flame sensor becomes unable to operate properly when carbon covers it because it cannot see a flame. Get the sensor rod as clean and shiny as possible. You can do this using very fine steel wool.
7. Retainer and Burner Replacement
First of all, you should turn on the burner located the furthest away from the gas valve. Replace each burner in turn until you hear the tabs click into place. Don’t force any of the parts into their correct position because you could easily make them break.
8. Replace the Retaining Plate
Replacing the retaining plate is a straightforward process. Once the retainer is in place over the burners, fasten it with the proper screws.
9. Test the Furnace
Check if your furnace is working correctly by doing a blue flame test. Exercise includes switching on the electricity and gas inlet then cranking up the thermostat and watching the color of the flame. Professional cleaning of your furnace burner will ensure you do not get any yellow or orange tinges on the flame. Technicians of Smedley Service qualify and are highly professional; cleaning the burner can end all your combustion issues because carbon monoxide would not reach into the flowing air if heat exchanger had started leaking through your furnace. Well, Orange/yellow streaks should surely ring alarm for one, however it might even signify the balance in the Air-gas mix which may only require minor tiding up.
What are the common problems that are prevalent with gas furnace burners?
Rust
This problem is fairly common with furnace burners having poor air circulation and moisture seeping into them. It usually happens in poorly maintained furnaces, and minor bits of rust forming on the metal surfaces or the burners are common. As they flake off, they land on the burners, damaging the furnace. If you see rust on your furnace burner, arrange for a gas furnace burner cleaning or replacement, depending on the level of damage.
You can check our rust removal product (HERE)!
Creosote
Creosote build up in your outdoor wood furnace has a couple of bad side effects. This creates an excess usage of more woods, raising costs both in terms of time and money. Also, it harms the creosote within the steel walls of your system, reducing the efficiency of burning the woods properly, and, at times, may cause devastating chimney fires. It can often restrict air flow into the boiler, which might bring about complete cessation of work, particularly in GX series models with air tubes. Creosote buildup can be avoided to a minimum; any that does form must also be removed quickly for the best operation and safety of the boiler.
You can check our creosote remover stick (HERE)!
Cracks
You can detect cracks if the furnace burner is old. This happens as a result of metal fatigue brought on by the heating and cooling process’s continuous expansion and contraction. The majority of broken furnace burners need to be replaced.
Clogs
You should experience clogs in your furnace burner if you rarely schedule burner maintenance. When clogged, the burner will not light correctly. You may also experience increased noise coming from the burner.
Summary
Regular furnace burner cleaning is an essential part of the maintenance process and ensures maximum utilization of the furnace, safe operation, and efficiency. By removing debris buildup and creosote deposits while improving fuel combustion, you will be able to increase heat output, save energy, and extend the life of your system. While cleaning burners can often be done as a DIY task with the right tools and safety precautions, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and seek professional help if you’re unsure. Taking these steps will not only improve the comfort of your home but also prevent potential safety hazards, such as fire risks or carbon monoxide buildup.
If you want your furnace burner to have a high heating efficiency and to know what certain products to maintain the heating efficiency of the furnace burner, contact us at OutdoorBoiler.com – our technical assistance staff is eager to assist and walk you through resolving the issue. We stand behind your unit so that everything functions correctly; when you need us, get expert help today!
FAQs
How often should I clean my furnace burners?
Before the start of the heating season, cleaning and maintaining your furnace burners at least once a year, is generally recommended. Regular cleaning will mitigate accumulation that could lead to problems and keep things running smoothly.
What can happen if I don’t clean my furnace burners?
Burners can get clogged with dust, dirt, and carbon accumulation if the burners are not properly cleaned. This decreases its efficiency, while increasing energy consumption, causing unequal heating, and even starts a fire hazard.
Can I clean the furnace burners myself, or do I need a professional?
This would mean that furnace burners may be cleaned in the house provided one is well conversant with simple maintenance jobs. In order not to damage the furnace or void its warranty, professional technician may be necessary for the more complex furnaces.
What tools do I need to clean furnace burners?
You’ll gonna need a soft brush, a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment, and also compressed air to clean the furnace burners. First of all, strictly follow the safety precautious rules to prevent accidents and you must turn off the furnace while you are cleaning.
How do I know if my furnace burners need cleaning?
The signs that your furnace burners may need cleaning are poor heating performance, uneven temperatures, or an unusual increase in heating costs. An indication of incomplete combustion you could notice is that the flame from your furnace burners is yellow or orange rather than blue.
Can cleaning furnace burners improve my furnace’s energy efficiency?
Yes. Cleaning furnace burners enables proper combustion efficiency. Clean burners allow for efficient burning of fuel by the furnace. Better heat output and cheaper energy will be the resulting outcome.
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