Many older furnaces use what is known as a pilot light to ignite and create heat. When this part of the furnace fails or malfunctions, there is a strong chance inefficiency or more dangerous problems can occur. Thankfully, it is possible to fix this danger.

Symptoms The Pilot Light Is Struggling

There are several symptoms that you need to watch to ensure your pilot light is working properly. For example, if the flame is burning yellow or orange, there is a chance it is running poorly. Other symptoms include the heater struggling to start or low levels of heat in the home.

When the pilot light doesn't work right, it can cause the furnace to run slowly and very inefficiently. It may also cause other concerns that must be understood properly. Failure to understand these concerns or address them properly could result in more serious consequences.

Efficiency Isn't The Only Concern

When there is a problem with the pilot light, efficiency isn't your only concern. There is also a chance that the malfunctioning pilot light could cause serious accidents. For example, the pilot light could cause a chain reaction that ignites the inside of your furnace and causes it to burn down. This fire could easily spread to the rest of your home and create a total loss.

Even if this type of accident doesn't occur, the fire of a pilot light could still spread to other parts of the furnace and cause it to break down. That's why it is so important to understand this danger and to take steps to address it.

Fixing This Concern

There are a few ways you can address this dangerous concern. First of all, it is important to check the pilot light to ensure that it is still on. If it isn't, you need to light it by placing a long match against it. In most cases, this should do the trick and reignite the pilot light. Once it is burning, check it for any of the symptoms mentioned above.

If these symptoms refuse to go away it may be time to replace the pilot light machinery. This often requires fixing certain items on the light and replacing others that are broken. Sometimes, it may be necessary to install a different type of lighting system for your furnace. This is typically the best way to ensure that you don't run into any concerns. 

So if you are worried about your pilot light being inefficient or causing dangerous accidents, don't hesitate to contact a company like D & R Service Inc.