Thomas J. Fannon & Sons

The safe, efficient operation of your furnace can save you from a number of problems. Your household’s safety and wellbeing, the longevity of your equipment, the efficiency of the heating and the indoor air quality of your home are all important, so it’s advisable to regularly maintain your heating unit.

The state of your furnace’s flame can tell you whether or not the equipment is burning fuel in a safe and efficient manner. A flickering flame or one that’s not blue is an indication that you need a licensed heating contractor’s help, as these red flags indicate your furnace is wasting energy and possibly leaking carbon monoxide.

What a Blue Flame Means

Your natural gas furnace should produce a roaring flame that’s almost completely blue, with a lighter shade of blue at the center forming what looks like a triangle. You might also observe a tiny bit of yellow at the tip of the flame. This color means the furnace is efficiently burning the fuel without wasting any. Blue flame is hotter and better for burning fuel.

What Other Flame Colors Mean

If you see a yellow or orange flame, your furnace needs to be checked for a combustion issue. The same is true if you spot

sporadic pops of orange or yellow. If there are long streaks of these colors or green flames, your air conditioner and heating technician should clean, check and adjust your furnace.

Blue is the flame color you want to see, whether it’s your furnace, gas stove or another gas-burning appliance.

However, correcting the flame color of your furnace isn’t something you should attempt on your own. A professional should do this for you.

Get in touch with Thomas J. Fannon & Sons for your HVAC maintenance and repair needs. We can also deliver fuel oil to your home or install the latest in ductless split systems. Call us today at (703) 549-5700 or tell us about your cooling or heating concerns here.