HVAC fires are a concern in winter

Cold weather increases the chance of a fire in your home, and a poorly maintained heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system may be the cause.

A new report found that 24 percent of the fires in 2019–2023 occurred in home environments. Heating equipment was a factor in many of these fires.

Fires were more likely in one-family and two-family houses than in larger buildings, probably because apartment buildings are subject to more regulation, said the report, issued in July by the National Fire Protection Association.

“During this five-year period, US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 328,590 home structure fires per year. These fires caused an annual average of 2,600 civilian deaths; 10,770 civilian fire injuries; and $8.9 billion in direct property damage.”

On the positive side: Home fires were a fraction of what they were in 1980; cigarettes and other smoking materials, once a frequent cause of fires, have become much less common as a factor.

Kitchen fires – cooking in particular – were the leading cause, followed by heating equipment.

You can read the full study at https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/home-structure-fires

HVAC fires

Modern heating and AC equipment comes with sensors and other safety equipment, but malfunctions can still set off fires. That’s why heating equipment was the No. 2 cause of house fires.

The problems include gas leaks, overheated motors, faulty wiring and delayed ignition.

These are all issues which should be addressed by a veteran HVAC technician before the heating season begins. (The report said most of the fires occurred between November and March.)

Beware

• Leaking natural gas can set off an explosion. If you smell rotten eggs, leave the building and call 911.

• Wires can corrode, disconnect or fray, leading to electrical shorts and fires in your HVAC system.

• Too much dirt and not enough lubrication are two reasons why a motor will overheat. Voltage problems also can cause this problem, ultimately leading to a fire if not corrected.

• Ignition is delayed when gas in the furnace isn’t ignited promptly. The accumulation of gas can lead to a fiery explosion.

• If you have an older furnace, check the pilot light to make sure it’s burning at its normal level. A weak pilot light indicates potentially serious problems.

Furnace problems in LI? Lighthouse HVAC serves Long Island, Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn.