What Happens If Furnace Gas Pressure Is Too Low in Your Livingston, MT, Home?

If you’re like most homeowners in Livingston, MT, then you depend on a gas furnace for warmth when the temperatures drop in the winter. These units need a steady supply of gas to work optimally from day to day. So, what happens if the furnace gas pressure is too low?



Premier Systems, the top choice for people looking to schedule furnace repair in Livingston, MT, covers what you might experience in this scenario.

A Significant Drop in Comfort Levels Across Your Livingston, MT, Home

When furnace gas pressure falls too low, the system will struggle to generate enough heat to keep your home warm. Remember, your furnace generates heat by burning gas.

When the gas pressure is normal, the flames in the combustion chamber will burn hot and bright blue. This delivers enough warmth to the heat exchanger first and to the rest of your home.

If the gas pressure is too low, you’ll experience combustion issues as the furnace will likely struggle to ignite or maintain the burner flames. This leads to insufficient heating and will put the system’s internal components under significant strain.

Increased Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

One of the main downsides of incomplete or poor combustion is the higher carbon monoxide risk. This odorless, colorless gas is dangerous because it can cause several health issues ranging from nausea to complete suffocation.

So, what happens if furnace gas pressure is too low? You could end up putting your entire family at risk by continuing to use the furnace without addressing the issue.

Shorter Furnace Cycling

When your furnace fails to receive enough fuel to run, it will run shorter cycles. Short cycling is a sign of heating inefficiency because it points to an underlying issue causing the furnace to shut down prematurely.

Ignoring the shorter cycles will put the system under significant strain and may end up damaging parts such as the igniter and the blower motor.

Complete Furnace Shutdown

If the gas pressure is too low, your furnace may not kick in at all. This is especially true for older units that have a standing pilot light for ignition. Pilot light failure most likely occurs when you have an issue with the gas supply. If you relight it and it keeps going out, that’s a clear sign of an underlying problem. When your pilot light can’t stay lit, your furnace won’t work.

What happens if furnace gas pressure is too low in modern units without a pilot light? Can the unit continue working? Unfortunately, it probably won’t. Modern furnaces feature several protective mechanisms that will shut down the unit when it senses malfunction.

The frequent stop-starts due to low gas supply and multiple failed attempts at ignition can put your furnace in lockout mode.

What Should You Do When Furnace Gas Pressure Is Low?

If you notice that your furnace gas pressure is low, the right thing to do is to shut down the system immediately. Next, you can run a quick check to see if you can spot the cause of the problem.

Your first step here should include checking the furnace gas valve to ensure it is open all the way. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to accidentally close the valve. If this doesn’t fix the problem, then you should inspect other appliances in your home to see if it’s a general gas supply issue or one that affects only the furnace.

If it’s clear that you have a furnace problem, you should get in touch with an experienced HVAC technician right away. The technician will troubleshoot the problem by checking for debris in the gas line, checking the gas regulator, etc.

They may also recommend revamping your gas connection to ensure that you can use multiple gas-powered appliances without having to worry about low gas pressure.

Get Professional Help With Your Furnace Gas Supply Issues From Your Local Experts in Livingston, MT

What happens if the furnace gas pressure is too low? In three words, a whole lot. As you’ve seen above, any problem with the furnace gas supply is bad news for its operation and your overall comfort during the coldest days of the year.



Therefore, you should get in touch with our experienced crew here at Premier Systems if you suspect low gas pressure. Don’t just assume dirty furnace burners or something similar. We’ll thoroughly evaluate your unit and get it working optimally again. Call us today to book your appointment.