Ensure Your Furnace is Venting Properly
Heat in winter months is a comfort, but proper furnace venting is a crucial safety concern. Before the start of a new heating season, take steps to ensure your furnace is venting properly. The trusted certified professionals at Chimney Saver Solutions are happy to check your furnace venting and let you know our findings with no strings attached. Read on to learn about potential problems, hazards, and signs that your furnace is not venting as it should.
What are the Dangers of Furnace Venting Problems?
Gas and oil furnaces produce toxic combustion gases, including potentially deadly carbon monoxide. The primary function of furnace venting is to safely expel those harmful gases. With proper furnace venting, indoor air quality can be maintained, and dangerous gas buildup can be prevented in the home.
What Can Cause Problems with Furnace Venting?
In the Richmond VA area, we often find that furnace flues in older and historic homes were constructed more than 30 years ago. The flues have begun to fail, having outlived their useful lifespan. Other circumstances in which venting problems typically occur include:
- A new furnace was installed but venting was not managed properly
- Modifications were made to the furnace, such as from oil to gas
- Furnace repairs were made without ensuring proper venting
Signs Your Furnace Is Not Venting Properly
An awareness of the signs that your furnace is not venting properly can help to promote family safety. Be sure to call Chimney Saver Solutions if you see any of the following signs of furnace venting problems:
Backdraft. If your furnace is backdrafting, it could mean that there is an inappropriate flue size, negative air pressure, or an obstruction in the furnace flue. Signs that a furnace is backdrafting include: The pilot light often goes out; a carbon monoxide detector is triggered; you detect smoke odors; if you hold a lit match near a flue vent, the flame is drawn inside instead of upwards; and there is soot buildup around the flue.
Condensation and Moisture. Increased moisture in your home, such as condensation on your windows, is an indication of inadequate furnace venting. This is usually most noticeable when you first turn your heating unit on and in the morning time.
Rusty Grillwork. Excess moisture around your furnace unit can cause the grillwork to become rusty. Moist fumes should not go into the house but, rather, they should be sent outside through a proper venting system.
Steps for Furnace Venting Safety
Furnace issues can be serious, but you can take steps to keep your family safe. The following are pro tips to ensure your furnace is venting properly:
- Schedule annual furnace inspections
- Install carbon monoxide detectors
- Call chimney experts if you see signs of furnace problems
Contact the Experts to Ensure Your Furnace is Venting Properly
You can have peace of mind while heating your home in the winter. At Chimney Saver Solutions, we can help to ensure that your furnace is venting properly. Of course, we also help with fireplace, heating stove, and chimney safety through our comprehensive services. We offer fireplace installation, flue liner replacement, chimney rebuilds, chimney cap installations, fixes for chimney leaks, and many more reliable services.
Call us today or fill out our online form.
