With spring upon us in just a couple of weeks here in Shreveport, LA, you are likely getting ready to shut your furnace off for the season, if you haven’t already done so. Hopefully, you haven’t had any serious problems with your system this winter. However, if you’ve noticed your furnace hasn’t been venting properly, it’s best to take care of this issue now rather than putting it off until the next warming season.
How Do I Know If My Furnace Isn’t Venting Properly?
Gas furnace fumes are moist, so if you notice “sweat” on your windows, this is a sign that your furnace isn’t venting correctly. When your furnace comes on in the morning, if it is venting into your house rather than outdoors, moisture will condense on the cold glass. Another clue could be rust on the grillwork on the front of your furnace. If moist fumes aren’t venting out, the moisture will rust the metal there. Below, we’ve listed a few problems that could occur due to this.
Backdraft
This occurs when your furnace is not getting enough air. So in other words, your furnace is improperly ventilated. Combustion requires oxygen, so if your furnace isn’t getting the air it needs, it will suck air down the flue, which doesn’t allow dangerous exhaust fumes to travel up the flue.
Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Combustion byproducts, such as carbon monoxide, can lead to many ill effects. This includes headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and even death. When your furnace has a blockage or backdraft and cannot properly vent, combustion gases cannot escape.
In addition to keeping an eye out for the above-mentioned factors, it’s a good idea to invest in a carbon monoxide alarm. These inexpensive devices plug into ordinary electrical sockets and give off a wail when they sense anything over a threshold amount of carbon monoxide.
If you suspect you need furnace repair or replacement, contact the experts at Hall’s Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration right away.
