Furnace Safety Tips

Furnace Safety Tips

It’s easy to take furnace safety for granted, especially if it’s hidden in a room in the basement. It runs without direct intervention so you don’t have to think about it until something goes wrong. Most times, failure is your big concern but furnaces can be unsafe if proper measures aren’t taken. Sometimes, furnace safety can be as simple as filter changes or it can require a technician to do a proper cleaning.

Here are five ways to keep your furnace safe and protect your family:

Change your filter

A dirty filter reduces your home’s air quality and can even make your family sick. It wastes energy by forcing your fan to work harder to push air through and, if left long enough, may cause a fire. Your furnace is designed to provide heat at a particular rate. Heat transfer from burners to the air requires a minimum airflow. A dirty filter will lower this airflow and can cause the furnace to overheat. Replacing your filter regularly will keep your furnace operating and keep your family safe.

Clean and maintain your blower

Dirt on your fan and motor can cause the motor to overwork and subsequently overheat, increasing the risk of a fire. As with your filter, a dirty fan will affect your family’s health as well as safety. Regular maintenance that includes lubricating the motor will also reduce the risk of a fire in your furnace.

Keep your furnace room clean

The burners in your furnace need a certain amount of oxygen for complete combustion, otherwise, your furnace produces harmful carbon monoxide. If you have too much junk in your furnace room, this interferes with air entering the system. Flammable items in your furnace room multiply the risk of a fire. It’s just a little more motivation to keep the space clear!

Keep your exhaust clear

Exhaust from your furnace needs to be uninhibited or it affects burner performance. You risk higher carbon monoxide production and infiltration into your home. With this double danger, keeping your exhaust vent free from plants and other debris keeps your home warm this winter. Leaving it inhibited may trigger your carbon monoxide alarms.

Have a professional check your burners and heat exchanger

Anything concerning the burning of fuels should be taken seriously. Poor performing burners produce higher levels of carbon monoxide. Cracks in your heat exchanger introduce this dangerous air into your home through ductwork. A professional inspection will uncover early signs of these risks so you can breathe easier.

The Western Tune-up

A thorough tune-up from Western Heating and Air inspects each of these elements of your furnace. When you call Western you can be sure your furnace is performing safely!

If you need help keeping your furnace safe, give us a call and we can help protect your family. Call Western Heating and Air at (385) 273-3200, or visit us online at westernheatingair.com.