Snowstorms and Furnaces

March 17, 2016

We haven’t completely escaped winter in Newton just yet. Mother Nature may have a few nice days, but she’s always prepped to remind us that she’s in charge. When she does, you may not have to unexpectedly call a professional for furnace service if you keep these simple things in mind.

Both conventional furnaces and high-efficiency furnaces send waste gases outside of the home. The difference with high-efficiency furnaces is that they also transfer in fresh air from outside the home. The ability for air to move freely is critical to proper and safe operation of a high-efficiency unit.

High efficiency intake and exhaust pipes usually exit through the side of your home or vertically through the roof. Heavy snowfall may submerge your intake and exhaust pipes in the snow, hindering the free flow of air needed to operate your high-efficiency furnace (High efficiency furnaces are developed to automatically turn off should a blockage happen). To keep that from happening during a heavy snowfall, it’s critical to:

  • [Keep|Ensure you have|Maintain]26] a 3-foot/1-meter clearance around your intake and exhaust terminations to help stop this from happening.
  • Walk around the area routinely to make sure that it stays clear.

While the weather in Newton will probably go up and down over the last few days of winter, you can’t count out the chance of weather that can change the performance of your furnace. At Brookwood Inc in Newton, we are always available to take a look at any areas around your home or answer any of your questions, whether they’re about furnace service or buying a new system. Keeping you and your family safe and comfortable is our highest priority. Give us a call at 641-316-9803 to find out more information.