A couple of months ago, the HVAC unit in my home started malfunctioning. The temperature inside my home soared to over eighty degrees Fahrenheit, even though my air conditioning system ran nonstop. After inspecting my air conditioning unit, my knowledgeable HVAC contractor recommended I purchase a new system. He discussed the pros and cons of installing different sizes of HVAC units with me. After considering my HVAC contractor’s advice, I decided to purchase a three and a half ton HVAC unit. Shortly after my HVAC contractor installed my new air conditioning unit, my house started feeling more comfortable. On this blog, I hope you will discover how an HVAC contractor can help you select the right air conditioning unit for your home. Enjoy!
An important part of furnace maintenance is checking and cleaning the flue. A blocked or bad flue can cause your furnace to malfunction, and it can create a hazardous situation in your home. A furnace maintenance technician checks your flue when doing an annual furnace tune-up. The flue may need to be cleaned then, and if the flue has damage, the technician will let you know so repairs can be done. Here are things to know about flue maintenance in a gas furnace.
How Your Furnace Acts When The Flue Is Blocked
If your furnace flue is blocked with soot, leaves, snow, or a bird's nest, combustion won't be able to take place properly when the burners ignite due to lack of airflow. This can cause your furnace to shut down. After a few cycles of this, your furnace may shut down completely and not start again until it's been reset.
Since toxic gases might accumulate when there isn't enough airflow, your carbon monoxide alarm might go off. Also, it's possible your furnace will heat up and feel hot when you touch the side of it.
What Causes Flue Problems
Clogging is a primary issue that a furnace maintenance technician will check out. Since the top of the flue opens to the outside, anything on your roof that's small enough can fall in and cause a blockage.
In addition, the acidic nature of the gases and water that might be in the pipe can cause the pipe to corrode. If a hole develops or if a joint gets loose, then gases inside the flue might leak into your house and become a health hazard. That's why having a carbon monoxide monitor is important since the gas can't be detected any other way.
What Maintenance Might Be Needed
The furnace maintenance technician will check the flue and clean it when needed. They can remove blocks like a bird's nest and leaves so air can circulate properly. They may also need to brush the pipe to clean soot from inside it.
If necessary, the maintenance technician might need to repair the flue by tightening a joint. However, if a flue has a hole or corrosion, the technician will probably replace the pipe instead.
Besides a visual inspection, the furnace maintenance technician might use a meter to measure the gases in the flue area just to make sure they are in within the normal levels and the carbon monoxide isn't too high.
The technician might also need to use a pipe camera to look inside the pipe if they think there's a problem and they can't see well enough without the camera. They might also change the batteries in your carbon monoxide monitor or remind you to do so to ensure the monitor will work properly throughout the heating season.
For more information on furnace maintenance, contact a professional near you.
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