Furnace Explosions: Little Warning, Big Damage
It happens every fall. The weather gets cooler, and you realize it is time to turn on the heat. If you are a responsible homeowner, you have already arranged for seasonal maintenance of your heating systems. However, some people procrastinate on this necessary upkeep. They turn on their furnaces, and KABLAM! The house was just blown sky-high by a furnace explosion. Furnace maintenance is often a pretty simple task. If you fail to keep your furnace in good repair, you may wish you were never born.
Preventive Maintenance
Your HVAC system requires professional maintenance at least once a year. The HVAC contractor
- cleans your air filter
- lubricates moving parts
- inspects connections
- checks the condensate drain
and just generally makes sure your system is working well. If your furnace is old or requires repair, your technician, such as Roode & Rose Plumbing & Heating Specialists Ltd, will talk to you about necessary service or replacement. These tasks are not usually very expensive, and can save you a lot of heartache down the road.
When Good Furnaces Go Bad
Furnaces are designed to keep your house warm without much maintenance. And yet, there are so many things that can go wrong. You might have a
- clogged condensate drain
- cracked or dirty burner
- faulty gas connection
- carbon monoxide leak
At best, these problems may cause some mild decreases in efficiency. You will not get as much heating for the energy you use. Or, a mechanical problem might stop your furnace from functioning. You should learn about it now, instead of the dead of winter. Worst-case scenario, you just simply do not wake up in the morning, or ever again, from exposure to carbon monoxide.
It Could Happen To You
If it seems overdramatic to say death might be a, it is because you do not understand the seriousness of the situation. Every year, people turn on their furnaces, completely unaware that something as simple as a faulty gas connection could spark an explosion at any moment. You could make it out alive with only minor burns, as this Vancouver woman experienced last year. But, you might lose your house and everything in it. A couple hundred dollars for basic furnace maintenance and repair seems like a pain, until you compare it to hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.
Home upkeep may appear to be a big hassle. But, when you do not maintain your furnace, you put yourself in serious danger. Furnace explosions are real, and you may have no idea your system is at risk. With a little preparation this fall, you can avoid total home destruction.