11/30/2021
ᴍᴀᴄʜɪɴᴇᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴜɴɪᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴛʏ - ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɢᴀꜱ ꜰᴜʀɴᴀᴄᴇ.
Cold weather means running heaters, but if you have gas appliances in your home there are some things you should stay vigilant on to ensure the health and safety of the building's occupants.
One of the philosophies we hold dear at MachineMasters is educating the public. When it comes to matters of safety here are some things to consider if your dwelling place has a gas furnace or any form of combustion for heat.
During this combustion process, dangerous gases are produced. This includes sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These gases must be vented outside to keep your home safe.
This is the job of the flue, a large metal pipe that extends from the furnace to a chimney liner or an independent flue pipe.
The flue brings combustion gases safely through your home and up through the roof, expelling them above the roofline. Any blockages, leaks, or damage to the flue could allow combustion gases to enter your home, with dangerous or even deadly health consequences.
ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇꜱ ꜰʟᴜᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍꜱ ɪɴ ʜᴏᴍᴇꜱ?
Combustion gases can enter your home from the flue when there is:
• A leak in the pipe
•A blockage due to a foreign object in the flue
•Backdrafting
Backdrafting happens when the furnace cannot draw sufficient air from the interior of your home to fuel the combustion process; instead, it must draw air through the flue itself, carrying the combustion gases with it.
Flue problems can occur due to:
•Corrosion: Combustion gases contain significant amounts of moisture and acidic compounds, which can corrode steel flue pipes over time, creating leaks.
•Loose joints: Loose joints can occur as the flue expands and contracts with temperature changes over time, causing leaks.
•Flue pipe damage: If the flue pipe is damaged due to an accident or incorrect installation, it can restrict airflow and cause backdrafting.
•Insufficient airflow: If your furnace cannot access enough air for combustion it will backdraft. This can be caused by a powerful exhaust fan creating negative pressure. It may also result from too many fuel-burning appliances in a small mechanical room or an HVAC system that is not properly balanced, creating negative pressure that draws combustion gases inside.
•Chimney damage: If your flue connects to a chimney liner or runs through the existing chimney, things like broken tiles, bricks, or other debris can fall into the flue and block it.
•A missing flue cap: If the cap is missing where the flue pipe exits the roof, debris can fall into the flue, or animals like birds can build nests in the pipe during the summer.
Bottom line: Gas Furnaces are usually a little more energy efficient when it comes to heating a home and make for great equipment. However, as with any large appliance, regular maintenance will prolong equipment life and keep all occupants safe and, well, alive in this case.
If you have any concerns about your HVAC system please contact us.
𝓑𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓸𝓷 𝓞𝓭𝓸𝓶
ᴍᴀᴄʜɪɴᴇᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ