Snowstorms and Furnaces

March 17, 2016

We haven’t completely made it through winter in West Jefferson just yet. Mother Nature has provided us with 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 us for for furnace service if you keep a few simple things in mind.

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

High efficiency intake and exhaust pipes could exit through the side of your home or vertically through the roof. Heavy snowfall may cover your intake and exhaust pipes in the snow, hindering the free flow of air needed to work your high-efficiency furnace (High efficiency furnaces are created to automatically shut off should a blockage occur). To save that from happening during a heavy snowfall, it’s crucial to:

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

While the weather in West Jefferson will probably fluctuate up and down over the last few days of winter, you can’t count out the probability of weather that can alter the performance of your furnace. At West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. in West Jefferson, we are always available to check any areas around your home or answer any of your questions, whether they’re in regards to furnace service or adding a new system. Keeping you and your family safe and comfortable is our number one priority. Give us a call at 614-879-9091 to find out more information.