Rentmeister Total Home Service Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Furnaces’

Why do Furnaces Need an Exhaust Flue?

Friday, September 26th, 2014

While it may not be the most glamorous part of your furnace, the exhaust flue is the most important part for ensuring your safety. Furnaces produce a number of harmful and potentially deadly gases, and without a properly functioning flue those gases become trapped in your home. A well-maintained flu directs all of these harmful combustion byproducts out of your house, allowing you to turn up the heat without worry.

Combustion Byproducts

As the furnace burns fuel a number of gases are produced, collectively known as “combustion byproducts.” These include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Heavy or prolonged exposure to these gases can have devastating effects, and thousands die every year as a result of being poisoned by them. Even low level exposure can be dangerous if it occurs over a long period of time. Symptoms of low level exposure include nausea, fatigue, unconsciousness, headaches, and disorientation. The best way to prevent exposure to these byproducts is by properly maintaining all carbon fuel-burning appliances, including furnaces.

Maintaining Your Flue

The two things required for the flue to do its job correctly are a clear path of egress and proper furnace ventilation. If the flue vents through a chimney, make sure that the chimney is clear of debris that might block the flue access. This will allow the combustion byproducts to vent out of the home. Proper furnace ventilation is a bit more difficult. If the furnace is not getting enough oxygen to maintain heating, it will draw in outdoor air through the flue. This causes the flue to operate in reverse, potentially trapping combustion gases in your home. The easiest way to fix this is to install ventilation ducts to direct more air to the furnace.

Even if you don’t notice any problems with your furnace, it is recommended that you have it checked by a professional once a year. If you haven’t had your furnace serviced yet this year, call Rentmeister Total Home Service. We are experts in heating repair service covering the entire Salt Lake City area.

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Common Heating Repairs for a Forced-Air Furnace

Monday, February 17th, 2014

Forced-air furnaces are the go-to format for warming your home. They use natural gas to ignite burners, which send the flames through a heat exchanger. That warms the surrounding air, which can then be blown into your home via a fan through a series of ducts. It’s an inexpensive and efficient way to keep your home warm and cozy in the depths of winter, but like any other appliance, it sometimes experiences breakdowns. Here in Bountiful UT, heating repair services can correct most problems that crop up with traditional furnaces.

Here’s a brief list of common heating repairs for a forced-air furnace:

  • Faulty thermocouple. The thermocouple is connected to the pilot light or ignition system and regulates the flow of gas into the heater. When it malfunctions, it shuts off the gas completely, preventing your home from flooding with gas until the problem can be corrected.
  • Clogged burners. Burners can become clogged with dirt or debris, lowering their heating potential or even preventing them from working at all. They can be cleaned off as part of a routine maintenance session in order to restore them.
  • Fan problems. The blower fan pushes heater air from the furnace into your ducts. It can experience problems when the fan motor breaks down, the fan belt frays or the fan blades themselves become bent or broken. That restricts the flow of air into your home, reducing the furnace’s ability to function.
  • Thermostat issues. A faulty thermostat means that your furnace won’t turn on when it’s supposed to, or it will turn on at inappropriate times. It might fail to turn off when it should or turn off too quickly as well. Thermostats can be replaced or repair fairly easily, though it takes a trained technician to do it.

If you’re facing common heating repairs for a forced-air furnace, then give the Bountiful, UT heating repair experts at Rentmeister Total Home Service a call. For home owners in Bountiful, heating repair services like the kind we offer are the best bet you’ll have for keeping your heater safe and operation during the cold winter months. Give us a call today to see what we can do for you.

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