What type of central heating system does your home use?
If it uses a gas furnace, you’ll need to ensure that it’s properly ventilated. Gas furnaces must be ventilated to prevent the buildup of harmful gases.
Turning a blind eye to poor or nonexistent ventilation will create a safety hazard for you and your family members.
Understanding How Gas Furnaces Work
Gas furnaces work by burning gas – typically natural gas – in a combustion chamber. As gas flows through the combustion chamber, it’s exposed to a flame.
The flammable properties of gas, of course, cause it to ignite. While this combustion is taking place, the blower will push air over the furnace’s combustion chamber, resulting in warm air that’s distributed through the ductwork.
The Importance of Venting Your Gas Furnace
Unlike electric furnaces, gas furnaces produce exhaust gases. Exhaust gases are the byproduct of burning gas.
With a complete combustion process, no exhaust gases will be produced. Rather, the gas will be completely converted into heat. The problem is that no furnace is capable of performing a complete combustion process.
Even high-end furnaces will produce at least some exhaust gases as a byproduct.
Carbon monoxide is one such type of exhaust gas that’s produced by gas furnaces. As you may know, carbon monoxide is toxic.
It’s responsible for approximately 430 deaths in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All gas-burning equipment, including furnaces, produce carbon monoxide.
If your gas furnace isn’t properly ventilated, carbon monoxide may build up inside of your home. There should be a flue that runs from your gas furnace’s combustion chamber to your home’s exterior.
Exhaust gases will enter this flue, after which they’ll travel to your home’s exterior. If the flue is clogged or punctured, though, harmful gases like carbon monoxide may enter your home’s indoor spaces.
Your gas furnace needs to be properly ventilated to move these harmful gases from the combustion chamber to your home’s exterior where they can be dispersed outside.
Get Your Gas Furnace Inspected
To ensure your gas furnace is properly ventilated, you should get it inspected at least once a year by a heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) technician.
An annual inspection will give you peace of mind knowing that you and your family are safe from carbon monoxide created by your gas furnace. And if there’s a problem with the ventilation system, the HVAC technician can fix it.
If you are experiencing a problem with your air conditioning or heating call us at 512-336-1431 to schedule an appointment. We’ll be glad to come out and take a look at the issue.
1431-183 A/C & Heating proudly serves Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Liberty Hill, and North Austin.
