For all of those homeowners that might be a little skeptical of a gas furnace’s safety, this blog is for you. While yes, without routine maintenance and professional attention for repairs, a gas furnace can run into serious problems that can make it potentially harmful. But when a system is maintained properly and in good shape, it’s actually got a lot of safety mechanisms in place to make sure your home is safe, efficient, and comfortable.
This blog post is going to highlight a couple of components in a furnace that helps it with the job it does. These components are important because they are robust, long-lasting, and important for keeping the system safe. Since they’re gas-burning appliances, furnaces in Fort Wayne, IN need plenty of safety mechanisms and components to ensure that no carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or natural gas leaks into your breathable air. Here’s how it does it!
The Heat or Flame Detector
Let’s say you turn on your gas furnace and don’t feel any heat coming from the vents for several minutes. But you know that the system is running, until it abruptly shuts off. Should you be worried?
Well, yes, you should get your system repaired because something isn’t working as intended and you need the heat in your home. But, should you be worried that your home isn’t safe anymore? Probably not.
Every gas furnace has a heat or flame detector, that’s a little electrified component tasked with detecting if it’s working. If the system heats up, the detector notices and allows the system to keep running. However, if there’s no heat created, the little electrified detector signals to the system that something is wrong, and the whole unit shuts down. It basically ensures that you won’t get a gas leak, since the system can’t allow anything but heat to be created.
The Heat Exchanger
And, to make things even safer, a gas furnace has a component called the “heat exchanger” which is a clam-shaped part that separates the breathable air from the heated air with all of the leftover fumes from combustion. This means the heat is transferred from one component to the other without the fumes associated with combustion, allowing your air to be completely free of any contaminants. This component is durable and long-lasting, so you’re safe for the lifespan of the furnace system.
The Exhaust Port
With all of those safety mechanisms in place, there’s still a small chance that your system leaks gas or carbon monoxide into your home. Luckily, you can actually see the fumes of combustion as they come out of the exhaust port on the side of your house. So, if you’re ever nervous, why not go and check yourself!
We recommend staying a safe distance away of course, but as long as you’re noticing the billowing cloud of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide exhaust outside, then your system is likely sending the fumes into the atmosphere where they belong. That’s a good way to reassure yourself that the system is working properly.
If you’re not seeing very much come from the exhaust port, then it might be backed up or leaking, which is when you should call for professional help.
Contact Collier’s Comfort for True Comfort, True Savings!