Gas furnaces are as safe as they come. No, seriously!
People sometimes have a misconception about these systems. They burn gas so, therefore, they can endanger your home with carbon monoxide or noxious fumes.
And while yes, they can endanger your family, that’s extremely rare. And even with the most simple protection, like carbon monoxide detectors in your home, you’ll be able to avoid this result in the future.
In truth, gas furnaces can become harmful due to neglect and the failure of some pretty serious components that are supported by safeguards. Things like the heat exchanger and the flame sensor are going to be there 24/7 to make sure that nothing endangers your family.
But that’s why it’s so important to invest in maintenance and heating repair in Huntington, IN. We’ll talk about what your gas furnace can do to keep your home safe, and why getting those components fixed is a top priority.
The Flame Sensor
Are you afraid that your gas furnace might just start releasing gas into your home? It’s a reasonable thing to think until you are introduced to one of the core components of the system–the flame sensor.
You see, due to this component, gas furnaces simply can’t run without burning gas. The flame sensor is always detecting whether there’s heat or a flame inside of the system. When there is, and the system is set to be on, then it allows the unit to run.
But if the flame detector doesn’t notice any flame or heat, then it immediately shuts off access to natural gas so nothing can leak into your home. Sure, your furnace won’t work until the problem is fixed, but at least you won’t be in danger with this component working.
The Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is one of the most important parts of the furnace. It’s a clam-shaped component that keeps all of the combustion fumes inside of it while allowing the heat to transfer from dirty, contaminated air to the fresh air of your home. This keeps all of the fumes and dangerous materials away from your air so that you’re never breathing in something toxic.
Over time, the heat exchanger can start to crack and wear down, so make sure you invest in yearly inspections and repairs when they’re called for.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
You know those little chirping knobs that sit on the wall of your home? The one that can be the butt of a joke in a movie or make a sound that can easily annoy anyone in just a matter of seconds? That little thing can save your life, and it’s one of the most important protective parts of having a gas furnace in your home.
Gas furnaces can get worn down due to neglect. Eventually, your gas furnaces could be operating unsafely and letting off fumes that are dangerous to you and your family.
Carbon monoxide is known as the “silent killer” because it’s practically invisible and impossible to smell or detect from a human point of view. That’s why CO detectors are so valuable, they easily detect any traces of carbon monoxide and alert you. As long as you’ve got these in your home and you’re sure they’re working, then you’re fine.
Collier’s Comfort can help your home stay protected. Contact us for heating repair or maintenance.