Besides getting your home ready for the cooler temperatures ahead, giving some attention to HVAC safety is also time well spent. Although HVAC equipment comes equipped with features that minimize risks, over time, there are some situations that could harm you and your home.
Preventing Problems with Combustion Heating Systems
If you use a gas or oil furnace or boiler, keeping it clean and professionally serviced will help it run safely throughout its lifetime. Dust is the worst enemy for HVAC equipment, so keeping the air filter clean and having it serviced annually goes a long way toward preventing a cracked heat exchanger.
When cracks form, HVAC professionals have to red-tag the furnace and shut off the fuel to prevent its use. Once the heat exchanger or the furnace is replaced, they turn the fuel back on. It’s such a threat to HVAC safety because a cracked heat exchanger emits carbon monoxide (CO) into your home.
An HVAC technician will check the flue during each tuneup to make sure it’s clear, as well as calibrating the amount of fuel that goes into the burner to optimize efficiency and HVAC safety.
Heat Pump and Air-Conditioner Safety
Dust and lack of maintenance is not a friend to heat pumps or ACs, either. Besides impairing their performance, dust also contributes to fire danger. Combine it with electrical components that have loosened, and it’s possible for electrical fires to start.
There are less-threatening aspects of safety that surround your heating and cooling equipment. Operating a system with dirty filters reduces indoor air quality, which may cause chronic health distress to anyone who suffers from allergies.
Without a CO detector, you won’t have any idea if this deadly gas is building. CO detectors are a must-have in every home. If you have a gas or oil heating system, show your family members where and how to shut the fuel off and the emergency number to call.
With the heating season fast approaching, call Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more about HVAC safety. We provide trusted HVAC services for Lorain-area homeowners.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area