Identifying Heater Hazards
With local weather conditions, heaters are essential for keeping the home safe and warm during the winter. Reliable heating equipment promotes comfort in the home and helps people weather the winter, which can bring life-threatening colds.
Heaters work hard to keep the home warm during the winter, which can wear down the unit, causing it to fail. When heaters fail, they not only lose their ability to supply heat, but they can also present unique hazards that homeowners must be aware of.
Here are a few signs of faulty heaters and the hazards they carry so homeowners can react accordingly.
Carbon Monoxide Leaks
Carbon monoxide is a product of the combustion of fossil fuels, especially in furnaces. The biggest concern in the home is the release of carbon monoxide from natural gas or propane appliances.
When appliances age or experience problems, they can cause incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, promoting carbon monoxide release. Since carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, it is impossible to perceive. When it leaks into a home, it can cause life-threatening complications.
Maintaining heaters and installing carbon monoxide detectors can help eliminate the threat of carbon monoxide. During heater maintenance, technicians will perform checks and tests to ensure fuels are completely burnt, and the resulting gas is expelled from the home.
If, for some reason, carbon monoxide forms even after inspections and heater maintenance, carbon monoxide detectors can alert the homeowner to the threat so they can call the appropriate contractor for repairs.
Mold Growth in the Home
HVAC systems are responsible for moving air around the home and cleaning it up simultaneously. Air filters are in place to keep dust out of the moving parts of the furnace and the ductwork to clean up the air.
If furnaces and heat pumps are not properly maintained, mold can grow within the air ducts and cause negative health outcomes for homeowners. This process usually starts when the air filters remain unchanged or the air conditioner does not properly dehumidify the air.
During the winter, the process worsens as warm air flows through the ducts and spurs mold growth. Having mold in ductwork in the winter can cause problems like:
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Foul odors
- Allergies
- Sinus problems
- Reduced lung immunity
To protect air ducts against mold growth, routine HVAC maintenance should be performed twice yearly, and professional air duct cleaning should be scheduled every few years.
Overheating
Mold growth and carbon monoxide poisoning are problems that can take a while before they negatively affect the health of those in the home. When the furnace overheats, the problem is immediate and must be dealt with quickly to avoid problematic fires or faster carbon monoxide poisoning. Look for signs like:
- Burnt odors
- Frequently tripping safety devices
- Soot marks near the heater
- Red-hot metal
- Humming noises
To prevent furnace overheating, change air filters regularly and remember annual heater maintenance from qualified professionals.
About B&L Plumbing
B&L Plumbing has 25 years of experience with heater maintenance and heater repairs. Their skilled teams offer maintenance packages to reduce bills and prevent heating equipment downtime. Call today for heating service in Colorado Springs, CO.
