Snowstorms and Furnaces

March 17, 2016

Winter in Arlington isn’t finished yet. Mother Nature can typically be unpredictable. While it might be nice one day, the next day could change to snow. When this happens, you can help dodge the need for unforeseen furnace service by taking a couple precautions.

The exhaust from both conventional furnaces and high-efficiency furnaces is pushed outside of your home. Nonetheless, there is a difference between these two. High-efficiency furnaces also pull fresh air from the outside into your house, which means it’s vital for air to be able to flow freely to ensure appropriate and safe operation.

Sometimes the intake and exhaust pipes of high efficiency units exit through the side of your house or vertically through the roof. When this is the case, you’re susceptible to having heavy snowfall bury them, which will hinder the free flow of air your high-efficiency furnace needs. (Don’t worry, though. High efficiency furnaces are meant to automatically shut off if these pipes are blocked.) To stop air flow issues during a heavy snowfall, be sure to:

  • Make sure there’s a 3-foot/1-meter clearance near your intake and exhaust pipes.
  • Look at the area often and move any snow that has fallen into the cleared area.

We realize the weather in Arlington can change every day during the last few weeks of winter and that weather impacts the operation of your furnace. If you want us to look at any areas around your house or if you have concerns, call Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning in Arlington at 360-255-5857. Your family’s safety and comfort are important to us.