Snow Can Cause Problems with High Efficiency Furnace

Starting tomorrow, we may be able to honestly say, “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!” The weather forecast shows 1-2 inches of snow coming to metro Detroit this weekend, and suddenly it will seem much more festive to listen to songs such as “Frosty the Snowman” and “Let it, Snow.”  Snow brings with it more than just a festive atmosphere, however. Snow means scraping and shoveling, and if you have a high-efficiency furnace, you need to be careful about where that snow ends up.

High-efficiency furnaces (90% AFUE or above) have intake and exhaust pipes on the side of the home, reasonably low to the ground. These PVC pipes can become blocked by snow, which would cause the furnace to malfunction. Therefore, checking these pipes and clearing any snow after a snowfall is essential. Unsure of whether or not you have a high-efficiency furnace? A heating and cooling company, such as FLAME, can help.

Though initial snowfall can block the pipes, you must be careful when shoveling or blowing snow. You don’t want to inadvertently clog the intake and exhaust pipes yourselves. If you use a snow removal company, don’t forget to make them aware of this.

If, after a snowfall, your furnace stops working, check out these intake and exhaust pipes before calling a professional. It may be a simple snow problem you can fix quickly.

Take a moment to try and locate these pipes now, if you never have, so you are ready to go when the snow falls. Having trouble finding them? Contact a professional heating and cooling company to help.

Remember, we are only at the beginning of the snowy cold winter. You will want your furnace to run in its best shape for months. Contact FLAME for more information about taking care of your furnace or what to do if it stops working!