As the heating season arrives, it is important for your Dundalk home and business owners to make certain that their systems are ready to work. Not being prepared can result in a disaster such as a breakdown in frigid weather.However, the good news is that it is relatively simple to make certain that a furnace is ready to provide the needed heat to keep a home or other building safe and warm.

Open Exhaust Vent

The first step to making certain that a furnace is safe is to check the exhaust vents for problems. Birds and insects can build nests in the vent pipes which will block the flow of air.A blocked vent can result in exhaust gas being trapped inside causing the furnace to not operate.In extreme cases, the gas may end up released inside the home, which can create a hazardous and even potentially fatal condition. Though less important, intake vents also need to be open to provide a steady supply of fresh air into the furnace.

Test Run

Before the frigid temperatures of winter arrive, a furnace should be tested for proper operation. Though it isn’t likely that serious problems developed while the furnace was not being operated, it is possible and the time to find out is not when the furnace is needed.Dust also settles into the furnace and ducts over the summer, which causes a slight burning smell when the furnace is first operated.Running the furnace before cold weather arrives gives the system an opportunity to get rid of the dust when the windows can be open to allow the odor to escape. A proper test run would also check the operation and calibration of the furnace’s thermostat.

Professional Inspection

In addition to checking the vents and operation of the furnace, there are many less obvious things that a furnace may need to operate properly. For example, a properly adjusted and maintained pilot light or ignitor is needed to keep a furnace running at an optimal level.Ignition problems can result in inefficient heating and even furnace failure. Small leaks in the ductwork can result in increased heating bills as the heated air is lost before it reaches your Dundalk home.Low gas pressure will cause a furnace to not produce enough heat, which can result in combustion problems and lead to furnace failure. The best way to avoid these problems is to have the furnace inspected and tested by a repair professional.A professional can quickly and thoroughly inspect a furnace to make certain it is ready for the cold winter to come.Don’t suffer from a furnace disaster in your Dundalk, MD home this season. Call Reliability Home at 443-399-8663 and get assistance now.