Snowstorms and Furnaces

March 17, 2016

Winter in Bartlesville isn’t finished yet. Mother Nature can certainly be unpredictable. While it can be nice one day, the next day could surprise us with snow. When this happens, you can help elude the need for unexpected furnace service by taking some precautions.

The exhaust from both conventional furnaces and high-efficiency furnaces is directed outside of your home. Nonetheless, there is a difference between both of these. High-efficiency furnaces also bring fresh air from outside the home into your house, which means it’s vital for air to be able to move freely to ensure correct 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 happens, you’re in danger of having heavy snowfall bury them, which will obstruct the free flow of air your high-efficiency furnace needs. (Don’t panic, 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:

  • Ensure there’s a 3-foot/1-meter clearance surrounding your intake and exhaust pipes.
  • Take a look at the area often and remove any snow that has fallen into the cleared area.

We understand the weather in Bartlesville can change every day during the last few weeks of winter and that weather can effect the operation of your furnace. If you want us to look at any areas around your house or if you need answers to any questions, call Farris Heating & Air in Bartlesville at 918-333-0376. Your family’s safety and comfort are important to us.