Newer furnaces have safety features that older furnaces don’t have. In addition, as your furnace ages, it becomes more vulnerable to part and equipment failure. In some cases, those failures could lead to safety issues. Despite this, if you are like many people, you want to get as much use out of your older furnace as you can before you have to replace it. The tips below will help you continue to run your furnace safely.
Schedule Regular Professional Maintenance
Annual maintenance is important for furnaces of any age, but it becomes particularly important when your furnace is old. Regular professional maintenance can flag safety problems early. Schedule maintenance in the fall so that you’re prepared for winter.
Know Signs of Heat Exchanger Problems
If your heat exchanger is cracked, carbon monoxide can leak into your home. Professionals will check this when they do maintenance, but you should know what to watch out for, too. One is a weak yellow pilot light flame. Others include soot buildup and popping, banging or rattling sounds. Look for cracks or corrosion in other parts of the furnace as well. It’s particularly important to have a carbon monoxide detector if your furnace is old. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, vomiting, sleepiness, headaches, confusion and blurred vision.
Understand Pilot Light Issues
Pilot lights have largely been replaced by electric igniters, but if your furnace is more than 20 years old, it may still operate with a pilot light. This light should burn blue. If it’s yellow or red, turn it off. If your pilot light goes out, turn off the gas, and wait at least15 minutes to relight it. This gives the gas time to dissipate. You should also turn the gas off and leave your home immediately if you smell rotten eggs since this indicates a gas leak.
Know the Age of Your Furnace
If your furnace is very old, the best safety tip may be to replace it. Even if you aren’t ready to do this yet, keeping the appliance’s age in mind can help you assess when this may be a good idea. You can identify when your furnace was manufactured by looking for its removable door. There should be a sticker with a serial number on it. Usually, the first two numbers tell you the month of manufacture, and the last two numbers tell you the year. Another option is to call the company that manufactured the furnace.
Old furnaces are unlikely to be as safe as newer models. However, by following the tips above, you can operate your vintage furnace more safely. The older your furnace gets, the better off you are with a replacement for both safety and efficiency. If you live in Asheville, NC or a surrounding area and need furnace replacement services, make your first call to Cool Cat Heating & Cooling.
