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Your heating system plays a huge part in ensuring you have a warm and safe home during the cold season. Therefore, you must have a highly efficient system that is professionally installed.
Efficient heating equipment translates into reduced energy bills. It is also capable of providing a more effective and safer way to heat your home. Whether your system is brand new or a few years old, it is vital to keep your heating system in tiptop shape. One aspect that involves safe heating is to keep your heating vent pipe clear at all times.
Stay Safe & Keep Your Heating Vent Pipe Clear
In this article, we discuss why it is essential to keep your heating vent pipe clear.
Conduct A Winter Safety Check
Keeping your home safe from the winter includes checking on your heating system. This task is crucial after a snowstorm. Snow can get stuck inside the system’s vents or air intake pipes. When this happens, a few safety issues might occur.
An example of such a problem happens when you have a heating oil system. This type of system has an exhaust pipe and air intake pipes used in exchanging air. Older homes typically have vent pipes within the chimney. At the same time, newer homes or heating systems that are not equipped with chimneys have exhaust pipes fitted through the exterior walls. Snow could build up outside your home, in the place where the exhaust pipes are located. Therefore, you must do a safety check to ensure that the vents or pipes are not blocked.
Heating System Basics
Some of the reasons conducting a winter safety check is a necessity include:
If you live in a relatively new house, check the vent pipes and air intake valves after heavy snow. This is especially needed when the vents and pipes are installed at the lower exterior of your home.
Gas and oil-powered furnaces need fuel and oxygen to function as they should. However, some new houses are built to be airtight where there isn’t sufficient oxygen circulating throughout the house. Hence, oxygen needs to be drawn from the outside. For this reason, you must ensure that the intake valves at the side of your house are clear at all times.
The heat production process will produce exhaust, including carbon monoxide. CO buildup should not be allowed to happen inside your home. It is a very toxic gas and can put you and your family in a potentially fatal situation. Carbon monoxide buildup can occur if the heating vent pipe is blocked. This is because the exhaust is not pushed out properly, and it ends up accumulating inside your home.
Blocked vents and pipes will result in a faulty system. It can even cause the unit to shut down completely. This is the last thing you want to happen because it puts you and your family at risk to exposure to the cold. You would need to contact a professional for emergency service to ensure that the heat comes back immediately. This is an entirely preventable problem, wherein you don’t have to pay for costly repairs or replacements.
3 Easy Steps To Clear Your Heating Vents And Pipes
Here is a three-step guide to ensure you have clear heating vents and pipes:
- Look for the exhaust pipes and vents. Check your boiler or furnace to find the vents. If the vents run out through an outside wall, find two PVC pipes with a three-inch diameter. One of the pipes is for oxygen intake, and the other is an exhaust for carbon monoxide. If the system’s vents run through your chimney, look at the unit’s back. You will see an aluminum pipe that you can trace to see where the end leads.
- When you find the vents, put a marker on where they are located. Ensure that the mark is not easily erasable by water or snow. It is also recommended that the markings be easy to see. This way, you can find these markings even after heavy snowfall.
- Ensure that nothing is obstructing the vents and exhaust pipes. Shovel the snow around your house and clear the snow around the exhaust pipes and vents. Be careful not to hit the pipes and vents with the shovel, as this can result in damages. You can use a broom when you need to remove any further snow near them. This way, you remove the snow while also protecting your system.
Stay Safe And Warm
Following the steps mentioned above will ensure that your heating system stays in perfect working condition. It will also help make sure that your home remains warm and comfy throughout the cold season.
The safety of you and your family also remains intact while you use your heating system. By practicing proper safety and maintenance, you also protect your family and home. You also ensure that your heating system remains in tiptop shape for a long time.
Call Tevis Energy For All Of Your HVAC Requirements
For superior heating and cooling services in central Maryland and southern Pennsylvania, call Tevis Energy. We have professionally certified and highly trained technicians who conduct high-quality HVAC repairs, maintenance, replacements, and installations. All our friendly techs have ample experience and knowledge to service your system accurately within a reasonable timeframe.
Our company has the most competitive HVAC service prices in the area. We will maintain your system so that you have increased comfort, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. We can also assist you in finding the most suitable HVAC replacement system that is within your budget. All our work comes with a guarantee because your satisfaction is essential to us. Book a service appointment with us today. Do not hesitate to call Tevis Energy for a free, in-home estimate.
You can click here to contact us now or call us at (410) 876-6800 to find out more!