Snowstorms and Furnaces

March 17, 2016

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

The exhaust from both conventional furnaces and high-efficiency furnaces is pushed outside of your residence. However, there is a difference between the two. High-efficiency furnaces also take fresh air from the outdoors into your house, which means it’s significant for air to be able to flow freely to ensure proper and safe operation.

Once in a while the intake and exhaust pipes of high efficiency units exit through the side of your home or vertically through the roof. When this is the case, you’re susceptible to having heavy snowfall bury them, which will block the free flow of air your high-efficiency furnace needs. (Don’t panic, though. High efficiency furnaces are planned to automatically shut off if these pipes are blocked.) To prevent air flow obstruction during a heavy snowfall, be sure to:

  • Make sure there’s a 3-foot/1-meter clearance near your intake and exhaust pipes.
  • Look at the area regularly and remove any snow that has fallen into the cleared area.

We know the weather in Greensburg can change frequently during the last few weeks of winter and that weather impacts the operation of your furnace. If you want us to review any areas around your home or if you need answers to any questions, call Wallpe Heating & Cooling in Greensburg at 812-663-7252. Your family’s safety and comfort are important to us.