How Your Furnace Affects Indoor Air Quality

Your furnace may keep you safe and warm through the long, cold Sullivan County winter – but could it be doing that job at the expense of your health? It could be if your HVAC system is not working or being maintained properly.

Here are three questions to ask about your HVAC system and its impact on the air you’re breathing today in your home:

1. When did you last check your HVAC air filter? The air filter in an HVAC system removes dirt, dander, and contaminants from the air before they enter your ducts and living space. That’s why it’s so important to check your air filter every month, replacing or cleaning it (depending on the model) as needed. A clogged air filter will cause a build-up of irritants and allergens such as pollen, pet dander, and dust mites, which could be especially harmful to people in your home with respiratory sensitivities.
2. Has your HVAC system been professionally installed and maintained? A combustion-based heating system will always produce exhaust fumes – including dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) gas. If your furnace is installed and maintained properly, these gases escape harmlessly into the outdoor air – but if your heating system is not functioning properly, is poorly vented, or has been installed incorrectly, a potentially dangerous buildup of CO can occur in your home. Learn the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, install carbon monoxide detectors at every level of your CT home, and have your furnace professionally inspected and maintained every year.
3. How old is your furnace? With proper care, your furnace should last about 15 years; beyond that point, efficiency and performance drop-offs – including a degrading of air quality – become more likely. Safety will also become an issue over time, since dangerous heat exchanger cracks that can release CO into your home become more common as the equipment ages. For these reasons and many others, annual furnace inspections are essential – and replacing your old equipment with a safe, high-efficiency heating system is a smart move.

Ready to breathe easier? Contact Black Bear today to schedule routine heating system maintenance. Need to replace an old heating system? We can help you there, too – contact us for a FREE, no-obligation estimate!