How To Tell If Your Furnace is Venting Properly

Does your HVAC system need some professional help? The team at Comfort Specialists is happy to be at your service in New Jersey.

Your furnace keeps your home cozy during frigid winter temperatures, but could a faulty unit present a major safety hazard for your family? Yes! Furnaces that don't vent adequately send carbon monoxide into the home and increase the risk of house fires.

Here’s how to tell if your furnace is venting properly, as shared by Comfort Specialists, the top team for reliable furnace repair in NJ.

Five Signs That Your Furnace Isn't Venting Correctly

Are you feeling anxious about the safety and function of your heating unit? While the thought of your furnace becoming a safety hazard can be frightening, there are signs you can look out for, such as the following:

#1 Moisture and Condensation

Are you seeing more condensation on your windows lately? Increased moisture within the home is a sign that your furnace venting isn't adequate. 

Without proper ventilation, fumes from the furnace leak into your home and cause condensation. This moisture is most notable in the morning and when you first turn on your heating unit.

#2 Flue Liner Damage

Terracotta clay tiles line the furnace flues in many older homes. Over time, terracotta is prone to cracking, chipping, and crumbling. The combination of age and moisture also makes these tiles more vulnerable, which creates openings to allow carbon monoxide into your home.

Unfortunately, traditional clay liner tiles are also susceptible to damage from high heat output. One solution would be to replace terracotta clay tiles with a stainless-steel flue liner. The upgrade should easily restore your furnace flue's durability and protect your family’s health.

#3 Backdraft

If you want to know how to tell if your furnace is venting properly, one of the biggest indicators is a backdraft—when exhaust fumes pull backward into your home.

The following are some common causes of backdraft:

• An obstruction in the furnace flue
• Inappropriate flue size
• Negative air pressure

Backdraft issues mean that your furnace isn't getting the airflow it needs. Without oxygen, your furnace sucks the air down into the flue instead of letting harmful exhaust fumes escape upwards.

#4 Rust

Is the grillwork on your furnace looking a little rusty? There must be excess moisture surrounding your unit. 

Your furnace should be sending moist fumes outside of your home, not into the house. When these fumes emit out into the air around the unit, corrosion follows.

#5 Incorrect Slope

The horizontal slope of your furnace should measure about one-quarter of an inch in height. When the installers get this slope wrong, the condensation doesn't fully drain. 

If anything blocks the furnace vent, the entire system will eventually stop operating. This issue, like the others, will need professional attention from an experienced team like Comfort Specialists.

How To Avoid These Heating System Issues and Keep Your Family Safe

While the above furnace issues sound serious, there are several ways to help your unit work as it should and keep your family out of danger. For example, take a look at some of these professional tips for keeping your heating unit ventilated:

• Get regular furnace inspections: Having professionals check your furnace is essential for maintaining its function. Yearly heating unit tune-ups handle any damage and address the signs of poor ventilation so that your unit is ready to take on the winter.
• Install a CO detector: Every home needs a carbon monoxide detector because furnaces can allow this gas to leak into your breathing air. You could experience nausea, dizziness, headaches, or death, so it’s vital to have a CO device that can detect carbon monoxide and alert you to get your family out. 
• Give your furnace a "once over." When was the last time you took a look at your heating unit? Leaving it to annual tune-ups to find issues helps, but it’s also advisable to take a look at your furnace every few weeks to pick up ventilation problems or other concerning changes in your unit’s performance.

Improve Your Furnace Ventilation with Comfort Specialists Home Services

Giving your heating unit a little extra attention and installing home devices like CO detectors are great ways to keep your family safe from furnace leaks through the winter. Plus, now that you know how to tell if your furnace is venting properly, you can tackle ventilation issues early on. 

Would you like some skilled help on all HVAC issues, including gas vs. electric furnace concerns? Call Comfort Specialists at 973-490-4881 for New Jersey’s premier authority on the matter!