Snowstorms and Furnaces

March 17, 2016

Winter in Tomball isn’t quite over yet. Mother Nature can often be unpredictable. While it could be nice one day, the next day could change to snow. When this take place, you can help elude the need for surprising furnace service by taking a couple precautions.

The exhaust from both conventional furnaces and high-efficiency furnaces is moved outside of your house. But, there is a difference between both of these. High-efficiency furnaces also take fresh air from the outdoors into your house, which means it’s vital for air to be able to move freely to ensure appropriate and safe operation.

Occasionally the intake and exhaust pipes of high efficiency units depart through the side of your home or vertically through the roof. When this is the case, you’re in danger of having heavy snowfall bury them, which will hinder the free flow of air your high-efficiency furnace needs. (Don’t fret, though. High efficiency furnaces are designed to automatically shut off if these pipes are blocked.) To stop air flow issues during a heavy snowfall, be sure to:

  • Make sure there’s a 3-foot/1-meter clearance surrounding your intake and exhaust pipes.
  • Take a look at the area occasionally and move any snow that has fallen into the cleared area.

We know the weather in Tomball can change every day during the last few weeks of winter and that weather can effect the operation of your furnace. If you want us to review any areas around your residence or if you need answers to any questions, call Premium Air Services LLC in Tomball at 713-364-9957. Your family’s safety and comfort are important to us.