During a winter storm, many homes in our area are left without power. While there are certainly ways to cope with the lack of lighting, there’s one system you cannot go long without: the furnace. However, if you have a gas furnace, you might not worry too much about this possibility. After all, the natural gas line is not affected by a power outage, right?
While it’s true that you should still have natural gas coming to your home during a regular power outage, that does not mean all gas appliances will still work. Unfortunately, most furnaces will not work in the event of a power outage in your home, and we explain why (and what you can do) in today’s guide.
Here is a common scenario that happens in the modern home. You notice that the heater has not cycled on in quite some time. The air is getting chilly, so you go to the thermostat. You try turning it a few degrees warmer, but nothing happens. You call out to your spouse, or say to yourself, “I think the thermostat is busted!”
Every forced-air heating system, like a furnace, has a filter (or it should). When you run your heater, it first sucks in air from around the home and then heats it before blowing air back out to the rooms. Any dust or debris in the air could get sucked in and forced out with it, but the furnace helps to prevent this and protect your heater from damage that could be caused by that incoming debris.
The hum of your heating system as it starts its cycle as usual is, of course, nothing to be alarmed about. You know the normal noises your heating system makes, which means you know when something is off. Typically, a sound from your heating system may not mean that your system is in any immediate danger, but it often still means you should call in technicians ASAP.
As winter draws near, there are a lot of things to concern yourself with around the house. Winterizing the home means covering windows, filling up air leaks and tackling drafts, packing up the garden hose and winterizing the outdoor faucets, and insulating wherever you can. It means checking the storm drains again, inspecting the fireplace and chimney, and digging winter décor and blankets out of storage.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems may not be the simplest of systems in a home, but you know enough to get by. You know how to use your thermostat—for the most part—and how to save some energy while you use it. For example, you should shut the vents in a room you’re not using so you don’t waste it…right? Most HVAC experts would tell you that one’s not quite right.
As the temperatures outside drop, the cost of heating your home becomes higher and higher. This is to be expected, of course, as the furnace has to run for longer to keep you warm. However, at some point during your homeownership, you may find out that you pay much more than you should have to! Maybe a neighbor tells you that they pay way less than you do to heat a similarly sized home, or perhaps you’ve just realized you’re spending more than you did last year.
Worried your heater could break down at any moment? If you don’t know the signs that a heater needs repair, maybe you should be. It’s never fun to have to repair a heating system, but it’s even worse when your heater has broken down completely, calling for an emergency repair that could cost you even more.
Most people never call in a contractor until something in the home breaks. And yet, when it comes to your heating system, many of the repairs you make within a year are largely preventable. The furnace is something you want to avoid repairing in the middle of the winter, when you need your heating system the most. Getting ahead of