How Do Snow and Ice Impact My Furnace?

If you live in the Cleveland area, you know all about snow and ice. Cleveland has an average annual snowfall total of five feet, and winter lows in the 20’s. Snow and ice have an enormous impact on many aspects of daily life. Your HVAC system is no exception.

The Problem With Snow

Snow and ice can cause furnace problems in a few different ways:

• Blocked Exhaust

Snow can block the exhaust of your gas or oil-fired furnace.  This might cause your unit to stop working or even allow dangerous chemicals like carbon monoxide to build up inside of your house. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be harmful or even fatal to humans and animals. Click here to learn more about the dangers of carbon monoxide.

• Outdoor Icing Issues

Even on the coldest days of the year, air to air heat pumps are extracting heat from the air to heat your home. Unfortunately, these systems have an outdoor component that is susceptible to snow and ice buildup. If you get too much ice buildup on your outdoor unit, it can block ventilation and keep your system from working correctly. In addition, the excess vibration can cause your refrigerant pipes to fail and leak. If snow and ice buildup on your heat pump is an issue, call us to schedule a service call.

• Icicles

Make sure that icicles don’t accumulate above your outdoor cooling unit. If the weather is right, these icicles can get pretty big and fall on your outdoor unit.  Often the damage can be be extensive and can lead to the necessity to replace a unit needlessly.

• Melting Snow

When snow melts, the water can cause a tremendous amount of damage. This damage may take the form of corrosion and rust caused by water or by water that seeps into your system, refreezes and expands. Either way, the result can be costly. The best way to avoid this type of damage is with regular inspections and maintenance.

Don’t let furnace problems keep you out in the cold. Whether your furnace problems are caused by snow and ice or some other issue, we can help.  Contact P.K. Wadsworth today to schedule your free assessment.