A broken furnace not only causes problems with keeping your home at a warm and comfortable temperature during the cold months, but it also has the potential to negatively impact the air quality of your home. Regularly regulate and monitor your furnace to make sure it’s functioning properly for the sake of your family’s health.
Air Filter
Your air filter should be changed every 30 days. Failing to frequently replace your air filter will not only affect the air quality in your home, but it can also cause your furnace to overheat. The purpose of your furnace filter is to remove dust from the air. A furnace that is overheating is not functioning properly, and chances are, it’s not pulling dust particles from the air. Dusty air can cause congestion and be problematic for those with asthma and respiratory issues.
Heat Exchanger
A broken furnace has the potential to leak carbon monoxide. Specifically, a crack in the heat exchanger can result in leaking carbon monoxide. This negatively impacts the air quality in your home but more importantly puts your home and family at risk. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and invisible gas that causes flu-like symptoms. If action is not taken immediately, it can be deadly. A carbon monoxide detector will notify you if your home reaches unsafe levels of carbon monoxide.
Bypass humidifier
Many homeowners do not realize that the bypass humidifier needs to be cleaned frequently. The water panel or evaporator pad can become clogged with sediment or debris which will prevent the humidifier from doing its job. When the humidifier isn’t functioning properly, it will quit working and the air quality in your home will suffer. Your home will become very dry with the furnace constantly blowing which can cause your skin to crack and even frequent nose bleeds.
