Furnace Safety: Types and Maintenance

Furnaces can be found in homes, businesses, and other properties across the world. Similar to fireplaces, they are used to help heat interiors and ultimately keep you comfortable. But like other machinery, furnaces are susceptible to accidents, due to a variety of causes. But with proper maintenance, and by following safety tips, you can keep your furnace in top shape, and help prevent fires as much as possible.

So, is there a way to prevent furnace fires in the first place, or at least minimize your chance of one happening? SERVPRO^® is Here to Help^® provide this information and more, to help ensure you are best prepared and can select the right furnace.

What is a Furnace?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides the following definition of a furnace: “An enclosed structure in which heat is produced (as for heating a house or for reducing ore).” Furthermore, Cambridge Dictionary indicates that a furnace is: “A container that is heated to a very high temperature, so that substances put inside it, such as metal, will melt or burn.”

Ultimately, for the purposes of this article, we will be discussing the type found in your home or property used for heating the space.

Common Types of Furnaces

Coyne College outlines five overall types of furnaces:

• Propane Furnace
• Electric Furnace
• Oil Furnace
• Natural Gas Furnace
• Modulating Furnace

But of these types, how do they operate? Is one better than another? We go into detail on each of them below.

Which Furnace is Right for Me?

Ultimately, deciding which furnace is right for you depends on a variety of factors, including location, budget, type of property, and more. For example, do you live in a warm or cold climate? Do the winters in your area tend to be mild, or severe? These questions can help you determine the proper furnace for your property.

What is a Propane Furnace?

For those without a natural gas pipeline, a propane furnace may be an ideal option. In fact, propane can be quite effective at heating your property, since it is a byproduct of gas and oil. However, the propane tank will need to be changed at regular intervals, so although this may be an option if oil and gas are not readily accessible in your area, this is something to keep in mind.

What is an Electric Furnace?

Typically smaller than other types of furnaces, an electric furnace uses an electric heating system to move heat into the air. Keep in mind, however, these types of furnaces may not be as efficient as natural gas furnaces, for example, and may increase your energy bill. Still, an electric furnace may be an ideal option if you do not want to handle a propane tank, or do not have natural gas connected to your property.

What is an Oil Furnace?

As Coyne College notes, these furnaces are common in the northeastern United States, and burn oil, which produces a heating flame. These tend to be cheaper than other types of furnaces, but may run less efficiently than, say, a natural gas furnace.

What is a Natural Gas Furnace?

Perhaps the most common type of furnace in the United States, according to Coyne College, natural gas furnaces provide even heating through a home, by using jets of gas. These jets are fed along a burner, which makes a large flame of hot air. This air is then circulated throughout your property using HVAC ducts and fans.

However, these types of furnaces may be more expensive than other options, particularly electric and gas furnaces.

What is a Modulating Furnace?

A modulating furnace uses an energy-efficient design that combines the cost-effectiveness of a cheaper furnace with the even heating and efficiency of a natural gas furnace. Ultimately, this type of furnace uses (or “modulates”) an ongoing flow of gas. This flow of gas automatically adjusts, using the ratio of the property’s temperature, as well as the temperature on the thermostat itself. What makes these types of furnaces unique is how precise their heating capability is; they tend to be as close as half a degree of the targeted temperature (compared to a general 4–6-degree margin of error with other furnace types).

Furnace Safety Tips

Like any machinery, furnaces can pose certain dangers. One particularly dangerous event is that of a puff back. Additionally, gas and oil-burning furnaces produce carbon monoxide. (For more information on carbon monoxide detection, read our companion article about staying safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.)

So, how can you safely maintain your furnace? The CDC and U.S. Department of Energy provide the following furnace safety tips:

• For oil and gas furnaces, have them inspected every year.
• Make sure furnace controls are calibrated for correct air and water temperature settings (to help ensure comfort and efficiency).
• Regularly check the integrity of the furnace heat exchanger. If this exchanger leaks, it could mix the air in your house with combustion gases. This is why regular inspections are critical, as this leaking combustion gas could cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If your furnace uses a chimney and/or vent connection pipe, be sure to regularly check these (since they can deteriorate as they age).
• Before you replace or retrofit your furnace or heating system (if this is something you decide to move forward with, due to an aging furnace, or other factors), make sure a technician performs a combustion-efficiency test.

For Cleanup After Furnace Fires or More, SERVPRO is Here to Help

Furnaces are useful appliances, credited with heating homes, businesses, and other properties for decades. Unfortunately, lax maintenance, puff backs, human error, aging machinery, and more can threaten your health and safety, by causing fires and significant damage to your property. Whether a puff back occurs and causes severe fire damage in your home, your kitchen catches fire during Thanksgiving or any other day of the year, or more, SERVPRO will be there. With 2260 SERVPRO locations in the United States and Canada, there is a franchise near you, prepared to provide thorough fire damage cleanup, restoration, and reconstruction services around the clock.

SERVPRO was established in 1967 and has grown to become the #1 choice in fire and water cleanup and restoration*. From minor fire damage cleanup contained to a single room or piece of furniture, to extensive damage in your entire home or commercial property, SERVPRO comes to each job with the knowledge, tools, and equipment to get the job done. Technicians are dedicated and prepared to help make it “Like it never even happened.” Reach out today.  

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