Your furnace has a lot of components that work tirelessly, but some of them don’t receive proper attention. Sure, they’re handled during maintenance appointments, but most homeowners don’t have a running list of every single component that’s touched during that maintenance visit. So what’s causing your furnace to shut down before it’s due?
There are a lot of different types of furnaces, but through all of our furnace repair in Little Rock, AR, we’ve seen that many are gas-powered, and as a result they have flues. If your furnace has an integrated flue, it could be part of the problem. Here’s what you need to know.
Here’s What’s Happening in Your Flue
The flue pipe can become obstructed. This happens as a result of soot and debris coating the inside of the flue, and gradually building up. When there’s enough, it may not obstruct it entirely, but it can constrict it enough that gas builds up and causes the furnace to overheat.
When it overheats, it shuts down prematurely. This is a safety feature to prevent massive damage to your furnace, and reduce the risk of fire from overheating. However, it can be wholly frustrating, especially when the usual signs of a damaged furnace are nowhere to be seen (such as strange noises, odors, etc.).
Maintenance Helps
During maintenance, your flue is cleaned out so that this doesn’t happen. If you don’t currently have a maintenance plan, it’s time to consider getting one. While you may not think of your flue often or even ponder it when you think of annual maintenance, it’s one of the many tasks that a professional HVAC technician will carry out during their trip.
How to Fix Your Flue Issue
In general, your flue is pretty cut-and-dry: it will incur buildup and need to be cleaned. But you can also avoid this problem by:
- Keeping the Temperature High: It’s a gas-burning furnace, so you’d think that if it’s doing its job, you shouldn’t have to worry about the temperature. But if it’s too low (by furnace standards), it can slow the flow of gasses as they leave your flue, keeping them around for longer so they can cling to the flue’s interior.
- Lengthening the Flue: This is uncommon, but it can help. Lengthening the flue pipe can essentially spread the buildup on the interior of your flue.
- Not Skipping Maintenance: You can even mention this concern to your HVAC technician when they come to perform maintenance, but by all means, don’t skip out on your annual appointment if you want your flue to keep that flow going.
Let’s Get Your Furnace Back on Track
Your furnace is on the fritz, but there’s no need to fret–we’ll get it back in fighting shape before long. Give us a call today, and whether it turns out to be the flue or something else entirely, we’ll get you sorted as soon as possible so you can flip on the heat and relax.
Contact Dewees HVAC today to schedule your furnace repair as soon as possible.