You probably know that your house will suffer from impaired heating if you don't take care of your furnace. However, inadequate heating is not the only consequence of furnace neglect. Below are other consequences you might suffer if you don't take good care of your furnace.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide, an odorless poisonous gas, is one of the byproducts of fossil fuel combustion. A gas furnace, for example, produces carbon monoxide as one of its combustion products. In a properly maintained furnace, the little carbon monoxide that is produced is easily vented out of the house.
Poor furnace maintenance, however, will result in poor air circulation, and inadequate air results in impaired combustion and more carbon monoxide production. Poor maintenance may also result in a cracked heat exchanger. Both of these problems might circulate carbon monoxide in your house and poison your household.
High Energy Bills
Poor maintenance can also lead to high energy bills due to more energy consumption. For example, a dirty air filter leads to restricted airflow, which means poor heating and longer furnace run times. Poor maintenance can also cause vent blockage and damaged air ducts, both of which will force the furnace to run long cycles. The more your furnace runs the more energy it will use, leading to high energy bills.
Frequent Breakdowns
As mentioned above, your furnace will experience a variety of problems if it is not properly maintained. Most of these problems will force the furnace to overwork in a bid to keep your house properly heated. Unfortunately, overworked furnaces typically experience frequent breakdowns as their various parts exceed their tolerances. Damaged heat exchangers, malfunctioning start capacitors, and blown motors, among other issues, will be the order of the day if you don't maintain your furnace.
Reduced Lifespan
All furnaces experience wear and tear when running. However, overwork and frequent breakdowns accelerate furnace wear and tear. Thus, poor maintenance of the furnace will result in accelerated wear and tear and a shortened lifespan of the furnace.
Voided Warranty
If your furnace is relatively new, then you also risk voiding its warranty if you don't maintain it properly. Heating companies expect you to maintain your furnace so that it doesn't suffer a neglect-related breakdown. The companies know that poor maintenance can cause a malfunction even in the best furnaces.
As you can see, the future of your heating system is gloomy if you don't take good care of the furnace. If you haven't serviced your furnace in a long time, consult a heating technician to help you as soon as possible.
