Furnace Flue Tips

Even though our Monarch Heating & Cooling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) experts are always here for you, as a Bozeman homeowner, you should know at least a little something about your heating and cooling system. Knowledge is power after all.

It Is Always Flue Season

Understanding some basics about your furnace flue can come in handy. And taking care of it—doing your part as well as through regular professional maintenance—helps keep your furnace working at high efficiency and promotes a long life span.

What Is the Furnace Flue?

The furnace flue, also called a vent pipe, expels exhaust from your Montana home, functioning to ensure you do not inhale harmful gases. 

In addition to indoor air quality (IAQ) hazards, some of the fumes are flammable. The exhaust prevents these gases from coming into contact with the open flame on your fuel-powered heating system.

What Can Go Wrong With My Flue?

You should always be on the lookout for clogs. Blockages can be caused by a variety of culprits. 

Foreign objects such as bird nests and leaves may find their way in there. Heavy snowfall or ice buildup can also be the enemy of air passage.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) cited reports showing 38 incidents with 13 deaths and 25 injuries relating to the furnace flue. These resulted from partial or total vent blockage. 

Flue clogs are a serious matter and yet quite preventable, or, in many cases, easily remedied.

What Can I Do to Prevent These Flue Problems?

Above all, you should be conscious of anything with potential to obstruct your flue. Here are some key steps our Monarch Heating & Cooling team recommends you take:

• Keep the area around the flue clear.

If your flue is on the side of your Bozeman home, be sure to keep the area relatively tidy. Be conscious of any sticks, dirt, or leaves that may find their way into the exhaust pipe. 

If snow levels get high during the winter, be sure to shovel snow out of the area; the same holds true for icicles or ice dams that can develop from pipe condensation. You do not want your exhaust pipe buried, blocked, or banged up.

• Have your flue cleaned or replaced.

If you have a new furnace installed or move to a new home, you will need one of our HVAC experts to clean your flue or replace it if it is excessively rusty. After years of use, the inside of the pipe becomes lined with sediment. Cleaning or replacing the flue ensures a safe transition for you, your home, and your heating system.

• Schedule routine maintenance visits.

Furnace maintenance is the number one way to prevent future problems. During a maintenance visit, our trained professional can identify potential issues with your system’s exhaust. 

Additionally, we will examine the furnace pressure switch. The pressure switch will automatically turn your unit off if it is not expelling exhaust properly.

Contact Us With All Your Furnace Needs

Have any more questions or concerns about your furnace flue? Call Monarch Heating & Cooling at (406) 919-7819 or request service online today. We service Bozeman, MT and its surrounds, offering furnace expertise along with furnace installations and replacements, repairs, and maintenance.