Snow

Every winter, safety experts from around the world send out reminders to home owners that inform them about the urgencies of preventing exhaust vent blockage. In some parts of the nation, heavy winds will whip the snow around in blizzard-like conditions. When circumstances are dire, homeowners must inspect the exterior of their homes and check whether all the pipes are cleared out.

Snow & Carbon Monoxide Prevention

The exhaust pipes for your home’s furnace must be cleared out with a shovel if there is any snow blockage. If you do not do this, you can prevent dangerous carbon monoxide gas from leaving the house. You need to make sure that carbon monoxide does not seep into your home and affect you and your family unknowingly.

There have been many instances where people unintentionally pass away due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The highest number of deaths occurs during the winter times, and the easiest remedy to that includes installing one or several kinds of carbon monoxide detectors.

Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it has no smell, color or taste. One of the best purchases you can make when detecting carbon monoxide is getting a CO detector. This refers to a carbon monoxide detector.

Nonetheless, considering the onset of dangerous snow storms, getting a carbon monoxide detector is simply not enough. Home owners need to also make sure that there furnace exhaust pipes are not blocked by snow. In other words, you need to ensure that invisible poisonous gas is able to easily leave your home.

How to Inspect Snow Blockage in your HVAC Pipe?

To check for blockages in the exhaust pipes outside your home, all you have to do is remove the flue cap and check for blockages. Usually, the ice is very evident on the surface of the pipe, however, it is best that you insert an object inside the pipe to test whether the blockage is present. You can even look for indications of blockage by examining the flue pipe. For example, unusual rust on the pipe can be a result of ice blockage due to the moisture buildup.

Build an A-Frame Diverter

Building an A-frame around the exhaust pipes and flue pipes can not only save your life, but also keep your heating systems from failing. You want to make sure that you are keeping snow from accumulating around the sidewall vents. If the gasses are not venting out through a chimney, then they usually come out through the sidewalls.

Keep in mind that snow drifts will build up overnight and also get two to three feet deep. Hence, putting frames or any other covering will keep you from constantly shoveling the snow out. A technician can help construct a frame around the sidewall exhausts.

As you can see, it is integral to carry out a thorough inspection of your HVAC exhaust pipes, especially during the winter time. Addressing blockage problems will require you to seek assistance from professional technicians.