Do you rely on a furnace to heat your home? If so, you need to know furnaces can cause dangerous circumstances within homes. Some individuals are unaware of these dangers. This could result in their families coming into harm's way. Some safety risks associated with having a furnace could be diminished if homeowners requested routine maintenance at the appropriate intervals. Maintenance involves inspecting furnaces for defective parts.

In some cases, individuals who have neglected to maintain their furnaces may only have the option to replace their furnaces. This is why maintenance is ideal. The following points will help you understand how your furnace could create safety issues for your family.

Non-working Furnace

This is a phenomenon that can occur due to a furnace malfunctioning. Sometimes defective parts such as a broken heat exchanger can cause this to happen. A working heat exchanger is a necessity to ensure that a furnace works properly. Heat exchangers can get cracks due to the age of a furnace. Sometimes the overall maintenance of a furnace can result in a cracked heat exchanger. Depending on the location of your furnace, you might have a non-working furnace if your furnace is located in a drafty area. The draft can blow out the pilot light. Your furnace cannot ignite without a pilot light. 

Fire

This is a serious situation that can occur. Furnace fires can occur when furnaces are not maintained. Even if you maintain your furnace with a professional, you may need to change your furnace filter as a part of self-maintenance. Depending on the type of furnace and filter you decide to use, the change schedule will vary. An HVAC contractor can advise you on the appropriate scheduling. Furnace tune-ups also play a vital role in protection against furnace fires.

Gas Leaks

A properly maintained furnace should not emit odors. However, if you smell a smell that is similar to rotten eggs. do not operate your furnace due to the possibility that you might have a gas leak. Carbon monoxide, which is colorless and odorless can also pose a safety issue. Request routine inspections, and ensure that you have a working carbon monoxide detector near your furnace. 

An HVAC contractor is a good resource to use to understand other safety issues related to furnace maintenance. They can inspect your heating system and make recommendations. They can also install a new furnace if the old one has broken down. Keep in mind that your key focus needs to be on safety for you and your family. contact a residential furnace repair service like Central York Corp to get more information.