How Your Furnace Can Affect Your Health

Your furnace is one appliance in your home that could dramatically impact your health and wellbeing. Fortunately, it generally doesn’t. But if your furnace begins to deteriorate, your health and the health of our home can deteriorate right along with it. To stay ahead of any damages it is always best to call sooner, rather than later when it comes to furnace repair in Saratoga, CA. Otherwise, your heating system could become dangerous while you are left scrambling to rectify the situation.

The Unhealthy Dangers of an Old Furnace

Here are a few of the major ways an old or broken furnace can impact your health:

Financial Stress

An old, worn-out heater can cause financial strain. In addition to costly repairs, an inefficient furnace can also compound your energy bills. It may not seem like much at first, but year after year the cost of running and maintaining an old furnace will continue to rise as it needs to exert even more energy to maintain comfortable temperatures. And this will just wear the system out faster until it suffers from an unexpected breakdown and you have to call for emergency repairs and install a new furnace. Most furnaces will last 15 to 20 years. Around that time it is better to start saving and planning for a replacement rather than grinding along with a faulty appliance.

Respiratory Problems

An old or broken furnace can circulate dust, mold, and other dangerous pathogens in the air. That is why a broken furnace can is often linked to breathing problems in the young, the elderly, and those already compromised. It could cause chest related illnesses or make asthma worse. If these symptoms are becoming an increasing problem in your home, it might be time to consider getting a replacement furnace.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

If your furnace has a pilot light, then it is important to keep a watchful eye on your system. The light should always be lit and it should burn a steady blue. The blue flame is a visual confirmation that the gasses in your system are balanced and your home is safe. If the pilot light turns yellow it can indicate that dangerous carbon monoxide is leaking into the home. Prolonged exposure to this toxic gas can lead to illness, injury, or even death. You should treat a change in the color of the pilot light as an emergency, seek advice, and get repairs right away.

Fire Hazard

Last, but not least, a worn-out furnace can quickly become a fire hazard. It is normal to smell a faint burning the first time you use your system. It is just the smell of dust burning off. But after several uses, the smell should disappear. If you can still smell it, or a hit of gas or oil, it means something with your furnace is not working right. You need to call for a professional HVAC technician immediately. Any gas or oil leaks are a fire hazard and should be dealt with right away.

For professional furnace repair in Saratoga, CA contact the experts at Pelle Heating & Air Conditioning. Our professionals will do all they can to respond to your call quickly and make sure your furnace is safe.