Health Effects of Faulty Furnaces

A furnace is one of a home's most important appliances. Besides comfort, its warm air keeps pipes from freezing and protects the house during winter months. However, a faulty furnace can pose several significant health problems to homeowners. It's important to have your furnace inspected regularly and make any necessary repairs to avoid inconvenience and tragedy.

Respiratory Problems

• Some of the most common health effects of a faulty furnace occur when the furnace's filter becomes clogged with debris from the air. A dusty filter can send mold, pollen and other materials into the air throughout a house. The results can range from an allergic reaction or headache to fatigue, asthma, sinus discomfort or an upper respiratory infection. To avoid this problem change your furnace's filter regularly.

CO Problems

• Another major danger posed by furnaces is carbon monoxide inhalation. A residential furnace produces carbon monoxide as a by-product of the combustion process. This dangerous gas is then expelled from the house via the furnace's heat exchanger and a vent pipe to the chimney, sending it outdoors. A leak in this system, such as a cracked heat exchanger, can allow CO to build up in the home until it reaches dangerous levels.

  CO can cause nausea and headaches, and eventually death due to asphyxiation. Since CO is odorless and invisible, having a working CO detector in your home is the best way to protect against a leak.

Fires

• A furnace can also pose a major health risk if any of the heating components are faulty. This can lead to a fire which puts residents in danger of smoke inhalation, asphyxiation or burning. Besides maintaining your furnace, the best way to prevent a fire is to keep the area around the furnace clear and free of papers or other flammable materials. Even a furnace that works properly can be the source of a fire if objects fall into the furnace or combust from being too close to it.