As a homeowner, there are certain things you know you have to do to ensure the safety and comfort of your family — like schedule annual inspections and cleanings of your fireplace and chimney. But what about your furnace, boiler, or water heater? Is that something you need to have inspected every year? And if so, who does it?
The truth is, every venting system should be inspected by a professional on an annual basis, just like your chimney and fireplace. And this is an inspection that should be done by a CSIA certified chimney and venting specialist.
Whether you have a gas or oil furnace, boiler, or water heater, there are reasons that every trusted fire prevention and industry safety organization recommends annual inspections. Let’s take a look at some of those reasons…
Buildup & Blockages Can Occur
Oil and wood burning appliances can be a blessing, but both can produce a great amount of soot and other corrosive byproducts. These byproducts are vented through the flue, but can sometimes settle along the flue walls, building up, and restricting proper flow. Over time, this can inhibit draft, increase fire risk, and compromise the safety, functionality, and efficiency of the entire heating system.
Another thing to worry about is blockages. Older liners can break and pieces can fall down into the flue and cause a partial or total blockage. When this happens, the dangerous byproducts that should be quickly removed from your home can actually back up into the air you’re breathing. This type of issue can also occur if animals or birds get down into the flue and build nests.
Liners Can Be Damaged By The Byproducts Of Combustion
Wood and oil-fired furnaces, boilers, and water heaters produce corrosive byproducts like creosote and soot, which can cause significant damage if not removed from the flue liner promptly. Holes, cracks, gaps, and openings caused by these corrosive byproducts can greatly limit the safety and efficiency of your system and put you at greater risk of house fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other unpleasant and unnecessary threats.
But don’t think that just because you have a gas appliance, you’re in the clear!
While gas appliances won’t contribute to creosote and soot buildup, they still produce corrosive substances and acidic moisture, which can cause damage. No matter what fuel your furnace, boiler, or water heater is running on, damage can be done to the flue liner.
Annual Inspections Are Fast And Affordable & Provide Priceless Peace Of Mind
Here at Trinity Chimney Service, we want to ensure our neighbors in Columbia, MD are as safe as possible and as comfortable as possible in their homes. And it all starts with an annual inspection. During an inspection, we use our equipment and evaluation skills to look inside the flue, check for damage, blockages, and buildup, and make sure the system is in good condition and ready for another year of service.
If you haven’t had your chimney or furnace, boiler, or water heater flue inspected this year, call on our CSIA certified team. We will inspect every venting system thoroughly and quickly, so you can enjoy the comfort of your home without worry.