As you are likely already aware, your furnace generates a lot of exhaust as a by-product of combustion. This exhaust is transported out of your home through the furnace flue. Yet if your flue is not working the way it should, those dangerous exhaust gases might be hanging around and putting you and your family at an unnecessary risk. To better understand the importance of flue maintenance, read on. This article will discuss flue mechanics and the problems of a restricted flue.
The Basic Idea
In order for your flue to work properly, there has to be what is known as a negative pressure differential. Don’t let that phrase intimidate you: it simply means that, in order for the exhaust gases to rise up and away from your furnace, the gas pressure inside of the flue must be lower than the exhaust gas pressure. So long as this criteria is satisfied, the lower flue pressure will act to draw exhaust upward, moving it safely outside of your home.Problems ensue when the pressure inside of the flue becomes untenably high. This leads to the scenario known as a restricted flue. Simply put, the pressure differential is not great enough to create the necessary vacuum. As a result, those exhaust gases linger inside of your furnace--and often leak out into your home. Because those exhaust gases contain potentially deadly substances such as carbon monoxide, this is a highly serious situation.
A restricted flue may be caused by a number of different things. The problem is relatively common when a new and more powerful furnace is installed using a pre-existing flue. Should this old flue be too narrow, it will result in a restricted flue. Likewise, if the flue system contains too many twists and turns, it can be difficult to sustain the necessary pressure differential. Finally, obstructions and build-up inside of the flue can act to cause a restriction.
If you have any questions, or need furnace repair in Nottingham MD, don't hesitate to contact a professional.
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