Not Changing Your Furnace Filter Can Be Dangerous - Don't Become A Statistic

We have all heard the horrifying story about the family that just barely escaped with their lives, or even worse the family that died in their sleep, there lives ended by a silent killer. The silent killer is CO (Carbon Monoxide). If you don't change or maintain your furnace filter as recommended by the manufacturer you could be putting your family in danger. Your furnace filter is designed to remove dust from air as it passes through your furnace. The longer your furnace filter is installed the dirtier it becomes. This increased loading of the filter with dust causes a resistance to air flow through the filter and reduces air flow.

Gas and oil furnaces, like all heating and air conditioning equipment, are designed to have a certain amount of air flow at all times to operate properly and at highest efficiency. This air flow is measured in CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute). These appliances have a heat exchanger which has the heat source, flame, inside and the air passes over the heat exchanger on the outside. As the air passes over the heat exchanger it picks up the heat from the flame inside.

To get maximum efficiency from these systems the walls of the heat exchanger are made as thin as possible but not so thin that they cannot withstand the heat that they are subjected to during normal operation. This brings us back to the fact that these appliances are designed with minimum air flow requirements.

A furnace filter that remains in the system so long that it begins to negatively impact air flow can be dangerous. As the amount of air flowing over the heat exchanger declines, the operating temperature of the heat exchanger increases. This is when heat exchanger can crack because they are operating above design conditions. The hotter the heat exchanger gets the more it expands when heating and contracts as it cools during the off cycle. This expanding and contracting can become excessive and cause the metal of the heat exchanger warp or crack. A cracked heat exchanger can cause combustion gases to mix with the air in your home.

The good news is that properly designed furnaces have high limit switches that prevent excessive heating of the heat exchanger. These limit switches monitor the temperature at or near the heat exchanger and if the temperature reaches a predetermined set point, the unit will be shut off either until manually reset or until the limit switch senses that the temperature is within safe limits and resets automatically.

A furnace can operate a long time on an auto reset limit switch without anybody even knowing. This means that the furnace is operating at the limits of its design capabilities. Today most limit switches are the manual reset type, designed this way so that the furnace will not operate until it is serviced and the problem corrected.

Don't rely on these safety switches to protect you from disaster. These are mechanical devices which can and do fail to operate properly at times. So reduce your risk by maintaining your furnace filter properly. This means cleaning or changing your furnace filter regularly. It is always best to follow manufacturers guidelines.

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How You Can Benefit from an Outdoor Wood Furnace

In today’s society, many prices are on the rise. Unfortunately, the income of most individuals remains the same. Many individuals and families are finding it difficult to afford a number of necessary things, such as heat and hot water. If you are one of those individuals, or even if you would just like to save money, you may be able to benefit from the use of an outdoor wood furnace.

Many individuals have heard of an outdoor wood furnace before. Outdoor wood furnaces have been used for years now, but until the recent increase in energy costs, many individuals were unfamiliar with what they are. In recent years, the sales of outdoor wood furnaces have increased. There is a good reason for that increase, cheaper heating costs.

Cheaper heating costs are just one of the many ways that you can benefit from the use of an outdoor wood furnace, but, perhaps, it is the most important. When financial trouble arises, many individuals try to cut out unnecessary expenses. These expenses are likely to include meals away from home, movies, and additional entertainment. Unfortunately, home heating and hot water is not something that can be eliminated. For many individuals, an outdoor wood furnace is just a way to save money, but for others it is a way to survive.

A large number of homeowners need to heat more than their home. If you have a garage, barn, or shed, those facilities can also be heated with an outdoor wood furnace. This means that you do not have to spend your days in your garage, shed, or barn without heat. This is something that many individuals which to achieve, but many are worried about the cost of doing so. Depending on the size of those buildings and the outdoor wood furnace you select, you may be able to heat a number of facilities with just one unit.

By using an outdoor wood furnace to heat your home, you are also investing in a heating method that is relatively safe. It is important to note that all heating methods have some risks. Little incidents have been reported with outdoor wood furnaces. You will also find that many manufactures and dealers recommend that you place your furnace a safe distance away from your home. This distance will significantly reduce the danger of using an outdoor wood furnace.

In addition to being safe, in a general capacity, you will find that many outdoor wood furnaces are safe for those with young children. The main structure of an outdoor wood furnace should be placed off the ground. The controls are often placed in a secure location, out of the reach from many children. This means that if you are a parent, you can rest assure knowing that your wood burning furnace should not pose any risks to your children.

The above mentioned examples are just a few of the many ways that you may be able to benefit from the use of an outdoor wood furnace. For additional benefits, you are encouraged to take a closer look at outdoor wood burning furnaces. You can easily do so by speaking to a product manufacture or dealer, such as Hawken Energy.

Brad King is a writer for Hawken Energy where you can find a great deal on a outdoor wood furnace