(Newswire.net — October 24, 2013) Vancouver, BC — That first furnace start-up in autumn puts stress on your furnace, and that can cause problems. The stove putty that seals gas pipe connections in the furnace dries and cracks with time, and the first heat-up of the manifold can cause a crack, particularly in older furnaces. It is always advisable to have your furnace professionally serviced at least once a year, and scheduling in advance is a good idea to avoid the autumn rush that keeps furnace service technicians so busy at this time of year. We here in the Lower Mainland of beautiful British Columbia don’t experience the cold of a real winter too often, but we need our furnaces to be reliable and safe as we heat our homes for half the year.
Know The Danger Signs
The vast majority of furnaces in North America use natural gas to provide heat. Natural gas is odourless, but a substance called mercaptan, which smells like rotten cabbage or eggs, is added to it so that a leak can be detected by smell. If you detect such an odour in your home (and it’s not due to something you’re cooking!), you may have a gas leak. Immediately open windows and turn off your furnace.
Professional Furnace Services
You need to call a professional, such as K.C.’s Plumbing and Heating in Vancouver, and have them come to your home to locate and repair the leak. Heating system technicians can detect a leak of natural gas coming into your furnace, or leaking of the carbon monoxide produced as the gas burns. Either kind of leak can be deadly, either from fume toxicity or the likelihood of an explosion and fire.
You can also call your gas supply company should you suspect a gas leak. They will send a technician to your home to confirm and locate a leak, but most often you will need the services of a heating company to affect repairs. Whichever route you choose to take, call a professional right away if you think you smell gas in your home.