Sheldon, Iowa — The snow has started to melt again, but there will be a next time. And one northwest Iowa HVAC expert says they took a number of calls of “no heat” due to exhaust vents being plugged or covered up with snow.
They’re outside in the cold, and we don’t tend to think about them very often, but they are the lifeblood of your heating system. Aaron Alons with SP Heating and Cooling says the intake and exhaust PVC pipes need to be free of snow so your furnace can “breathe.”
Alons says older furnaces with an actual chimney out of the roof work differently and take combustion air from the inside of the home, so the concern is only with the newer furnaces.
And while we’re talking about vents that need to stay clear of snow and other obstructions, clothes dryer vents are important to remember too. Alons says if your dryer isn’t venting it could cause more than just a damp house.
And there’s a third type of vent that could cause problems if it freezes up. Sewer vents normally are located on the roof, so snow usually isn’t a problem, but ice can be, says Alons.
If you have any questions or need any help, Alons says give him or another HVAC expert a call.
