Texas is well-known for its blazing summers with temperatures as high as 96°F. However, due to its geographic location near the Gulf of Mexico,

temperatures can drop as low as 20°F, forcing residents to equip their homes with a central heating system, such as furnaces, heaters, and boilers, to get through the winter season from late November to March. The only problem is that these systems go into hibernation mode during summers and can create a fire hazard if you don’t take storage precautions. 

In this post, we’ll share five furnace storage tips to avoid fire damage during summers, along with the financial and mental repercussions that accompany it.

The Dangers of a Furnace

At its core, a furnace is a giant box of fire. It offers an efficient form of residential hearing with its heavily concentrated combustion in an enclosed structure. Modern furnaces operate on gas, oil, or electricity. 

Although they’re much safer than their older counterparts, they still present a great danger to homes, even during summers when they’re either not in use or combined with water heaters or boilers for hot water.

Here are some of the most immediate dangers surrounding furnaces:

• Gas Leaks

Leakage is often the most pressing concern gas furnace owners face. Many residents switch off their furnaces during summers and forget about them until next winter. During this period, a lot can happen that could damage the furnace itself or the gas supply. This can make homeowners sick as well as cause a residential fire that could injure them, or worse. 

• Short-Circuiting

Similarly, electric furnaces are highly susceptible to electric fires if stored improperly. Whether you store your system in the attic or basement, issues, such as moisture, dust, dirt, grease, etc., can corrode electrical contacts and fray wires, resulting in a fire. 

• Blocked Filters

Many residents use their basements and attics for storage. Books, wood, old clothes, furniture, paint, and chemicals are all flammable materials. Many residents leave their furnaces on pilot mode during summers to keep them operational. 

Over time, the furnace’s air filter gets blocked, and the increase in gas or oil pressure can result in cracks, forcing some of the flames to escape and ignite any material nearby. 

Furnace Storage Tips for Summer

• Change the Filters

If you don’t plan on turning your furnace off for the summer, change its filters regularly. Clean filters will ensure your heating system operates safely on pilot mode and improve its life span. Doing this will also ensure optimal performance during the upcoming winter season. 

• Isolate the Furnace

if you plan to keep your furnace off until the next winter, you need to maintain a perimeter around it and ensure it’s isolated. This includes furniture, equipment, and anything that could cause physical damage through contact. 

However, just because you’re isolating the furnace doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ventilate the area. Proper ventilation is crucial in storage areas as it helps keep dust, debris, and pests away – all contributors to physical damage. 

• Proactive Maintenance

Many homeowners usually turn off their furnaces and store them right away for the summer. Depending on the condition and usage, this leaves them in a long-term state of “pending maintenance.” 

By hiring professionals to assess and repair any damages, you kill two birds with one stone. The professional intervention will ensure your system is turned off and stored safely. Secondly, when you need to turn it back on, it will already be in optimal condition. 

• Remove Flammable Items

Regardless of the furnace type, you need to remove any item or product that can catch fire, not just by your system but also by any other source. Moreover, if you have a multi-purpose furnace, you should organize the space around it to remove any fire hazards, such as papers, gas, kerosene, paint, etc. 

• Check the Belt

As mentioned above, cracks and wear are among the most prominent fire hazards. Therefore, as a homeowner, you should visually inspect your furnace when storing it, especially the belt. If it’s loose or worn out, have it changed immediately by calling a home restoration service in San Antonio specializing in furnace maintenance. 

Renowned Fire Damage Restoration Services – 911 Restoration of San Antonio

At 911 Restoration of San Antonio, we aim to educate our readers and customers regarding the different ways they can incur property damage. Due to climate change, furnaces are becoming a staple in San Antonio and Texas homes. Therefore, learning furnace storage tips for summer can help prevent unnecessary fire damage and keep your loved ones protected at all times. 

Moreover, our team of IICRC-certified home restoration experts is equipped with the latest tools, equipment, and fire mitigation solutions to help assess, maintain, and repair your central heating system. We also ensure that the storage conditions are safe to minimize external threats. 

We’re open 24/7/365, so don’t hesitate to call us for more information regarding our fire damage repair services.