4 Signs of a Bad Furnace B-Vent in Kure Beach, NC

Your gas furnace’s B-vent is the part of your HVAC system that connects the outside world with the inside by collecting exhaust fumes from your furnace and sending them outside to dissipate safely. Read on for four signs that your furnace’s B-vent needs maintenance in Kure Beach, NC.

1. Your Home Has Unpleasant Odors

When something blocks or otherwise compromises your furnace’s B-vent, heat and water vapor can escape into the attic instead of flowing outdoors, resulting in an unpleasant odor throughout the house. If there’s a strange smell in your home and you’ve searched thoroughly for the cause only to find nothing, it might be your furnace. When that’s the case, the best course of action is to call in a professional for diagnosis and repair.

2. Backdraft

A backdraft occurs when exhaust gases begin to enter the home through a compromised section of the furnace vent. Backdraft could be due to a break in the ductwork or insulation, but it can also occur if something is wrong with the connection between your vents and flues or if something is restricting airflow from reaching outside.

3. Water Vapor

Expelling moisture in the air through combustion prevents moisture from accumulating inside your home. While some level of humidity is natural (and even beneficial!), too much water vapor can cause serious damage to walls and insulation over time, especially if there are no ventilation or window screens in your attic.

4. Your Furnace Starts and Stops

Airflow is crucial for gas furnaces to work properly. If your B-vent has issues, that can restrict your furnace’s airflow; this doesn’t just affect your pilot light but your furnace as a whole! When there’s not enough airflow in the exhaust, your furnace’s flame can actually divert itself back into the furnace proper, where safety mechanisms will force the furnace to shut off repeatedly.

If you’ve noticed any of the problems above, or even if you just need a furnace tune-up, call us at Airmax Heating & Cooling. We’ll be more than happy to help!

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