As we edge closer to heating season here in Bolingbrook, you may have taken a closer look at your heating system. If you have a furnace and have noticed a considerable amount of rust on it, it’s good to take note of this. Rust on a furnace is never normal, and once corrosion takes hold of the metal on your system, it is very hard to contain it. The heating experts at DuAll Heating and Cooling can help assess whether or not the rust on your furnace is a spot that can be repaired, or if the rust is an indication of a bigger problem.
How Does It Get There?
Rust can develop for a few reasons:
- Leaky air conditioner – many homeowners have an indoor unit for their HVAC system in which the air handler and evaporator coils sit on top of the furnace and its components. Sometimes water can leak from the coils, landing right on top of the furnace.
- Trapped moisture from your ductwork – it isn’t unusual for moisture to get trapped in your ductwork, particularly if your ductwork is faulty. If the moisture is close enough to your furnace, it can run down the duct toward the furnace and leak, creating rust.
- Improper ventilation at the flue – when your furnace is on, it generates a great deal of heat. The generation of heat creates combustion byproducts that are toxic, so they are vented directly to the outside via the flue. As some of the combustion gases cool, they turn from gas into water. If your flue isn’t properly installed, the gases and condensate may not vent properly, and the condensate will leak on the metal of the flue.
The bottom line is that your furnace doesn’t use water for any reason. As such, seeing rust means there’s an issue somewhere, and it’s best to have it taken care of right away.
