CONTACT US
MY ACCOUNT

Important Winter Safety Reminder: Keep Your Vent Pipe Clear

thumb image

Your home heating system works hard to keep your family safe from the elements through the long, cold Connecticut winter. But those elements can still cause some problems in your toasty CT home if you’re not vigilant about clearing your property after a snowstorm.

That’s because your heating system’s vent and air intake pipes can become blocked by snow, a problem that can create safety risks for your family. To understand why, let’s look at a few heating system basics.

How heating system vent pipes become unsafe

The bottom line: Keeping your air vents clear is critical to your family’s safety. The question is, how do you do it?

Three steps to clearing your intake and exhaust vents

  1. Find them – To find your vents, go to your furnace. If your system vents through the chimney, you will see an aluminum pipe coming off the back of your equipment; if your system vents through an exterior wall, you will see two 3-inch diameter PVC pipes (intake and exhaust) coming off the top. Simply follow those pipes to see where they leave the building.
  2. Mark them – Once you have found your vents it is a good idea to mark their location so they can easily be found under heavy snow.
  3. Clear them – Shovel around your vents, but use a broom to clear the vent itself to prevent damage to your equipment.

Stay safe this heating season – contact Hocon any time if you have any questions or concerns about heating system safety, or if you need a heating oil delivery or propane delivery in Connecticut.

review buzz