New and old furnaces can potentially impact your health if not well-maintained. However, due to their age, old furnaces are more likely to develop mechanical and maintenance issues that can cause adverse effects on your health. Here’s how an old furnace system may affect your health:
1. An Old Furnace System May Cause Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Having an old and unmaintained furnace may also cause you and your family some carbon monoxide poisoning. The heat exchanger in your furnace emits poisonous gases from combustion. Typically, the toxic gases are released from the furnace system and away from your building.
However, as the temperature in the furnace changes with each cycle, the heat exchanger undergoes expansions and contractions. Over time, the expansions and contractions may cause cracks on the heat exchanger leading to the emission of poisonous gases into the building instead of outside.
Since carbon dioxide is odorless and colorless, the leakage may go unnoticed for a while, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning may be detected by symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, headache, loss of consciousness, and, in worst cases, fatality.
It may be wise to engage experts in furnace repair and maintenance services to safeguard you and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning. Experts such as FurnacePrices.ca will help you check for damages in your furnace system and advise on the necessary steps.
Furthermore, regular checkups by certified company technicians help maintain the furnaces in good condition. These experts will also assist in installing a carbon monoxide detector in your home so that you can easily monitor the gas levels within your living and sleeping areas. It is important to note that modern furnaces are susceptible to carbon monoxide leakage and poisoning.
2. An Old Furnace System May Trigger Allergic Reactions
Old furnaces, especially those that are not maintained properly, are likely to cause you some allergic reactions. Studies surrounding the causes of allergic reactions reveal that individuals living in spaces with new and well-maintained furnaces are less likely to develop allergic reactions. These allergic reactions arise from air pollutants such as dust and pollen, which are often proliferated by old and unmaintained furnaces.
In most cases, when the filter in your furnace system fails to trap air pollutants effectively due to old age, the pollutants end up circulating within the air you breathe. Hence, breathing the contaminated air may trigger allergic reactions and result in symptoms like having a running nose, coughing, and sneezing.
3. An Old Furnace System May Cause Respiratory Diseases
If you and your family regularly get respiratory-related infections such as coughing, nasal congestion, headaches, and sore throats, it may be a sign to replace your old furnace. If the air filters within your furnace remain clogged for an extended period, airborne toxins, bacteria, and viruses may be released into the air.
If left unchecked over a long period, the toxins may lead to serious respiratory issues such as pneumonia, sinusitis, and bronchitis. In some instances, the contamination may lead to lung diseases.
4. Old Furnaces May Cause Dry And Itchy Skin
Just like the clogged air filters from your old furnace may release toxins into the air, mold and mildew may also circulate through the air, leading to skin issues. Generally, air pollutants affect the skin by inducing oxidative stress that damages skin cells. As a result, the skin becomes prone to allergic rashes, dryness, itchiness, blotchy skin, and increased sensitivity. Other severe conditions resulting from air pollutants include childhood eczemas and chronic inflammation, which causes redness of the face.
5. Old Furnaces May Make You Feel Tired And Unwell
Clogged air ducts and filters in old furnaces may indirectly make you feel tired and unwell, especially when you are at home. If your furnace is unmonitored, you may develop a “sick building syndrome” (SBS) that makes you feel unwell only when you are at home. Generally, a “sick building syndrome” refers to a situation where the occupants of a building develop acute health-related or comfort-related issues by being within a space. The syndrome may result from a buildup of microorganisms from your old furnace.
Generally, old furnaces may directly or indirectly affect your health and your family member’s health. Due to this reason, it is always essential to maintain your furnace and replace old ones with new ones whenever necessary. It would be best if you considered engaging certified furnace experts to help maintain your furnace in good condition.