Rust on your furnace is akin to a jet engine on a car: it just shouldn’t be there. In fact, it’s not good to have rust on a boiler, and that’s a system that uses water to heat. Rust on your Atlanta furnace means that there is a moisture problem somewhere, and once rust starts, it’s very hard to stop it. If you see rust on your furnace, even a small spot, it’s time to call your technician from Cool Air Mechanical and schedule an appointment.
How It Starts
There are a few ways in which rust can start to develop on your furnace. The first way is from the improper ventilation of the water vapor created during combustion. The way it happens is this: the toxic byproducts created during the combustion process enter the inside of the heat exchanger from the bottom and make their way to the top of the exchanger where they exit via the flue. As the vapors travel, they cool, and condensation is created. If your furnace isn’t vented properly, this condensation can linger on the metal of your heat exchanger and flue, and rust develops.
A second way rust can develop is if you have a combination furnace and air conditioner HVAC. With these kinds of units, the air conditioner evaporator sits on top of the furnace; sometimes condensation that develops while the air conditioner cycles drips down and lands on the furnace components, and rust develops.
The last way rust can develop on your furnace is via faulty ductwork. Faulty ductwork can allows excess moisture to enter, and this excess water can run down the ductwork to your furnace. Improperly installed ductwork can also allow rain water in, which will also run down to your furnace.
Sometimes if the rust is located in a specific area and the amount of rust is small, there is a chance that particular spot can be remediated. Unfortunately, if you have excessive rust on your furnace, you may need to consider replacement. Get ahead of even the smallest amount of rust by scheduling a repair appointment for your furnace in Atlanta.
