When you live in an area like Steger, Illinois and Crown Point, Indiana the potential wintery weather that can affect the power grid isn’t a big surprise. From December through early March, our area is prone to low temperatures, ice, snow and wind. Ice or snow may cause power lines to sag and break. Add high winds into the mix, and it’s likely that tree limbs or entire trees will fall, landing on power lines. Power outages are more than a safety issue; they’re also inconvenient. Food can spoil in refrigerators and freezers, and electronics and other electrical things we depend on can’t be used. One major and necessary appliance that can be affected by a power outage is your furnace. The worst thing for your furnace, electronics, and other appliances, though, is when the power suddenly comes back on. A sudden power surge will most likely have you on the phone with Merts Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule a furnace repair.
ACTING QUICKLY WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT MAY HELP LATER
When unforeseen events cause a power outage, one of the first things you should do is turn off televisions and other electronic devices. Better yet, unplug them if you can. For larger appliances such as your refrigerator, furnace and other large appliances that aren’t easily unplugged, it’s helpful if you turn off the breaker. Taking these extra moments to cut off the power supply will help avoid bigger issues when the power is restored.
WHAT HAPPENS I DON’T DO THESE THINGS?
Certainly, when you lose power, you may choose to sit, wait and do nothing until the electricity comes back on. However, you may suffer expensive consequences by doing so. When power is restored it surges through the lines to the devices and appliances it runs. Furnaces have capacitors to maintain needed electric energy at the specific level for the unit. When the power surges, capacitors often receive more energy than they can handle, causing them to burn up.
Another consequence of the power surge is the heat generated by the sudden and intense increase in electricity. Components within the furnace are designed to withstand maximum levels of heat. When temperatures inside the units get too high, items such as circuit boards can short out.
WHO CAN HELP IF MY FURNACE NEEDS REPAIRED?
Regardless of the specific damage, there’s a good chance a sudden winter power outage may cause some part of your furnace to malfunction.
When you need a furnace repair or furnace maintenance in the Steger, Illinois or Crown Point, Indiana areas, Merts Heating & Air Conditioning has you covered. We have staff on call 24/7 to help you with any heating emergency.