What Causes a Furnace to Rust?

by Kevin Smith Author

A furnace is your most reliable tool for staying warm in cool weather. However, a furnace does have its drawbacks. For one, a furnace is highly prone to rust. There are many reasons why a furnace may develop rust, but only one solution: hiring furnace repair in Villa Rica. If you spot rust in your furnace, contact a technician right away. Rust can quickly grow to take over and ruin the entire appliance, so you save money by hiring quick repairs.

Every homeowner that relies on a furnace to stay warm should know the causes of furnace rust. The causes may not be obvious, and may not involve direct water exposure at all. Here's what you need to know.

About Rust

Rust, an iron oxide, is the result of the oxidation process, or the chemical occurrence of metal, oxygen, and liquid or gas moisture comingling. When rust forms on the surface of a metal, it can eat away through it. Furnaces are very delicate machines that rely on precisely functioning metallic parts, so when rust forms, it can interfere with a furnace's performance.

The Risks

Rust isn't just dangerous to ingest. Rust in a furnace can result in an increased fire risk. It can also cause combustion gases like carbon monoxide and nitrous dioxide, all poisonous to the human body, to flow through your entire home. A rusty furnace won't just provide your home with heat, it will fill every room with poison.

Causes of Rust

A gas furnace unfortunately has a limited lifespan, mostly because its own processes contribute to its decline. The reason for this is that burning gas, the source of heat in your furnace, also produces water vapor, a byproduct of the heating process. Water vapor, which is moisture in gas form, is the only factor missing from the rust equation of metal, oxygen, and moisture. Oxygen is exposed to the metal parts in your furnace at all times, so once burning gas produces enough water vapor, all the components necessary for rust development are at play. Over time, you'll see rust develop and worsen, especially because rust attracts oxygen and moisture, a generative cycle that makes rust grow exponentially across metal surfaces.

Checking for Rust

Hire a heating technician to detect rust in your furnace. An annual visit is recommended. They'll check the bottom of the housing for rust flakes, as well as rust on vent grates where air frequently travels.

They may recommend that you dehumidify your home and take other steps to prevent water exposure. The sooner you hire furnace repair in Villa Rica, the greater your chances are of detecting rust and repairing your furnace before it's damaged beyond repair.