Ash From California Wildfires Could Lead To Costly Furnace Repairs
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Those in the path of two deadly fires whose homes were spared could still face a costly repair bill if they don't take proper precautions.
Heating and air experts say $10 for a filter ahead of furnace maintenance can save thousands of dollars down the line.
Jaime Schultz, general manager of Park Mechanical Plumbing, Heating, and Air, says ash from recent fires may still live in your filters.
Officials with the California Air Resources Board say that ash in Calaveras and Lake counties also landed in parts of the Central Valley. Once you crank on that furnace, it could flow through your home.
"As things like this happen, the more particulate are in the air, the dirtier your air filters are going to get dirty," Schultz said.
If the filter remains dirty, the problem could become worse.
"Going into furnace season it can also cause it to overheat because there's not enough air going across the heat exchanger so it actually shuts it down," he said.
He says the $10 filter is much cheaper than replacing a neglected furnace at nearly 1,000 times that.
