Do you like spending winters without a functional furnace? Read on to review some tips to protect your furnace from water damage. Why not start planning for the winter now by implementing safety and preventative features for when you need it most - during cold, wet New England winters? Melting water can make its way into your home from various openings. Regardless of the source, if water comes into contact with your gas-fired furnace, it will not only damage the internal valves and burners but also impair electronic boards controlling the system. In either case, a water-damaged furnace can put you and your family in serious trouble especially in freezing Boston Metrowest winters when you need it the most. Follow these tips to prevent furnace water damage: Plan to Manage Snow During snowfall, a large snowbank may accumulate around your home. As it melts, it often makes its way into your basement, seeping through its walls and damaging any belongings, including your furnace. During the spring and summer, level the ground around your house so that the melting snow water is directed away from your home. Hiring a professional landscape design company may save you money in the long run. Reputable landscapers like RiverFront Landscape understand the proper grading and drains that properly directs water away from the building. Use a Water Sensor Another incredible way to prevent furnace water damage is to install a water sensor around the unit. Water sensors feature a loud alarm that will go off as soon as they detect water intrusions. Some sensors come with a notification feature that will send you a notification right on your phone when it senses incoming water. Some sophisticated water sensors will even shut off the water supply to prevent flooding. However, this only happens when the water intrusion is caused by some failure in water supply. The image above shows how a typical water valve looks like. Protect Your Furnace Furnaces are often kept in buried areas of your home that you don’t find yourself visiting very often. If that area happens to be a dark, damp space such as your basement or crawl space, it remains more vulnerable to water damage than any other appliance.  The humidity and potential microbial growth will only contribute to a faulty furnace. Calling professional water damage and mold remediation companies like Service Team of Professionals (STOP) will help you find the source of the moisture and plan to help control the humidity and any growth.  STOP Metrowest provides free mold inspections. Prevent Freezing of Condensate Furnaces with over 90 AFUE ratings produce condensate water that’s supposed to be discharged outside the house via a drainpipe. During chilly conditions, the pipe can freeze, thereby obstructing the condensate flow. Clogged drainpipes result in condensate backing up into the furnace, damaging its parts and shutting down the unit. To prevent such a situation, keep an eye on the drainpipe to keep the condensate flowing. If the condensate freezes, call an expert contractor to resolve the issue. For personal safety and building safety, water damage restoration is best left to professionals like Service Team of Professionals (STOP). STOP Metrowest is an IICRC Certified Firm - safe, quality, and compassionate service is our priority! We provide 24/7 emergency water extraction and restoration of any water damage related issues in Framingham MA or other Metrowest MA communities like Sudbury MA, Holliston MA, and Westborough MA. Call STOP MetroWest at 508-753-3780. For more information, visit our webpage at STOP Metrowest.