Earthquake Preparation: Securing Your Furnace

The heating system of every home will be fundamental in surviving an earthquake if it happens in the winter. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your furnace is fully secured and maintained, in order to prevent a break down at a critical time. If your furnace breaks, there's no chance of heating in the aftermath of a natural disaster. 

Step 1: Turn the Furnace Off

Before starting any securing or maintenance work on a furnace, make sure it is turned off. This can be done by simply using the switch on the front of the furnace. The furnace is off when no electronic or digital instructions are displayed. This will stop any internal damage to the furnace while carrying out repairs. 

Breaker switches should also be turned off before any work commences. 

Step 2: Identify Problems

Inspect the furnace. Look for any obvious problems such as rust or general wear and tear. Any such areas will need to be replaced. Buy identical parts from a hardware store and repair or replace them at the first available opportunity. Do not under any circumstances tackle interior problems personally. Hire an engineer who can fix them and brace them for an earthquake efficiently. 

Step 3: Replace and Repair

In the event of an earthquake, a home will need the furnace to work properly, because it could be a length of time before an area recovers or the outside world is fully accessible. Open the access panel in the duct work and remove the filter. Either clean it with a rag or replace it with a brand new one. Change any rusted pipes by unscrewing pipe connectors. Use the hacksaw to cut identical pieces of pipe and fix them in place with two new connectors. This should ensure the pipe work of the furnace is more secure than it was before. 

Find out whether any existing hosing or piping can be replaced with a flexible alternative that can withstand movement in the event of an earthquake. 

Step 4: Strap Down

Although it is not necessary in all cases, take two or three large straps and place them around the furnace. Wrap them around and secure them tightly using wall and floor fixings for a safe and secure mount. Make sure the straps do not interfere with the control panel. It's important to make sure that the furnace is secured in place, because a violent earthquake can damage it or make it become loose. 

Step 5: Reset and Check

The final step is to reset the furnace and make sure any new additions made are working correctly. Smell any new pieces of pipe to make sure there are no gas leaks and listen carefully for any irregular noises from a new filter. Your furnace is now prepared for any problems an earthquake may bring.