Soot is coming out of my furnace duct system.  I can see streamers of soot coming from the registers and running upwards on the walls. Is something wrong with my furnace? 

For an answer to this problem, we turned to Bill Drake, at Lennox Furnace's Product Support Department.  He was quite familiar with these symptoms; in fact, had heard them hundreds of times before.

"What do we see during the holiday season?" rants Drake. "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, decorations throughout the house to make the season bright . . . and CANDLES." Candles are a sore point with Bill, because, they keep his Product Support department very busy after each holiday season. Reports of soot deposits come blowing in the doors of furnace manufacturers every year;  immediately following every holiday season. People point the finger of blame at the furnaces, but, in almost every case, it is a totally unwarranted accusation.  And where does the blame truly lie? 

Mr. Drake explains:  "When candles are burned (especially during the holidays, and especially the scented ones in glass containers),"  ((there he goes again!))   "microscopic soot particles are propelled into the air.  This air is pulled back into the furnace return air.  Most furnace filters are not capable of stopping such small particles; and so the particles go right back into the living space."

If your furnace has been maintained on an annual basis, there is little need to worry that the soot is being generated within your furnace. Our 26-point maintenance check can detect unwanted furnace emissions long before you can smell or see them.

"But, the soot seems to come out of the registers, so it's got to be from the furnace. Right?"  Not exactly. The reason that soot is coming out of the registers is this: What goes INTO a furnace is going to come right back out, only warmer. Your home's air, especially in today's energy-efficient homes, will pass through your home's furnace many times each day, typically at a rate of 1000 cubic feet per minute.  The furnace only processes the air of a home, it doesn't directly introduce air into a home's ventilation system. The soot comes out because the soot went in. 

Of course, if you haven't had your furnace maintained within the past year, or if the soot is accompanied by a burning smell, then, by all means call a professional! Call Air Comfort Systems Service Department!  Dial 414/778-4190, 24 hours a day. 

So, if you want to have your candles in your home, and heat it too, you've got to anticipate that soot problem.  But-- think about it! -- that priceless warm holiday glow, those magical candle-lit scented nights of winter, aren't those warm moments worth a little sacrifice?  Besides, a spring wall-painting project is just what you need to get you going after a long sedate winter.

To arrange a FREE in-home estimate for new equipment, or for further information about us or any of the many home comfort services we offer, please leave us an e-mail message, leave your mailing address and/or phone number, and our representative will be calling you within the next business day.