If you haven’t used your furnace in quite some time, it may be possible your furnace might be a little rusty and may not run the same way it did last year. When something has been sitting dormant for a while, certain features tend to tense up and break more easily. Do you remember the last time you cleaned your furnace?

Cleaning your furnace or having a technician come out to perform maintenance on your furnace can serve you many benefits this fall and winter. If you are not cleaning your furnace often, there is more room for dust and other hazardous particles to build up, making you and your family feel sick.

Nausea, dizziness, coughs, irritated eyes — these are all common symptoms that can arise when your furnace isn’t working correctly. Here’s what every homeowner should know.

Reasons Your Old Furnace Could Be Making You Sick
You may be wondering how your furnace could possibly be the reason you feel sick. After all, what does a furnace have to do with developing a cold? Your furnace could be the underlying cause of why you are suddenly feeling under the weather. Here are some reasons why your furnace could be making you feel icky.

Dust and Pollen Buildup
When you leave your furnace off for a while and are not actively using it in the summer, dust, pollen, and other allergens can begin to build up. When dust and pollen are collected over a period of time and you turn on your furnace, you run the risk of developing sick symptoms such as:

Breathing problems
• Itchy eyes
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Low Humidity

How To Prevent Getting Sick from Your Old Furnace
If you are looking for ways to prevent getting sick from your furnace, try a couple of these easy solutions.

Invest in a Humidifier
Investing in a humidifier is a great solution to alleviate dry, itchy eyes and a sore, scratchy throat. When there is no moisture in the air, it causes the air to be drier. Humidifiers work to keep moisture in the air, so you can breathe better, have clear sinuses, and feel less stuffy or runny.

Clean Your Furnace Every Year
To avoid feeling under the weather, it is extremely important that you take care of your furnace and make sure everything is functioning properly. If you neglect cleaning your furnace over a period of time, you are allowing more dust and allergens to build up, which is causing you to feel the way you do. If you notice any dust around your furnace, be sure to clean it so you can avoid these symptoms.

Schedule a Technician for Maintenance
If you do not feel comfortable performing maintenance on your furnace, or you’re just not sure what you should be looking out for, do not stress. A licensed and certified technician will be able to come directly to your house to take a look at what needs fixing and improvements. They may even suggest getting a furnace replacement if you’ve had your furnace for over 15 to 20 years. They may ask you how often you clean it. They will tell you that you should be cleaning your furnace regularly or yearly, depending on how much you use it.

Open Your Windows
Opening your windows when you are feeling sick because of your finance allows you to breathe in fresher air. This may improve your symptoms if you are feeling a bit under the weather and are looking for quick and fast relief. Another reason to open your windows and let in the fresh air if you’re feeling sick is that there may be a carbon monoxide leak inside your home. If you are feeling uneasy in this situation, please contact a technician immediately and evacuate your home. This could be very dangerous.

can an old furnace make you sick?