13/02/2026
🚨 CAUTION: The “Great Thaw” Service Alert 🚨
As temperatures rise this week, the heavy snow on your roof is going to slide. This “roof avalanche” can cause three specific (and expensive) problems for your heating system.
1️⃣ High-Efficiency PVC Vents (Furnaces & Water Heaters)
Those white plastic pipes on the side of your house are your system’s “lungs.”
⚠️The Risk: Sliding snow can bury these vents or, worse, the weight of the snow can shear the pipes right off the wall.
🛠️The Fix: Ensure there is at least a 12-inch clearance around your intake and exhaust pipes. If your furnace suddenly stops or throws a “Pressure Switch” error code, check for snow blockage first!
2️⃣ Heat Pump Fans (Outdoor Units)
If you have a heat pump, the outdoor fan is vulnerable during a thaw-and-freeze cycle.
⚠️The Risk: Snow falling from the eaves can pack into the top and sides of the unit. When that snow melts and refreezes at night, it can turn into a solid block of ice that shatters your fan blades the moment the unit kicks on.
🛠️The Fix: If your unit is under an eave, gently clear the top/side screen of any heavy snow or ice chunks before the next cold snap.
3️⃣ Gas Meter Venting
This is the one everyone forgets, but it’s a major safety hazard.
⚠️ The Risk: Your gas meter has a small “regulator vent.” If snow slides off the roof and buries the meter, that vent can clog. This can cause erratic gas pressure or even a gas leak inside the home.
🛠️The Fix: Clear the snow away from your gas meter using a broom or your hands—never a metal shovel or snowblower, which can strike the high-pressure lines.
‼️SAFETY NOTE: If you see your PVC vents are cracked or hanging loose after a roof slide, shut off your furnace immediately and call us 705-704-HVAC
Running a system with a broken exhaust pipe can vent Carbon Monoxide directly into your crawlspace or basement.