02/11/2026
Where are your furnace pipes? Are they covered in snow
Before making a panic phone call for furnace repair in the middle of the night, go outside and check that the air intakes and outlets for your furnace are clear of snow. The same problem can occur with gas water heaters.
In most instances the solution is simple, clear the snow from around the intake. Better still, erect a shelter or wind break that will keep the area clear of snow, but allows air flow.
Finding your furnace intake and exhaust vents.
Stand by the furnace and look for a black or white pipe (not the metal ducts going to household heat vents) going from the furnace through an outside wall.
Make a note of where it goes through the wall and then go outside to where you think they will be.
In most homes, they will stick out several inches from the basement wall or the side of the home. Some pipes even extend up the side of the home; these will often have a curve near the end, unlike a dryer exhaust which is often flush with the wall.
