A furnace is often a background player at home, ensuring you're warm across the cold winter months. It regularly doesn’t get noticed until something goes wrong.
One cause could be that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. It’s a potentially dangerous issue, so it’s worthwhile to learn the signs of a cracked heat exchanger and what to do if you believe that might be the problem.
What Is a Heat Exchanger in a Furnace?
A heat exchanger helps transition heat from the combustion chamber of your furnace to the air that flows inside the ventilation. It typically handles this using coils or tubes that heat the air while acting as a barrier to keep byproducts formed in the combustion chamber, called flue gasses, from leaking out into your home.
Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?
Thanks to its key role, it’s no surprise that a broken heat exchanger can be very dangerous. A crack in the heat exchanger can permit dangerous gasses – including carbon monoxide, which can be lethal – to flow through your home.
For that reason, never turn on your heater if you think you're dealing with a cracked heat exchanger, as letting it run could make the whole family ill. Call an HVAC professional immediately if you think your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger that needs repair.
Four Warning Signs of a Cracked Heat Exchanger:
- Furnace shuts off: A crack in your heat exchanger could cause your furnace to switch off.
- Odd Smells: If the air leaving your furnace has a strong chemical scent, it might be a sign gasses are slipping through cracks in your heat exchanger. These gasses, which may smell like formaldehyde, are a major warning sign.
- Carbon monoxide alarm goes off or you recognize poisoning symptoms: If a cracked heat exchanger is relieving carbon monoxide in your home, your carbon monoxide alarm could go off or household members may experience signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting or feeling drowsy. If the alarm goes off or you feel unusually tired, get out of the home right away and then call for help.
- Soot: If you find black sooty buildup around the exterior of your furnace, it’s another sign something could be seriously wrong.
What You Can Do if Your Furnace Heat Exchanger is Cracked
If you suspect your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, call a professional well versed in furnace installation Melbourne right away so they can examine your system and, if required, start a furnace heat exchanger replacement. Costs often vary depending on the situation, but estimates often hover around $1,000 to $3,000.
However, the good news is that heat exchangers are regularly covered by the warranty. It's a good idea to confirm the warranty paperwork on your furnace, since while the warranty won't always cover the entire cost of repairs, it could significantly shrink your bill.
How to Prevent a Cracked Heat Exchanger in Your Home
One of the easiest ways to avoid problems in your furnace overall is via regular furnace maintenance. Furnaces work the best when they operate efficiently. Hiring a skilled professional to examine your furnace for worn-out parts, clogged filters and other likely problems can help you avoid getting a big bill later on.
It’s also helpful to take a look at your furnace filters every few months – it’s encouraged some filters be changed every 90 days or sooner if they are dirty or grimy. While the filters aren't a part of the heat exchanger itself, the strain of pulling air through a clogged filter makes the entire furnace work more vigorously to do its job. And the harder your furnace needs to run, the more deterioration components like the heat exchanger will sustain.