Look out for certain symptoms that point to a cracked heat exchanger, such as: A Change In The Appearance Of The Flame. Just because you may find a CO leak, doesn't mean it's coming from your furnace- it could be from your water heater or stove! Proper care and regular tune-ups will ensure that your heating system can provide you with adequate heat for a very long time. The ignition flame should normally be a steady blue flame, which indicates proper furnace performance. It is a process that begins when combustible gas increases the temperature in the heat exchanger. Rest assured, we have the best NATE-certified technicians who can conduct superior HVAC maintenance, repairs, installations, and replacements. Either way, you don't want to do the inspection or the work yourself. The primary heat exchanger is the area that has the hottest flue gas and it is located near the burner. How to tell if the furnace heat exchanger is cracked? First, What Is a Heat Exchanger? It will expose you to toxic gases like carbon monoxide. Their information is not based on fact.
Elderly individuals, small children, and pets are especially vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning. Does the flame move as though air is passing over it? If you continue operating the furnace despite showing the cracked heat exchanger symptoms, you'll be exposing yourself to more harm. In this article, we share some useful information about the basics of heat More. You'll need to purchase a replacement for your cracked heat exchanger as you cannot repair it. If combustion gasses could move through a crack in a heat exchanger to the indoor air stream, it would defy the laws of physics. They can tell you what solutions are available and what preventative steps can be taken. Thankfully, this is all preventable with regular maintenance. As dirt and deposit accumulate, the air filter, blowers, and coils become clogged. Our professionally certified and trained technicians offer high-quality services, such as AC maintenance, furnace repairs, boiler installations, ductless systems, and more. Maybe I need to get out more. The heat exchanger is designed to be heated by the burner flames while the furnace blower moves room air across the outside of it.
Some mechanics simply watch the burner flames as the blower starts. Cracked heat exchangers don't cause CO. According to HVAC experts, maintaining a furnace can help prevent problems that include a cracked heat exchanger. Rust tends to eat away any metal and could cause a crack on the heat exchanger. Reasons Heat Exchangers Crack. This kind of "heat exchanger breach" slips past almost everyone. If you want to give your service technician a bad day, ask him how the carbon monoxide is supposed to get through the hole or crack in the heat exchanger if the blower is pushing air around and over the heat exchanger and that's what he's using to check its integrity. Also, dust, as dirt and other pollutants buildup within the system, the filters can become clogged. What are my options? Household Members Experiencing Flu-Like Symptoms. As a result, air cannot pass through to be heated. If they see a change in flame pattern, color or sound, they know there's a problem with the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is responsible for transferring the heat between fluids to heat or cool your home. The short answer to this question is, "yes!
Do You Really Have a Cracked Heat Exchanger? But when the airflow is blocked, the internal temperature will increase and will most likely cause the heat exchanger to crack. And what did it mean if the camera revealed a crack? That could mean that your heat exchanger has also begun to crack. Depending on the furnace design, it might only be possible to examine 10% of the entire heat exchanger. Accumulation of Dust.
A cracked heat exchanger is a problem because, as we alluded to above, it allows exhaust fumes to leak into your indoor air. Your Furnace Is Not Sized Properly. In the worst-case scenario, your cracked heat exchanger could be leaking carbon monoxide, and your detectors fail to detect it. Some of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, and loss of consciousness.
Publication date: 11/26/2001. Carbon Monoxide Detector Goes OFF. Cracks occur as the metal wears due to constant expansion and corrosion. When a secondary heat exchanger develops a leak or crack, carbon monoxide is a possibility. This is a requirement, is part of the Fuel Gas Codes and is ultimately not negotiable. However, it also poses a serious threat to you and your family's safety as well. The average lifespan of a furnace's heat exchanger is 15 years.
A dirty filter doesn't allow as much air through it, and that means your unit won't get the air it needs to help remove heat from the exchanger. Code doesn't provide protection for every situation. My furnace has flame injectors. In some older homes, we see water heaters and furnaces that vent into a chimney. They refer to it as total system resistance. The good news is that it is preventable. A typical furnace flame should be blue. The scariest possibility is that your heat exchanger is cracked, leaks carbon monoxide, and your detectors don't catch it.