The heat exchanger is what swaps out cool air for warm. Theres a lot of good info on there, but some of it is misleading and there are a lot of straw man arguments made. But if the furnace is shortcycling, the heat exchanger can stay damp, leading to rust. Dont underestimate the danger of a cracked heat exchanger. The reason a crack in a heat exchanger is such a cause for concernand reason to think about replacing a furnace is because it creates a major health hazard. The flame rollout and ghosting in the burner indicates a dangerous crack or hole in that chamber. Cracked heat exchanger deciding to repair or replace. The danger of cracked heat exchangers in gas furnaces. Combustion pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, can cause eye and nose irritation, disorientation, sleepiness and nausea. The american gas association has even put this in writing they say any visible crack or hole is reason. Corrosion because of reaction between the combustion gas and the metal often because of improper venting can also weaken the metal to the point where cracks form.
With a gas furnace, the main concern is the development of cracks in the heat exchanger. If the heat exchanger is compromised by a crack or rust, flue gases and carbon monoxide could leak into the home, resulting in illness and possibly death of the occupants. The heat of the combustion gas raises the temperature of the metal, and as the air from the blower passes around it, heat transfers to it. Although unimpressive looking to untrained eyes, heat exchangers perform a vital part of the cycle of bringing you warm air from your furnace. A well qualified hvac technician will look for a furnace cracked heat exchanger during a maintenance check. If the furnace needs heat exchanger crack repair, you will be able to see the problem. Your home heating system should function efficiently for many years if you take care of the furnace via regular maintenance visits from a professional. Needless to say, visual heat exchanger analysis provides woefully inadequate answers to these very important questions. A cracked heat exchanger is a furnace problem homeowners should fix right away, as neglecting it could cause major issues for your unit and could pose a safety hazard.
The cause of cracked heat exchangers avoid this common scam. The dangers of a cracked heat exchanger around the clock. Beware of an unethical technician who finds a crack with a camera on a furnace that seems to be running just fine. Its basically what allows a furnace to heat up the air that travels through the ventilation system. Not only is it something that most often happens to aging furnaces that are just about at the end of their lifespan anyway, a cracked heat exchanger is dangerous. Can you repair a cracked heat exchanger on a gas furnace. The danger of a cracked heat exchanger in a furnace bob.
The reality is that their furnace may be presenting a very real danger to their. This is something we want to clear up right away so you wont feel panic just because. The air passes over absorbing heat off the surface conditioning it to warm air. Younger furnaces may develop cracked heat exchangers when the air flow to the furnace is limited. The dangers of a cracked heat exchanger help heating. A dangerous cracked heat exchangers in a furnace can make you physically ill. Heres why your furnace heat exchanger cracked heating. Hvac businesses in minnesota lock out furnaces when cracked heat. Its only going to get worse, not betterthe only question is when. There are some gas furnaces with cracked heat exchangers that do not leak carbon monoxide into the home. A crack in your heat exchanger is no trivial matter.
There are two major dangers with having a broken heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is one of the essential parts of a gas furnace. A cracked heat exchanger is dangerous when youre dealing with a gaspowered furnace in your home, you have a powerful tool for staying comfortable in any weather. As mentioned at the very beginning of how a heat exchanger can be cracked because of improper airflow, the number one way to avoid this type of damage is by simply changing out your air filter on a regular schedule. Dangerous cracked heat exchangers in furnaces carbon monoxide detectors and cracked heat exchangers. Because it allows the exhaust fumes inside the exchanger to leak into the air. When it fails, it doesnt just leave you without heat. Always have co detectors in your home if you use natural gas. Any verifiable crack requires replacement of the heat exchanger or furnace. Jan 21, 2020 heat exchangers in a furnace are under constant pressure throughout years of use. You know its serious and you know you need to do something about it.
A furnace with a cracked heat exchanger will definitely produce carbon monoxide and poses an immediate danger. Every time that your heat exchanger heats up, the metal is going to expand. In fact, you could pour water into a cooled, cracked heat exchanger and probably not even see a drop of water come out of it. If your heat exchanger is cracked, it will not get better. Combustion gases leaking from a cracked heat exchanger can cause frequent headaches as well as flulike symptoms. A cracked heat exchanger is one of those furnace issues that should notwell, cannotbe ignored.
If you discover any cracks or holes, contact an hvac technician for heat exchanger replacement. That means heat cant get out from your furnace to warm your home, and the furnace will overwork itself as the temperature on the thermostat remains cold, stressing the metal in the heat exchanger and potentially causing cracks. A cracked exchanger calls for immediate heater repair in staten island, ny from our hvac technicians. Danger of a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger servicemax. It can create a very dangerous, even deadly situation. Cracks in the heat exchanger or fire box is no laughing matter.
The american gas association has even put this in writing they say any visible crack or hole is reason for requiring replacement of the heat exchanger or furnace. Aug 22, 2019 a cracked heat exchanger is the most common reason carbon monoxide or toxic gasses may escape into homes using a gas furnace. A damaged heat exchanger in a gas furnace is potentially dangerous to a homes occupants and should not be ignored. Jan 09, 2017 be good to your heat exchanger inside a heat exchanger is fire, soot, and carbon monoxideall substances that can escape if it cracks. If you do not receive routine maintenance checks on your furnace, your home could be at risk of cracks forming in the heat exchanger. Lastly, dangerous cracked heat exchangers in furnaces means to urge you get your furnace checked on an annual basis. A heat exchanger is made of thin metal, and as it heats up from the combustion of the furnace, it transfers the heat to the air being distributed through the house by the blower 3.
Performing seasonal maintenance on your heating system will identify such problems as a crack in the exchanger. A major safety concern in a gas furnace comes from a cracked heat exchanger. Perhaps the most worrying problem is a cracked heat exchanger, which were going to look at now. A cracked heat exchanger could allow exhaust gas from the furnacetocontaminate the household air with carbon monoxide. Should i replace my heat exchanger or buy a new furnace. Furnace with a cracked heat exchanger and flame rollout youtube. Its a metal container that traps the combustion gas from the burners. If it is a small hole or crack, then it is a minor issue that needs to be corrected generally by replacing the furnace or heat exchanger. If your furnace is older than 10 or 12 years, it is a good time for a replacement. A cracked heat exchanger allows air from the furnace blower to interfere with the flame causing it to flutter or even roll out. Many hvac contractors find cracked heat exchangers using visual analysis and use the results to recommend furnace replacement. Some holes or small openings may have been there for years. More commonly, the cause of a cracked heat exchanger is misapplication or poor maintenance of the furnace. A gas furnaces heat exchanger is the furnace component that actually heats the air.
Is the crack deep enough to leach carbon monoxide co. Stop running your furnace immediately if you have symptoms from leaking gases or suspect your heat exchanger might be cracked. As we alluded to above, a crack on a heat exchanger can be invisible to you. If youre the owner of a furnace, youll find it helpful to be able to answer the following five questions. This trips a safety switch and shuts down the furnace. Since cracked heat exchanger symptoms are common, and many homeowners will eventually have to have heat exchanger crack repair, this is a good topic on which to educate yourself. Although a gas furnace isnt a naturally dangerous appliance, any use of natural gas has the potential for toxic gas leaks and combustion dangers.
A furnace depends on the heat exchanger to contain these dangerous fumes and safety conduct them to the chimneyoutside while transferring the valuable heat into the home. But the decision to repair or replace a heating unit can be difficult. For reasons that we will detail below, a cracked heat exchanger is very dangerous, and it should never be ignored. Dangers of a cracked heat exchanger fahrhall home comfort. I show how a furnace reacts when there is a crack in the heat exchanger.
If someone informs you that your heat exchanger is cracked, call the tedder company, and one of our specially trained technicians will immediately assess your furnaces situation. Your blower motor aka your fan then blows air over this heat exchanger. In order for this to happen, the furnace must be producing high levels. If many of your registers are blocked, your furnace filter is overly clogged and dirty, or your ducts have become obstructed, too much pressure may build up inside the furnace, causing the heat exchanger to crack. Call ac masters and we will come and inspect your furnace and repair or replace the heat exchanger or furnace. A furnace s heat exchanger uses some type of fuelair mix to burn inside of it, creating heat and getting very hot. The dangers of cracked heat exchangers comfort first.
Dangers of a cracked heat exchanger shavitz heating and air. If a crack develops in your heat exchanger, a disproportionate amount of gas and air may mix and result in a furnace fire. Most ottawa hvac technicians will shut your furnace down, on the spot, with no negotiation whatsoever. Mar 17, 2017 the flame rollout caused by a crack in the heat exchanger. The danger of a cracked heat exchanger comfort flow heating. Even though your furnace may look and seem fine, dangerous gases. The heat exchanger is a metal container inside the furnace that collects hot combustion gas from the burners.
The function of a heat exchanger is in the name itself. Yes, a cracked heat exchanger in your furnace is dangerous. The combustion gas inside the exchanger is then safely vented away. Unfortunately, since carbon monoxide is also a natural byproduct of combustion, it has the potential to leak out of a cracked heat exchanger. When a gas furnace heat exchanger fails, not only is it dangerous and can result in carbon monoxide poisoning, the heat exchanger replacement cost is usually on the high side of typical furnace repair costs.
Whats a heat exchanger and why is it dangerous when cracked. You have a better change of getting out of a speeding ticket than trying to convince most ottawa hvac technicians to let you run your furnace with a cracked heat exchanger, even if the crack. These dangerous gasses can seriously affect those who are exposed to them. Signs and symptoms of a cracked gas furnace heat exchanger.
This is the component that allows heat to transfer to the air moving through your home, so shouldnt the furnace shut off if the heat exchanger is cracked. While it may happen all at once and possibly incapacitate you, chances are it can. The dangers of a cracked heat exchanger in a furnace red. Depending on the furnace design, it might only be possible to examine 10% of the entire heat exchanger. You can just have the heat exchanger replaced, but it is an expensive repair, and a new furnace is often the smarter investment. Any furnace from any brand made installed by any company will eventually develop a crack in the heat exchanger.
A wellmaintained gas furnace will give you very little to worry about, and no gas furnace is inherently dangerous, but proper care is vital. Dec 30, 2019 in most cases, the flue gases in your furnace will not contain carbon monoxideits not a typical byproduct of gas combustion in the furnace. A cracked heat exchanger also presents potential physical harm to your family. Furnace heatexchanger crack signs your furnace has one. Heat safety is paramount so have your furnaces inspected immediately for a cracked heat exchanger. Even if your furnace looks fine, a cracked heat exchanger could lead to dangerous gases being leaked into your home. Broken and leaking heat exchangers are responsible for about 1,500 deaths per year in the united states, and many more people are poisoned by exposure to toxic gasses that go unfiltered by defective heat exchangers. Extensive age in a furnace or lack of maintenance can cause cracks along the heat exchangers from rust and corrosion. Because the metal of the heat exchanger expands and then contracts as it heats and cools, the stress may eventually cause a crack to form on the. Its the most common cause of excess carbon monoxide in a home. The dangers of a cracked heat exchanger design comfort. Were you recently told that your furnace heat exchanger is cracked and needs to be replaced. The heat exchanger on a furnace is the section that keeps the combustion chamber and the breathing air separate 3. Jan 10, 2018 they can come inspect your furnace and determine if you do indeed have a cracked heat exchanger.
Because the metal of the heat exchanger expands and then contracts as it heats and cools, the stress may eventually cause a crack to form on the exchanger. If someone informs you that your heat exchanger is cracked, call the tedder company. In most cases, if the heat exchanger is cracked, your hvac company will recommend replacing the entire furnace. For carbon monoxide to leak from a cracked heat exchanger, two things need to be happening. Each heating season we hear horror stories of unsafe situations caused by failing furnaces and cracked heat exchangers. Broken heat exchanger pacific coast heating and air. In order for your furnace to transfer heat to the air, it requires a heat exchanger, which is a metal chamber that resembles a clam shell. Bobs answer to whether or not a cracked heat exchanger can be dangerous is unambiguous. Again, this can lead to a dangerous carbon monoxide leak if it isnt caught and corrected. However, you also have a volatile set up that could cause you serious problems if youre not careful. Dangers of a cracked heat exchanger shavitz heating and. Cracked heat exchanger deciding to repair or replace depending on the age of your furnace, a cracked heat exchange probably means you need a new system.
One of the most common reasons a gas furnace can be taken out of service, is when the repair technician finds to a cracked heat exchanger. A warning about cracked heat exchangers in gas furnace. A cracked heat exchanger in a furnace can be a potentially dangerous situation. The dangers associated with a cracked heat exchanger inside the cabinet of your gaspowered furnace is a group a metal, clamshellshaped objects called heat exchangers. A heat exchanger is a key component to heating the air. This way, combustion gasses heat the air without the gas ever coming into contact with it. The main reason for this is due to the fact that furnaces are located inside the living area of the particular home or business. Most newer models are equipped with special safety features that keep risks down. Its not unlike a doctor telling you about the c word. A heat exchanger is a key component to heating the air that is distributed throughout the home. A furnace depends on the heat exchanger to contain these dangerous fumes and safely conduct them to the chimney while transferring the. The reason a crack in a heat exchanger is such a cause for concernand reason to think about replacing a furnaceis because it creates a major health hazard. The first is the potential for the furnace to catch fire and potentially spread to other parts in the home. Mar 11, 20 as a homeowner, getting the news that your heat exchanger is cracked is a bit of a harsh blow.
When a furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, can it be. All too often, furnaces are grossly oversized or used incorrectly which causes the heat exchanger to fail prematurely. Dec 02, 2015 a cracked heat exchanger allows air from the furnace blower to interfere with the flame causing it to flutter or even roll out. The hot combustion gas within the exchanger heat up the metal walls, and the blower fan of the furnace comes on, and sends air around the exchanger. It is usually an indicator of more trouble in the future, and should not be taken lightly. When it comes to a damaged gas furnace, its important that. To avoid a cracked heat exchanger and other furnace problems, your home heating load needs to be calculated carefully. As it heats and cools, the heat exchanger s metal chamber expands and contracts. In a properly functioning gas furnace system, the flue transfers carbon monoxide and other gases produced by combustion safely out of the. However, if the heat exchanger develops cracks or holes, the exhaust gas will start to leak out into the furnace cabinet and the space around it. There is one gas furnace problem we want to draw your attention to, because its the most common reason for a furnace allowing toxic gasses into a home. The hot combustion gas within the heat exchanger heats up the metal walls, and the blower fan of the furnace comes on and sends air around the exchanger, where it picks up heat from the furnace wall, then continues into the ductwork. The flame rollout caused by a crack in the heat exchanger.
This is because of heat exchanger design and pressure. Perhaps the biggest risk with a furnace is a cracked heat exchanger. This makes the exterior of the heat exchanger hot, the furnace can then apply the heat from the combustion gas to the air, and this can be achieved without releasing that toxic gas into the surrounding atmosphere. And what did it mean if the camera revealed a crack. Even though your furnace may look and seem fine, dangerous gases could leak into your home and seriously affect, even kill, your family members. The heat exchanger is cracked or otherwise has an air leak. However, inside the furnace the heat exchanger expands as it absorbs heat, and. Because without proper care, an aging and illmaintained furnace may end up with a cracked heat exchanger. Gas furnaces are not automatically dangerous devices. Metal equipment is relied upon for its durability but it lacks the ability to contract and expand with heat when its subjected to extreme cold and heat. Avoid these 4 common furnace repair scams oconomowoc boiler. Unless youre familiar with hvac units, diagnosing a cracked heat exchanger is nearly impossible. Dangerous cracked heat exchanger in furnace youtube. As it heats and cools, the heat exchangers metal chamber expands and contracts.
Basically, the heat exchanger is where the furnace heats the air. Dont worry though, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid your heat exchanger failing before the lifespan of your furnace is up, including. Some people choose to live in denial of the seriousness of a cracked heat exchanger. Heat is picked up from the furnace wall, and then continues into the ducts. Weve met with lots of homeowners looking for a second opinion about a supposedly cracked heat exchanger. I open up the plenum and show the crack from the top. This is the air that the blowers send into the ducts to the rest of the house. The furnace heat exchanger is the one of the main components inside the gas furnace and its used to transfer the heat from the gas burner to the warm air thats blown into your home. A fan blows air across the heat exchanger, and the heated walls raise the temperature of the air. A crack can form after years of expanding and contracting, which could allow carbon monoxide and other harmful gasses to escape into your home. When a heat exchanger becomes damaged and the combustion fumes and gases mix with the clean air, serious consequences can result.
Dec 12, 2018 a cracked heat exchanger is a furnace problem homeowners should fix right away, as neglecting it could cause major issues for your unit and could pose a safety hazard. This process, ideally, uses combustion gas to heat the air without the gas ever coming into contact with that. Im not going to say that every cracked heat exchanger is a life or. A warning to you cracked heat exchangers dont get scammed. Thanks for watching guy browns youtube channel was. The dangers associated with a cracked heat exchanger.
1001 1443 1160 49 973 1399 596 763 445 170 1385 1040 388 1077 446 342 1153 537 1218 87 1042 1185 1117 116 319 849 114 403 922 1246 1181 736 223 934 117 534 423 150 475 720 50 1072 982 127