A furnace is often a background player for your home, ensuring you're warm during the cold winter months. It frequently won't be noticed until a malfunction appears.
One cause might be that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. It can potentially be hazardous, so it’s critical to learn the symptoms of a cracked heat exchanger and what you can do if you are worried that may be the problem.
What Is a Heat Exchanger in a Furnace?
A heat exchanger transfers heat from the combustion chamber of your furnace to the air that flows through the ventilation. It generally accomplishes this using coils or tubes that warm the air while functioning as a barrier to keep gas created in the combustion chamber, called flue gasses, from leaking out into your home.
Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?
Thanks to its important role, it isn't surprising that a cracked heat exchanger can be very dangerous. A damaged heat exchanger can permit dangerous gasses – including carbon monoxide, which can be lethal – to circulate across your home.
For obvious reasons, never use your furnace if you suspect you're dealing with a cracked heat exchanger, as letting it run could make the whole household sick. Reach out to an HVAC professional right away if you think your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger that should be repaired.
Four Warning Signs of a Cracked Heat Exchanger:
- Furnace turns off: A crack in your heat exchanger can cause your furnace to shut off.
- Strange Smells: If the air escaping your furnace has a powerful chemical smell, it might be a sign gas is seeping through cracks in your heat exchanger. These gasses, which may smell like formaldehyde, are a common warning sign.
- Carbon monoxide alarm goes off or you feel health problems: If a cracked heat exchanger is relieving carbon monoxide in your home, your carbon monoxide alarm could go off or family members could start experiencing signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Side effects include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting or feeling drowsy. If the alarm goes off or you feel sick, exit the home right away and then call for help.
- Soot: If you see black sooty buildup around the exterior of your furnace, it’s more evidence something may be seriously wrong.
What You Can Do if Your Furnace Heat Exchanger is Cracked
If you believe your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, hire a pro experienced in furnace installation Plover right away so they can examine your system and, if required, perform a furnace heat exchanger replacement. Costs will differ depending on the situation, but estimates run in the neighborhood of $1,000 to $3,000.
Estimates aside, the good news is that heat exchangers are generally protected by the warranty. You’ll want to review the warranty paperwork on your furnace, since while the warranty won't always cover the entire cost of repairs, it could significantly reduce your bill.
How to Prevent a Cracked Heat Exchanger in Your Home
One of the most convenient ways to minimize the risk of problems in your furnace overall is via regular furnace maintenance. Furnaces offer the most benefits when they run efficiently. Calling a certified professional to examine your furnace for broken-down parts, clogged filters and other potential problems can help you avoid getting a big bill later on.
It’s also helpful to review your furnace filters every few months – it’s encouraged some filters be replaced every 90 days or sooner if they are dirty or grimy. While the filters are not part of the heat exchanger itself, the strain of dragging air through a clogged filter makes the entire furnace work more vigorously to accomplish its job. And the harder your furnace needs to run, the more deterioration parts like the heat exchanger will experience.