A furnace is almost always a background player in your home, ensuring you're warm across the cold winter months. It often isn't noticed until something breaks down.
One root cause could be that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. It can potentially be hazardous, so it’s important to know the symptoms of a cracked heat exchanger and what you can do if you are worried that is the problem.
What Is a Heat Exchanger in a Furnace?
A heat exchanger helps move heat from the combustion chamber in your furnace to the air that moves inside the system. It generally handles this using coils or tubes that heat up the air while serving as a barrier to keep the gasses formed in the combustion chamber, called flue gasses, from escaping out into your home.
Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?
Given its key role, it’s no surprise that a broken heat exchanger can pose a risk. A damaged heat exchanger can allow dangerous gasses – including carbon monoxide, which can be lethal – to be distributed through your home.
For that reason, do NOT run your heating if you believe you're dealing with a cracked heat exchanger, as this could make your entire household sick. Reach out to an HVAC professional right away if you think your heating has a cracked heat exchanger that should be repaired.
Four Symptoms of a Cracked Heat Exchanger:
- Furnace switches off: A crack in your heat exchanger can cause your furnace to turn off.
- Strange Smells: If the air escaping your furnace has a strong chemical scent, it could be a sign gas is 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 feel symptoms of poisoning: If a cracked heat exchanger is releasing carbon monoxide inside 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 your alarm goes off or you feel unwell, leave the home as soon as you can and then call for help.
- Soot: If you spot black sooty accumulating on the exterior of your furnace, it’s another sign something may be seriously wrong.
What You Should Do if the Furnace Heat Exchanger is Cracked
If you believe your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, hire a pro well versed in furnace installation Thedford right away so they can inspect your system and, if needed, handle a furnace heat exchanger replacement. Costs will differ depending on the situation, but estimates often hover around $1,000 to $3,000.
However, the good news is that heat exchangers are generally included in the warranty. You should confirm the warranty paperwork on your furnace, since while the warranty may not cover the entire cost of repairs, it could significantly lower your bill.
How to Avoid a Cracked Heat Exchanger in Your Home
One of the easiest ways to minimize the risk of problems in your furnace overall is through regular furnace maintenance. Furnaces work the best when they run efficiently. Contacting a certified professional to check your furnace for old parts, clogged filters and other potential problems can help you avoid getting a big bill later on.
It’s also helpful to inspect 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 drawing air through a clogged filter makes your entire furnace work harder to complete its job. And the harder your furnace works, the more strain pieces like the heat exchanger will experience.