A furnace is often a background player for your home, keeping you warm during 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 evidence 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 flows through the air ducts. It typically handles this via coils or tubes that warm the air while serving as a barrier to keep byproducts formed in the combustion chamber, called flue gasses, from getting out into your home.
Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?
Because of its key role, it’s no surprise that a cracked heat exchanger can be hazardous. A crack in the heat exchanger can allow dangerous gasses – including carbon monoxide, which can be lethal – to flow throughout your home.
For that reason, don't ever run your heater if you suspect there's a crack in the heat exchanger, as letting it run could make your entire household ill. Reach out to an HVAC professional immediately if you are worried your heating has a cracked heat exchanger that should be repaired.
Four Warning Signs of a Cracked Heat Exchanger:
- Furnace switches off: Cracks in the heat exchanger can cause your furnace to shut off.
- Odd Smells: If the air escaping your furnace has an intense chemical odor, it could be evidence gasses are seeping through cracks in your heat exchanger. These gasses, which will often smell like formaldehyde, are a major warning sign.
- Carbon monoxide alarm goes off or you notice symptoms of poisoning: If a cracked heat exchanger is relieving carbon monoxide inside your home, your carbon monoxide alarm could go off or family members may struggle with signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Side effects include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting or feeling sleepy. If the alarm goes off or you feel unwell, leave the home as soon as you can and then call for help.
- Soot: If you notice black sooty accumulating near the exterior of your furnace, it’s more evidence something may be seriously wrong.
What You Can Do if the Furnace Heat Exchanger is Cracked
If you believe your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, hire a professional well versed in furnace installation Pflugerville right away so they can examine your system and, if required, handle a furnace heat exchanger replacement. Costs will fluctuate depending on the situation, but estimates often hover around $1,000 to $3,000.
Estimates aside, the good news is that heat exchangers are often covered by the warranty. You should check the warranty paperwork on your furnace, as while the warranty won't always cover the entire cost of repairs, it still may significantly reduce your bill.
How to Prevent a Cracked Heat Exchanger in Your Home
One of the best ways to minimize the risk of problems in your furnace overall is via regular furnace maintenance. Furnaces provide the best possible return on investment when they run efficiently. Calling a trained professional to check your furnace for broken-down parts, dirty filters and other common problems can keep you from getting a big bill later on.
It’s also helpful to review your furnace filters every few months – it’s ideal some filters be replaced 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 drawing air through a clogged filter makes your entire furnace work harder to accomplish its job. And the harder your furnace works, the more deterioration components like the heat exchanger will endure.