
A furnace is almost always a background player at home, ensuring you're warm during the cold winter months. It often doesn’t get noticed until something breaks down.
One root cause might be that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. It’s a potentially dangerous issue, so it’s critical to familiarize yourself with the evidence of a cracked heat exchanger and what you can do if you suspect that is 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 moves inside the system. It generally handles this via coils or tubes that heat the air while acting as a barrier to keep byproducts formed in the combustion chamber, called flue gasses, from leaking out into your home.
Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?
Because of its important role, it isn't surprising that a broken heat exchanger can be hazardous. Cracks in the heat exchanger can permit dangerous gasses – such as carbon monoxide, which can be lethal – to circulate through your home.
For obvious reasons, never run your furnace if you suspect it has a cracked heat exchanger, as letting it run could make the whole family sick. Contact an HVAC professional immediately if you believe your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger that needs to be repaired.
Four Symptoms of a Cracked Heat Exchanger:
- Furnace turns off: A crack in your heat exchanger could cause your furnace to shut off.
- Unusual Smells: If the air coming out of your furnace has an intense chemical odor, it may be an indicator that gas is slipping through cracks in your heat exchanger. These byproducts, which can smell like formaldehyde, are a significant warning sign.
- Carbon monoxide alarm goes off or you feel poisoning symptoms: If a cracked heat exchanger is relieving carbon monoxide in your home, your carbon monoxide alarm should go off or household members could struggle with signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Complications include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting or feeling drowsy. If an alarm goes off or you feel sick, leave the home right away and then call for help.
- Soot: If you see black sooty accumulating around the exterior of your furnace, it’s an indication something could be seriously wrong.
What to Do if a Furnace Heat Exchanger is Cracked
If you worry your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, call a professional with extensive experience in furnace installation Chadron right away so they can take a look at your system and, if required, handle a furnace heat exchanger replacement. Costs will fluctuate depending on the situation, but estimates run in the neighborhood of $1,000 to $3,000.
However, the good news is that heat exchangers are generally covered by the warranty. You’ll want to confirm the warranty paperwork on your furnace, since while the warranty won't always cover the entire cost of repairs, it still may significantly shrink your bill.
How to Avoid 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 consistent furnace maintenance. Furnaces provide the best possible return on investment when they run efficiently. Calling a skilled professional to examine your furnace for worn-out parts, clogged filters and other potential problems can help you avoid getting a big bill later on.
It’s also beneficial to take a look at your furnace filters every few months – it’s ideal some filters be changed every 90 days or sooner if they are dirty or grimy. While the filters aren't connected to the heat exchanger itself, the strain of dragging air through a clogged filter makes the entire furnace work harder to do its job. And the harder your furnace works, the more wear and tear components like the heat exchanger will sustain.