A furnace is often a background player in your home, helping keep you warm in the cold winter months. It frequently won't be noticed until something breaks down.
One source might be that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. It’s a potentially dangerous issue, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs of a cracked heat exchanger and what you should 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 inside your furnace to the air that flows throughout the air ducts. It generally accomplishes this through coils or tubes that heat up the air while functioning as a barrier to keep byproducts created in the combustion chamber, called flue gasses, from leaking out into your home.
Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?
Because of its central role, it’s no surprise that a cracked heat exchanger can pose a risk. A damaged heat exchanger can allow dangerous gasses – like carbon monoxide, which can be lethal – to circulate throughout your home.
For that reason, don't ever run your heater if you think it has a cracked heat exchanger, as doing so 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 Signs of a Cracked Heat Exchanger:
- Furnace switches off: Cracks in the heat exchanger may cause your furnace to switch off.
- Unusual Smells: If the air coming out of your furnace has a powerful chemical scent, it might be an indicator that gasses are leaking through cracks in your heat exchanger. These gasses, which can smell like formaldehyde, are a major warning sign.
- Carbon monoxide alarm initiates or you feel poisoning symptoms: If a cracked heat exchanger is relieving carbon monoxide into your home, your carbon monoxide alarm should go off or household members may struggle with signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting or feeling tired. If your alarm goes off or you feel unwell, get out of the home right away and then call for help.
- Soot: If you notice black sooty buildup around the exterior of your furnace, it’s another sign something might be seriously wrong.
What You Can Do if the Furnace Heat Exchanger is Cracked
If you worry your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, call a professional with extensive experience in furnace installation Des Moines as soon as possible so they can examine your system and, if required, perform a furnace heat exchanger replacement. Costs will differ depending on the situation, but estimates can roughly suggest $1,000 to $3,000.
Fortunately, the good news is that heat exchangers are regularly included in the warranty. It's a good idea to confirm the warranty paperwork on your furnace, as while the warranty may not cover the entire cost of repairs, it still may significantly lower your bill.
How to Prevent a Cracked Heat Exchanger in Your Home
One of the easiest ways to avoid problems in your furnace overall is with consistent furnace maintenance. Furnaces work the best when they run efficiently. Hiring a skilled professional to examine your furnace for old parts, dirty filters and other common problems can keep you from getting a big bill later on.
It’s also helpful to inspect your furnace filters every few months – it’s ideal some filters be swapped out 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 longer to do its job. And the harder your furnace needs to run, the more wear and tear pieces like the heat exchanger will sustain.