The dangers associated with a cracked heat exchanger. If the heat exchanger develops cracks, the metal will get discolored with the soot that builds up on it. The cracks will allow that deposit through, making the heat exchanger appear sooty, as discussed in the section above. There are a couple of reasons, but the most basic one is years of wear and tear on the furnace. Each heating season we hear horror stories of unsafe situations caused by failing furnaces and cracked heat exchangers. Apr 18, 2018 if your home has an older furnace1520 years old or morethen its extremely important for you to be aware of the potential danger posed by an old heat exchanger. The longer your system operates with a cracked heat exchanger, the worse the cracks will get. The dangers of a cracked heat exchanger help heating. Because the heat exchanger is where the combustion gas accumulates, this metal expands and retracts as it heats and cools. It is important that the heat exchanger is taken care of as hazards can build from a faulty exchanger. Clogged and dirty air filters or blocked vents could cause the. And any furnace thats more than 20 years old is at a heightened danger of heat exchanger cracks and probably should be replaced with a new system.
The dangers of a cracked heat exchanger if your home is like the majority of homes in our area, its very likely that you use a natural gas furnace to keep it warm. This is the component that actually enables your furnace to heat up the air that travels through the ventilation system. The part that transfers heat from the gas flame to the air in the house is called a heat exchanger. Given that gas is so widely available, its very likely this heating system is gaspowered. Dangerous cracked heat exchangers in furnaces everyone wants heat when old man winter arrives in the fall. Heat exchangers sometimes crack as the result of years of regular use.
A damaged heat exchanger in a gas furnace is potentially dangerous to a homes occupants and should not be ignored. My concern is the fact that mechanics walk past other potential carbon monoxide poisoning issues to get to heat exchanger inspection. This means that when your heat exchanger develops a crack, those gases can leak out and get into your house which is bad for two reasons. Yes, thats an incorrect statement, but ive never actually heard anyone say that. The most toxic of these exhaust fumes is carbon monoxide, which can cause severe health problems.
Located in the center of the furnace, it is where fire, gas and heat connect. Dec 30, 2019 if the heat exchanger develops cracks, the metal will get discolored with the soot that builds up on it. Red rock mechanical llc serves the plattsburgh, ny area. Unless you are one of the top 3% of people who have all the money, replacing the furnace is going to hurt the pocket book if you have not planed for it, but it has to be done. When a heat exchanger becomes damaged and the combustion fumes and gases mix with the clean air. The air pressure is exerted in all directions and puts pressure on the furnace cabinet and on the outside of the heat exchanger sections. A warning to you cracked heat exchangers dont get scammed. The heat exchanger is the part of your furnace that actually heats the air that is blown through your home. Danger of a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger servicemax.
Have you heard this one recently, you have a cracked heat exchanger and your furnace has to be replaced, today. In fact, you could pour water into a cooled, cracked heat exchanger and probably not even see a drop of water come out of it. In order for your furnace to transfer heat to the air, it requires a heat exchanger, which is a metal chamber that resembles a clam shell. The combustion gas from the jets along the burner enters the heat exchanger s, where the high temperature of the gas heats up the metal walls. Combustion gases leaking from a cracked heat exchanger can cause frequent headaches as well as flulike symptoms. The danger of cracked heat exchangers in gas furnaces. A cracked exchanger calls for immediate heater repair in staten island, ny from our hvac technicians. The heat exchanger is a metal container inside the furnace that collects hot combustion gas from the burners. If the furnace isnt getting sufficient airflow, the exchanger gets too hot and literally cracks under the pressure of continual expanding and contracting. Mar 17, 2012 for a good example of a hazardous heat exchanger, check out the photo below showing a large rust hole in the heat exchanger of this highefficiency furnace that was only ten years old. The heat exchanger expands and contracts as it heats and cools, and this can eventually create enough stress to crack. Most newer models are equipped with special safety features that keep risks down. Combustion gases from the furnace burners enter the heat exchanger and heat up its. Visual observation of light or water passing through the breakcrack is positive confirmation of a crack or hole in a heat exchanger.
The american gas association has even put this in writing they say any visible crack or hole is reason for requiring replacement of the heat exchanger or furnace. The reason a crack in a heat exchanger is such a cause for concernand reason to think about replacing a furnaceis because it creates a major health hazard. Because it allows the exhaust fumes inside the exchanger to leak into the air. Through this process, the combustion gas heats the air without the gas ever needing to come in contact. Basically, the air is heated as it travels through the ventilation system by combustion gas heat that moves to the air from the blower fan.
When a furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, can it be. Even if your furnace looks fine, a cracked heat exchanger could lead to dangerous gases being leaked into your home. A heat exchanger is the furnaces component that actually heats the air that flows through the system. Read our blog to learn what to do if this happens to you. I went to a customers house whos heat exchanger was rusting on a 20 year old furnace. Gas burns in the burner, and the heat from the flame is passed into a metal coil known as the heat exchanger. Dec 02, 2015 a furnace depends on the heat exchanger to contain these dangerous fumes and safely conduct them to the chimney while transferring the valuable heat into the home.
If the furnace doesnt create enough heat the furnace may constantly run and blow cooler air. A heat exchanger is made of thin metal, and as it heats up from the combustion of the furnace, it transfers the heat to the air being distributed through the house by the blower 3. Leaving a cracked heat exchanger alone creates the potential for enormous safety hazards. Many people in the dayton and cincinnati areas heat their homes with fossil fuels natural. Mar 11, 20 our recommendation on finding a crack in a heat exchanger will always be to replace the heat exchanger or the furnace it is in because your familys health and safety is far too important to make guesses and assumptions about how dangerous this crack may or may not be. As air flows past the outside of the heat exchanger, the air becomes warm.
When the temperature falls all we have to do is go to the thermostat and turn the heat on. The danger of a cracked heat exchanger in a furnace bob. The dangers associated with a cracked heat exchanger inside the cabinet of your gaspowered furnace is a group a metal, clamshellshaped objects called heat exchangers. As mentioned at the very beginning of how a heat exchanger can be cracked because of improper airflow, the number one way to avoid this type of damage is by simply changing out your air filter on a regular schedule. Older furnaces can develop major issues, such as a cracked heat exchanger. In order to help you avoid these safety issues, today were going to talk about how a heat exchanger develops cracks and what you can do to prevent or identify the problem before its too late. A cracked heat exchanger is a common furnace problem that may surprise homeowners during a routine furnace inspection. The heat exchanger in your hvac helps to transfer heat from the furnace to the air flowing through the ductwork. Broken and leaking heat exchangers are responsible for about 1,500 deaths per year in the united states, and many more people are poisoned by exposure to toxic gasses that go unfiltered by defective heat exchangers. A furnace depends on the heat exchanger to contain these dangerous fumes and safely conduct them to the chimney while transferring the valuable heat into the home.
In areas with long winters, the furnace will cycle on and off many times each year. Cracked heat exchangers climate design systems heating. The blower fan of the furnace then comes on and sends air around the exchanger, where it picks up the heat from the furnace wall, then continues into the ducts. In this way, the combustion gas heats the air without the gas having ever to come in contact with it. Cracks in the heat exchanger or fire box is no laughing matter.
Aug 22, 2019 a cracked heat exchanger is the most common reason carbon monoxide or toxic gasses may escape into homes using a gas furnace. Like we said, your heat exchanger is filled with combustible gases such as carbon monoxide. The heat exchanger on a furnace is the section that keeps the combustion chamber and the breathing air separate 3. This is, after all, the most common type of residential heating system in the country, particularly in locations like ours with very cold winters. When the burners of the furnace come on, they generate hot combustion gas, which is collected inside the heat exchangera metal chamber or series of chambers that resemble a clam.
Even though your furnace may look and seem fine, dangerous gases. Mar 15, 2019 if the heat exchanger gets a crack in the middle of the season you will often notice that there is less heat coming from the furnace. The hot combustion gas in the heat exchanger heats up the metal walls. Its like the doctor that finds cancer it might not be good news, but it. How a cracked heat exchanger can endanger your family. Mar 17, 2017 the flame rollout caused by a crack in the heat exchanger. Over time, the heat exchanger can crack or separate, allowing carbon monoxide to enter the house. A heat exchangers life expectancy is typically 1518 years. A crack in these tubes and coils can lead to the gases being burned in the furnace, such as carbon.
Basically, its the part of a gas furnace that applies heat to the air the blower fan sends into the ventilation system. That static pressure tries to push air into any hole or crack in the heat exchanger. When a heat exchanger becomes damaged and the combustion fumes and gases mix with the clean air, serious consequences can result. Hvac businesses are using cracked heat exchangers to scam people. Jan 21, 2020 the danger of a cracked heat exchanger must be heeded carefully. Because the heat exchanger is the part of the furnace that creates your homes heat, the most likely reason for it to crack is simple wear and tear. Performing seasonal maintenance on your heating system will identify such problems as a crack in the exchanger. The danger of a cracked heat exchanger comfort flow heating. This happens when combustion gases from the furnace burners enter the heat exchanger and heat up its. It will also be evaluated for cracks so that you can rest assured toxins arent polluting the air in your home.
Although unimpressive looking to untrained eyes, heat exchangers perform a vital part of the. This is how a crack can occur, and while it may be extremely small at first, continuing to use the furnace will only make it bigger. Dangers of a cracked heat exchanger shavitz heating and. This happens when combustion gases from the furnace burners enter the heat exchanger and heat up its metal walls, thereby heating the air passing through the unit. How to prevent a heat exchanger crack in your furnace. The main reason why a heat exchanger becomes cracked is due to the unit overheating. Clicking noises from the furnace after the blower turns off can also indicate cracking. The heat exchanger is the area where the furnace heats the air and is an integral component of your gas furnace. The danger of a cracked heat exchanger in a furnace if we had to make a wager on the type of heater you use to warm up your house during our chilly new york winters, wed always bet on a natural gas furnace.
For a good example of a hazardous heat exchanger, check out the photo below showing a large rust hole in the heat exchanger of this highefficiency furnace that was only ten years old. The furnace usually sends the fumes out a flue, but a crack can allow some to seep out. As to your questions bgrich, rust alone doesnt cause co. The only question is whether youll replace the furnace before the heat exchanger fails and releases poisonous carbon monoxide into your home, or wait until after thats already happened. If an hvac professional has told you that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, you need to take action. Our recommendation on finding a crack in a heat exchanger will always be to replace the heat exchanger or the furnace it is in because your familys health and safety is far too important to make guesses and assumptions about how dangerous this crack may or may not be. Furnace heat exchangers what is a heat exchanger in a furnace.
A furnace with a cracked heat exchanger will definitely produce carbon monoxide and poses an immediate danger. In the event that it is cracked, a bridge is created between these two areas. Without the gas in the heat exchanger, your furnace cant properly create heat. I wasnt sure if it was so just wanted some info of the possible dangers if the heat exchanger cracked on a furnace. This allows for some of the fumes from the furnace to be drawn into your living space, while the air in space can also be drawn into the combustion chamber. Bobs answer to whether or not a cracked heat exchanger can be dangerous is unambiguous. The hot combustion gas within the heat exchanger heats up the metal walls, and the blower fan of your furnace then cycles on to send air around the exchanger, where it picks up the heat from the furnace wall and continues into your ductwork. Although unimpressive looking to untrained eyes, heat exchangers perform a vital part of the cycle of bringing you warm air from your furnace. Unless its so excessive the heat exchanger is blocked by it,or it has caused a breach,i would say light rusting is normal,depending on the exchanger material,humidity, over or under firing,and.
Dont underestimate the danger of a cracked heat exchanger. Dangers of a cracked heat exchanger fahrhall home comfort. As the heat exchanger heats up and cools down again, the metal expands and contracts. Signs and symptoms of a cracked gas furnace heat exchanger. By keeping up on your furnace maintenance, ensuring that your carbon monoxide detectors are in good condition, and theres proper ventilation, everyone is safe. The flame rollout caused by a crack in the heat exchanger.
Dangers of a cracked heat exchanger shavitz heating and air. The flame rollout and ghosting in the burner indicates a dangerous crack or hole in that chamber. A crack in this heat exchanger allows such dangerous gasses as carbon monoxide to leak through into your ductwork. I told her to replace due to possible carbon monoxide poisoning. As the part of the furnace that creates heat, the most common reason your heat exchanger cracks is normal wear and tear. If a crack has developed, air from the house will be forced into the combustion chamber when the blower turns on, causing some visible disturbance of the flame, he says.
Remember that your furnace is burning some type of material in order to generate heat, but this process should be taking place inside your furnaces heat exchanger itself. When the heat exchanger cracks it can lose heat through the crack and cause the furnace not to produce heat. A heat exchanger crack is one of the biggest safety issues that your furnace can develop. While all heat exchangers will fail eventually, some develop cracks long before their 1520 year lifespan is reached. If you have a heat exchanger crack, you need to replace the heat exchanger or the furnace. She said she had detectors and asked weather there could be possible danger of a fire breaking out. The danger of a cracked heat exchanger if your home is like most throughout the roswell area and beyond, then you use a furnace for your heating needs. If the heat exchanger is compromised by a crack or rust, flue gases and carbon monoxide will leak into the home resulting in illness and possibly death of the occupants. Of course, furnace usage affects the heat exchangers longevity. A cracked heat exchanger in a gas furnace is a serious safety issue. A good furnace tuneup will involve checking your ductwork, as well as the performance and efficiency of the hvac system, which will help you avoid the multiple scenarios that lead to a crack in the heat exchanger in the first place. The dangers of a cracked heat exchanger in a furnace red.
Nov 20, 2018 because the heat exchanger is the part of the furnace that creates your homes heat, the most likely reason for it to crack is simple wear and tear. If the heat exchanger has a crack or rust hole in it, the fumes including carbon monoxide enter the air that comes out of the supply registers into your home or office. If your furnace is more than 10 years old, the cracks may just be a sign of. Yes, a cracked or damaged furnace heat exchanger is a major danger to you and your family. The cause of cracked heat exchangers avoid this common scam. Dangerous cracked heat exchanger in furnace youtube. The site of the crack should have a buildup as well, or there might be spots that are darker than the rest of the metal.
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