What to Do About a Cracked Heat Exchanger
A cracked heat exchanger is a serious issue that can become deadly. Though your heat exchanger may seem fully functional on the outside, it’s important to recognize the symptoms before the heat exchanger starts to create problems and know what to do about a cracked heat exchanger.
What is a Heat Exchanger?
A heat exchanger is the part of your furnace that heats air repeatedly through airflow tubes repeatedly until the air is warm and blown throughout your home. This graphic created by Landmark Home Warranty displays the heating and flow of air. As you can see, it shows how gases like carbon monoxide can move through your home and cause illness. Normal damages are bound to happen, so staying on top of your maintenance is vital for your furnace’s longevity.
What Can Cause a Crack?
As mentioned before, age is a consistent reason for a crack in a heat exchanger. Roughly, furnaces can last upwards of 20 years, but cases of cracks happening before that time are not uncommon. The constant expansion of hot air causes metal piping to eventually wear down. Factors such as limited airflow, rust, combustion, and improper maintenance can pinpoint improper installation in your home. For more information, check out this video on several ways a cracked heat exchanger can act:
As Steve Holland shows, the cracks can come in many shapes and styles. The cracks take no mercy on the age of your furnace and can only be prevented with proper installation and maintenance.
Can I Simply Patch the Crack?
The best fix for a cracked heat exchanger is to replace it entirely by a trained HVAC technician from Hammock’s AC. While it’s a pricey repair, the peace of mind in knowing the correct diagnosis and solution justifies the price; however, a good rule of thumb is that if a repair is half the cost of a new furnace, it may be worth opting for a complete replacement. Paying the full price up front is worth it more than constantly repairing the pricey issues that can hinder a furnace.
Know Who to Call
Hammock’s AC and their technicians are experts in finding any issue with your home’s heating or air systems. To prevent issues in advance, we highly recommend taking advantage of our current winter specials for the remainder of 2019. For $89, we’ll inspect your home’s heating system and also inspect your air in the spring free of charge. If you’re unsure of another company’s work on your home and would like a second opinion, call Hammock’s AC to schedule a free second opinion today. For more information on any of our specials, please click on either image. We’re not comfortable until YOU are!
