Tips For Recognizing The Signs Of A Cracked Heat Exchanger In A Furnace

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Tips For Recognizing The Signs Of A Cracked Heat Exchanger In A Furnace

8 January 2020
 Categories: Home & Garden, Blog


During the cold winter months, a furnace in good working condition is essential to keep a home warm and comfortable. Unfortunately, a furnace will not function properly forever, and there is a good chance that you furnace may need repairs at some point. One common furnace issue that should not be ignored and needs to repaired as quickly as possible is a cracked heat exchanger. It is not always easy to visually notice that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, but there will most likely be signs that repairs are needed. Some of the most common signs of a cracked heat exchanger in your furnace include the following.

Unexplained Smells

When a heat exchanger inside a furnace cracks, gases and other fumes can be released into your home. In most cases, these gases and fumes will have an odd or unpleasant smell. You may not be able to describe the odors, but you will probably be able to smell them, especially if your furnace's heat exchanger has a large crack. If you ever notice odd, unexplained smells while you furnace is running, it is essential to contact an HVAC repair company as soon as possible to diagnose the issue and fix it.

Buildup of Soot

When a furnace is operating properly, the source of fuel combusts quickly and the furnace is able to produce heat. As a homeowner, it is always a good idea to visually inspect your furnace during the winter months when it is running regularly. If you see that there is a buildup of soot inside your furnace, that is a major red flag that there is a problem, and usually that problem is a cracked heat exchanger. Soot will build up when the source of fuel is not able to combust properly because the heat exchanger is damaged.

Physical Symptoms

A cracked heat exchanger can introduce a lot of fumes into you home. However, if the crack is small, you may not immediately notice what is going on and connect it to a problem with your furnace. Some common issues that a person may experience if their furnace's heat exchanger has cracked include headaches, nausea, sleepiness, and distorted thinking. It can be very dangerous to live in a home with a furnace that has a cracked heat exchanger, so if you or a member of your family experience any adverse physical symptoms that could be related to your furnace, have it checked out and repaired right away. 

To learn more, call companies like J C Heating & Cooling.