Do you have a cracked heat exchanger? Schedule repairs with Leith Heating & Cooling today to keep your family safe.
The natural gas furnace remains the de-facto heating equipment for homeowners across Elgin, IL, and the rest of the country for various reasons. It provides whole-home heating and is not expensive to run. Modern furnace systems are also more efficient than ever.
However, the components are not immune to damage. Parts like the heat exchanger can crack over time. Can you run a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger, or should you be searching “furnace help near me” immediately after spotting the signs?
We’ll cover the details in this post.
How Does a Heat Exchanger Function?
The heat exchanger in your furnace receives combustion gases as your furnace works, absorbing heat from those gases without allowing them to escape into your ductwork. It plays a crucial role in the furnace’s ability to warm your home.
A Cracked Heat Exchanger Is an Emergency
Looking at the function of a heat exchanger, you can understand why you need to move quickly as soon as you notice cracks around yours. A professional technician who spots a cracked heat exchanger has the legal and moral obligation to red-tag or decommission your furnace.
Stop using the furnace immediately if you spot the damage before calling a technician. The heat exchanger contains the byproducts of combustion, including sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and carbon monoxide. Any crack in the heat exchanger allows these gases to escape into your home.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause a range of flu-like symptoms and, in extreme cases, death with prolonged inhalation. Unfortunately, it is a colorless and odorless gas. Therefore, it takes victims unawares.
Beyond the carbon monoxide risk, a cracked heat exchanger is a serious fire hazard. The disruption of the combustion process may lead to gas buildup, triggering an explosion.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), furnaces and other heating equipment cause around 20% of home fires across the U.S.
So, can you run a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger? Yes, you can. Should you do it? Not if you value your health and safety. You should contact an HVAC technician immediately to discuss replacing the heat exchanger or the entire furnace system.
Will a Furnace Shut Down Because of a Cracked Heat Exchanger?
Modern energy-efficient furnaces have safety mechanisms that shut off the system if they sense an issue. For example, the flame sensor will shut off the gas valve to prevent a gas leak if there are no flames in the burner.
However, the situation is not the same with a cracked heat exchanger. Furnace safety features do not account for this issue. The unit will keep trying to warm your home but will only spread toxic gas emissions.
So, instead of trusting your furnace to know when the heat exchanger has cracks, you must proactively check for it. That’s one of the benefits of following a regular furnace maintenance schedule.
Causes of Cracks in Heat Exchangers
Heat exchangers crack for the following reasons:
Wear and Tear
Heat exchangers expand and contract multiple times every day the furnace is in use. Naturally, the signs of wear and tear will manifest with time. If you notice cracks in the heater exchangers in furnaces older than ten years, they’re most likely signs of age.
Limited Airflow
Dirty filters, obstructions in your ductwork, and blocked registers can cause overheating concerns and pressure buildup in the furnace. The result is increased strain on the heat exchanger. If you continue using the furnace in these conditions for too long, cracks will appear.
Improper Furnace Sizing
If your furnace is too big or too small for your home, it will run shorter or longer cycles. Either scenario puts more strain on components such as the heat exchanger.
Longer cycles mean prolonged expansion for the heat exchanger. Short cycling means more frequent expansion and contraction. Both scenarios will lead to cracks in your furnace system.
Signs You Have a Cracked Heat Exchanger
Now you know the dangers of a cracked heat exchanger. You should also know the signs to watch for so you can shut down the furnace before it becomes a health and safety hazard.
- Flame color change. The flame from your furnace should be a steady blue. If you notice a yellow tint, this is a sign of contamination in the gas mixture due to a crack in the heat exchanger.
- Soot buildup in the heat exchanger. Soot forms in the heat exchanger when the furnace isn’t burning all the gas it receives.
- Unusual smells. Cracks allow combustion gases to enter your home, ruining the indoor air quality. If you perceive any unusual smells while your furnace is running, that’s your cue to do something about it.
- Visible rust. The presence of rust around your heat exchanger is one of the clearest signs of potential cracks.
- Carbon monoxide alerts while using the furnace. Does your furnace set off the carbon monoxide detector while running? It’s a sign of heat exchanger problems.
- Visible cracks. Sometimes, you can see physical cracks on the heat exchanger on closer inspection.
- Inconsistent heating. Do certain rooms feel cooler than others with your furnace running? It could be a sign of leaks in the heat exchanger.
Schedule an HVAC System Inspection With Leith Heating & Cooling
Can you run a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger? Yes, but it is dangerous. If you suspect a crack in your furnace heat exchanger, contact the technicians at Leith Heating & Cooling. We have extensive experience evaluating and repairing furnace systems.
If we confirm that you have premature heat exchanger damage, we’ll recommend repairs. We can also fix other problems, such as a bad furnace gas valve. For older units, we’ll guide you to an energy-efficient replacement furnace.
Call the Leith Heating & Cooling team in Elgin, IL, today at (847) 534-8686 to learn more or book an appointment.