The heat exchanger in your furnace is responsible for blowing air through your air ducts and throughout your home. The heat exchanger itself is a piece of metal that is attached to your furnace and separates your blower and the combustion portion of your furnace. When this part of your furnace cracks, which can happen with time, the air in your home is not safe to breathe. If you have a cracked heat exchanger, it can be a dangerous situation. Read on for signs to know if you have a cracked heat exchanger and what you can do.
Signs Of A Cracked Heat Exchanger
Sometimes a cracked heat exchanger can go unnoticed until it is too late and you have been breathing in harmful, odorless gases that can be deadly. Some of the signs that you may have a cracked heat exchanger include odor, change in flame color, and strange sounds.
Odors
You may have noticed some foul odors coming from your furnace, or you may actually smell the gases coming from your furnace. If your home is filled with these gases, you may not notice them unless you leave and come home. If you have a carbon monoxide detector, it will detect these gases as well.
Change In Flame Color
Your flame will appear differently in your furnace. It should be a blue hue, but if it is burning orange, it could be because of a cracked heat exchanger.
Strange Sounds
If you have strange sounds suddenly coming from your furnace when it is turned on, it could be due to a crack in your heat exchanger. The sounds may sound like rattling, or you may hear popping or cracking sounds.
What You Should Do
If you have a cracked heat exchanger or you suspect you have one, you should turn your furnace off immediately. You should also call your local gas company to have your gas turned off to your home to prevent a disaster if there are a lot of fumes in your home, and you should get out of your home. Hiring a professional heating repair company to repair your furnace is going to be necessary, as your furnace will not be able to be turned back on until this repair is made.
If you suspect you have a cracked heat exchanger, do not delay. Get this repaired right away to prevent a very dangerous situation.
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