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Family-Owned & Operated Since 2001

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Premier Heating and Air Blog

How to Handle a Cracked Heat Exchanger

There is more than one issue your furnace can run into over the years. All of them should be dealt with as quickly as possible, but there is one that is likely one of the most serious: the cracked heat exchanger.

Why is this furnace repair in Baxley, GA such a big deal? The short answer is that it can pose a risk to both your comfort and your health. If you discover your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, this is what you need to know to get your system fixed and keep yourself safe.

The Role of the Heat Exchanger

If you have a gas-powered furnace, then your system has something called a heat exchanger. The basics of the role of this component are easy to understand. When your furnace burns natural gas, it creates combustion gases that are sent to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger, a metal component, then heats up and warms the air blown around it. This is what creates the warm air that you want in your home.

Issues with the heat exchanger will quickly start to create problems with your home comfort.

How Your Heat Exchanger Cracks

Maybe you’re wondering how your heat exchanger ends up cracking. Is it preventable? Is it caused by something you did wrong?

The short answer is that time and wear and tear take their toll on your furnace and lead to this issue. Your heat exchanger expands as it warms and contracts when it cools and this can eventually wear out the metal and cause it to crack.

Getting maintenance for your system regularly can stave off this problem for a longer number of years. The only thing that makes this issue worse is avoiding maintenance, as it puts your system at a higher risk of developing a problem.

Signs of a Cracked Heat Exchanger

Discovering a cracked heat exchanger isn’t something simple. You aren’t going to be able to see this problem just by looking in the system. But there are some symptoms to check for that will alert you to this problem:

  • Hissing: A hissing noise can be created when gas escapes the heat exchanger
  • Less comfort: Less gas to heat up the heat exchanger means less warm air getting to your home
  • Bad smells: Are you smelling sulfur or rotten eggs when you run your heater? This is a scent created by your gas supply!
  • CO problems: One of the gases that enter your heat exchanger is carbon monoxide (CO). This gas, when it infiltrates your home’s air through a crack, can make you feel sick, leading to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and more.

If you have a furnace that has developed a crack in its heat exchanger it means you need to reach out to a professional for repairs ASAP. Only an expert has the tools to diagnose and fix this issue correctly and safely.

The maintenance and repairs offered by our team will help keep your furnace running smoothly and will address any repair needs promptly.

Contact Premier Heating & Air to schedule an appointment. Experience the Premier Difference.

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