Macon winter temperatures average in the mid-30s, so having a reliable HVAC system is necessary to keep your home comfortable and warm. However, a cracked heat exchanger can quickly become a major problem if it goes unnoticed or doesn’t get repaired.
The professionals at Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling provide quality inspections, repairs, and more to keep your system running smoothly year-round. Here’s some helpful information about what a heat exchanger is, what causes it to crack, what to look for, how to fix a broken heat exchanger, and more.
What Is a Heat Exchanger and Why Is It Important?
A heat exchanger is a series of metal tubes or coils in your home’s HVAC system. This important component transfers heat from one medium (such as combusted natural gas or refrigerant) to another to produce warm or cool air. It works by separating the heat source from the air circulating throughout your home and prevents combustion gases from getting into your living space.
Here’s why the heat exchanger is so important to your system’s efficiency and your home’s safety.
- Keeps toxic gas out of your home: If you have a gas furnace, the heat exchanger separates dangerous carbon monoxide gas from the heated air moving throughout your home. This keeps you safe and provides safe, clean indoor air quality.
- Ensures optimal heat transfer: A heat exchanger in good working order is necessary for your HVAC system to run efficiently so it can cool or heat your home adequately while preventing excess strain on the system.
- Keeps you comfortable: The heat exchanger is responsible for transferring heat, so it works to maintain the optimum indoor air temperature in any season.
What Causes a Heat Exchanger To Crack?
Aside from normal wear and tear related to the age of your HVAC system, several other things may cause a crack in a heat exchanger:
- Insufficient airflow: If you have a dirty air filter, clogged vents, or issues with your blower motor, it can restrict airflow. This eventually causes the heat exchanger to overheat and prevents it from dissipating heat properly.
- Expansion and contraction: The heat exchanger expands and contracts as heat transfers from one area to another and back again. Over time, this causes wear and tear, which may result in a crack.
- Inadequate combustion: A faulty burner or issues with the pilot light or gas connection can lead to incomplete or inadequate combustion. This generates excess heat that puts stress on the heat exchanger, leading to a crack.
- Rust or corrosion: As your HVAC system ages, the heat exchanger may accumulate rust or corrosion, weakening the metal and making it vulnerable to cracks.
- Poor or no maintenance: Without regular preventative maintenance, including inspections and cleaning, your heat exchanger may be prone to cracks and other damage over time.
- Improper installation: If the heat exchanger is installed incorrectly or if the wrong size furnace is used to heat your home, it’s more prone to cracking.
Common Symptoms of a Cracked Heat Exchanger
While a visible crack is the most obvious of the symptoms of a bad heat exchanger, there are other things to look for as well. Here are some common furnace heat exchanger crack symptoms:
- Odd or foul odors: Sometimes, a cracked or malfunctioning heat exchanger gives off the odor of formaldehyde or, as some homeowners say, a “pungent pickle smell.”
- Strange noises: As the heat exchanger expands and contracts during the heating process, it can eventually crack. These cracks may lead to loud rattling and/or banging noises whenever your furnace turns on.
- Soot buildup: Look for black marks around your heat exchanger, which is a common sign of soot buildup. This may mean it’s no longer fully combusting the natural gas as it should.
- Visible cracks: If you or your HVAC technician see physical cracks, it means that your heat exchanger is already broken and malfunctioning.
- Change in flame color: If you have a gas furnace, the pilot light flame should be steady and blue. If the flame is flickering, yellow, or orange, it’s a sign of a serious issue that could include a cracked heat exchanger.
- Your carbon monoxide detector goes off: A carbon monoxide detector is designed to alert you if it detects the presence of this odorless, colorless gas. If your detector sounds the alarm, you may have a cracked heat exchanger or another serious issue relating to the natural gas supply going to your furnace.
If you experience one or any of these signs, turn off the power and/or gas to your furnace or heat pump and call Ricky Heath right away. Open your doors and windows and stay outside until help arrives.
How To Check for a Cracked Heat Exchanger
Most cracks in heat exchangers are too small to be easily detected by the naked eye. In many cases, this component is likely located between two parts, such as the combustion chamber and blower. It may be inside housing that should only be removed by an experienced HVAC professional.
If you can see your heat exchanger, use a flashlight to look for cracks and the signs mentioned above. This is a good way to tell if you have a cracked heat exchanger. However, hiring a Ricky Heath technician to perform a professional inspection is the best way to know for sure.
How To Fix a Cracked Heat Exchanger
In most cases, a cracked heat exchanger can’t be repaired and should be replaced entirely. Attempting to fix this component yourself is dangerous due to the risk of a carbon monoxide leak. Your HVAC technician may be able to replace the heat exchanger in certain situations. However, they may recommend that you upgrade and replace the entire system, especially if your current system is 15 years old or older.
Call Ricky Heath Today!
Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling is proud to serve customers in the Macon area. Whether you’re facing issues with your furnace and the heat exchanger, need routine maintenance, or want a new system installed, our expert technicians are available to help. Contact us today to address the signs of a cracked heat exchanger or need other services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you don’t fix a cracked heat exchanger?
If you don’t fix a cracked heat exchanger, it can lead to a reduction in energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and your HVAC system’s overall functionality. More importantly, ignoring a cracked heat exchanger poses the risk of a toxic and dangerous carbon monoxide leak.
What is the life expectancy of a furnace heat exchanger?
Expect your furnace heat exchanger to last between 10 and 15 years. In most instances, it should last approximately the same length of time as your heat pump or furnace if you schedule regular preventative maintenance to prolong the service life of your system.
