Be warned about possible carbon monoxide leak from Cracked Heat Exchanger in a Gas Furnace!
The most common cause for unsafe Gas Furnaces you should know about are the Cracked Heat Exchangers. A majority of these failures happens to old Furnaces 10+ years after installation. For this reason, we highly recommend to have a working carbon-monoxide detector near the gas heater for peace of mind. Plan HVAC system replacement in advance to avoid problems with heating exchanger or any other failures during cold winter months. Major problems could be diagnosed and repaired by qualified HVAC technician.
We would like to emphasize the fact that furnace-in-basement or mechanical room could often be unattended for a while. EMCO Tech recommends to visually check HVAC system before every season or have one of our heating & cooling technicians perform pre-season tune-up service for the Gas Furnace. Gas fueled appliances could become dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning devices if not maintained regularly. You should, therefore, keep the heating system serviced at your home. Failure to regularly maintain HVAC units and get repairs done immediately in case system not functioning correctly, could cause a furnace creating risk of health hazard. You don’t have to worry about the performance of a gas furnace if you handle it appropriately and get it serviced periodically.
What is a Heat Exchanger?
In any design of natural Gas Furnace, a Heat Exchanger is a significant part of appliance heating the indoor air blowing though. It is a HVAC internal component, where heat from the gas combustion chamber transfers into the air coming from the blowing fan, ultimately moving into living spaces though air duct system. Combustion gases never come into contact with indoor air. If heat exchanger has cracks, the living spaces will be filled up with hazardous fumes. The heat emitted by the combustion gas increases the Heat Exchanger’s temperature, air from the blower passes through it and heat gets transferred into it.
What is the Problem of Having a Cracked Heat Exchanger?
This is because exhaust fumes that include carbon monoxide from the heat exchanger could seep into the air through the cracks that normally develop on the metal. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill if you’re exposed to high levels. As stated by National Center for Environmental Health, every year, at least 430 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO poisoning. Approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency department each year due to accidental CO poisoning. There are steps you can take to help protect yourself and your household from CO poisoning.
Cracks in heat exchangers are mostly caused by corrosion. This weakening of the heat exchanger metal is created by a gradual reaction between the combustion gas and the metal. This is the reason as to why you need to be keen on old furnaces. You should not even ignore the smallest crack, as they will ultimately widen as the heat exchanger expands whenever it turns hot.
A cracked heat exchanger is well identified by watching out for a clicking sound produced by the furnace when the blower shuts off. If you are having trouble with your furnace or heat exchanger it is best to call one of the experts at EMCO Tech aka Emergency Maintenance company to diagnose and repair the problem.
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