There are over 64 million homes in the U.S. that use natural gas to supply them with heat during the winter, and most of these homes use a furnace for the job. Gas furnaces are actually the #1 option for heating, and for good reason. Today’s systems are built for efficiency and safety.
However, no matter how safe these systems are and how professionally installed they are, using natural gas does come with one big risk that should never be ignored—a cracked heat exchanger. The good news is, this can be avoided with routine maintenance, and prompt furnace repair in Denver. But, it should definitely not be neglected if you know you have a cracked heat exchanger. Read on to learn why.
The reason a crack in the heat exchanger of your furnace is such a big deal, and the reason you may want to even think about upgrading your furnace if this does happen, is because it creates a significant health hazard.
The heat exchanger is the small metal container inside your furnace that collects hot combustion gas from the burners. The heat from the gas transfers to the metal walls, causing the exchanger to burn hot. Air from the blower moves around the exchanger and picks up the heat before it passes into the ventilation system. The leftover combustion exhaust in the exchanger then is sent out a flue to harmlessly escape outdoors.
However, if the exchanger is damaged, then the toxic combustion gases—mostly carbon monoxide—enters into the air that’s being blown into your living space, which is understandably a huge health concern.
The best way to repair a cracked heat exchanger is to remove it and put in a new one. This doesn’t require replacing other components in the furnace. But it’s worth noting that it is an expensive repair, and often one that’s too expensive compared to having a new furnace installed, which we’ll get to in a moment.
But a good rule of thumb to go by is that any repair job that will cost more than half a new furnace is probably a poor investment. You’ll save more money by upgrading to a new furnace.
Here’s the thing—a cracked heat exchanger is usually only suffered by furnaces that are 15 years older or more, and/or haven’t received proper annual maintenance. By the time your furnace reaches that age, you should be thinking about replacement anyway, as a number of problems can start impacting the effectiveness and efficiency of your furnace even without a cracked heat exchanger.
Although a new furnace installation may be a strain as far as expenses go, not only will you be reducing your safety risks by upgrading an aging heater, but you’ll also have a furnace that works more efficiently, therefore saving you money in the long run!
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