One part of your furnace is the heat exchanger. Its job is to bring heat from one area to another, as you might imagine based on the title. It also deals with the byproduct of combustion, which is carbon monoxide–that deadly thing that you have a dedicated detector on the wall for.
One of the most important types of furnace repair in Medina, OH is replacing a cracked heat exchanger. The problem is, it’s very rare for you to actually see a crack in your heat exchanger even if it’s there, and the problem could be potentially lethal for you and your family. Here’s what you need to know about it.
Carbon Monoxide Exposure
The absolute biggest problem is your family’s exposure to carbon monoxide. This hazardous byproduct of the combustion process is normally filtered through the heat exchanger and sent outside to rise to the clouds, so when it pools inside your home, it’s a huge problem.
If your heat exchanger is leaking carbon monoxide, that means it’s cracked. The crack is often too small to see with the naked eye, and at that point, the release of pressure through carbon monoxide leaks usually prevents the crack from getting any bigger since the pressure in the heat exchanger has been disrupted.
If you can physically see the crack in your heat exchanger, that’s an immediate reason to leave the house as quickly as possible and call for emergency repairs. Carbon monoxide exposure is no laughing matter.
Extremely Low Energy Efficiency
If your heat exchanger isn’t cracked, but it’s still damaged, it reduces your furnace’s energy efficiency by a fairly drastic percentage. This means your furnace isn’t expelling heat properly, and it may shut down prematurely due to overheating, or it may simply be so inefficient that it spikes your energy bills each month.
Either way, it’s a problem you want to avoid as a homeowner. If you notice your heating bills are higher than they used to be even though your energy cost hasn’t risen, this could be it.
Expensive Replacement (No Patch Available)
Replacing a heat exchanger isn’t cheap, and it isn’t something you can patch. Instead, the entire heat exchanger has to be replaced so that you don’t run into further problems. A technician will not activate your furnace again if they know for a fact that the heat exchanger is cracked and allowing carbon monoxide to leak into your home. There’s no way around it–the heat exchanger needs to be entirely replaced at this point.
It’s a Big Issue: Call Us ASAP
A cracked heat exchanger is one of the most serious HVAC-related problems you’ll ever encounter in your home. It can be potentially lethal, with hundreds of reported deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning happening in the United States every single year. Don’t make the mistake of waiting–call us today to get your heat exchange taken care of before it becomes a bigger problem.
Contact Crown Group Ohio today to schedule your furnace repair as soon as possible.