Does My Furnace in Millville, DE have a Cracked Heat Exchanger?

Your furnace’s heat exchanger is an essential part of your unit. The heat exchanger warms the air inside the furnace and releases it into your house while keeping harmful flue gases separate. Here are some ways to tell if your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger in your Millville, DE, home.

Visible Signs

A normal furnace flame is blue. If the flame is a different color, your furnace isn’t burning fuel correctly.

Likewise, check your furnace for signs of corrosion. This is a sign that you have a crack that is letting moisture in. Moisture will damage the metal components.

Unusual Sounds and Smells

A dusty odor is normal when your furnace initially starts, but it should go away after a few minutes. Strong chemical smells are a sign that you have a cracked heat exchanger that is releasing flue gases into the air. Your furnace might also rattle or produce other strange noises as the crack expands or contracts in the heat.

Mysterious Illnesses

Your furnace may have a crack if household residents keep getting sick without a clear reason. Carbon monoxide can leak out, causing dizziness, vomiting, weakness, headaches and other flu-like symptoms. Children, animals and elderly residents are particularly susceptible to CO poisoning.

Your carbon monoxide detector might go off, but don’t assume that your furnace is fine if it doesn’t. Instead, set up an appointment for furnace repair services as soon as possible.

Broken Furnace

When your furnace goes out unexpectedly, a crack might have prevented the components from producing heat. Fortunately, this prevents the furnace from leaking carbon monoxide into your home.

Cracked heat exchangers pose a threat to your health and safety. Contact Custom Mechanical to learn about our heating services, including furnace repair and installation. If your current HVAC system is too small for your house, we can install an appropriately sized system that evenly heats your residence.

Image provided by iStock