Why Cracks Occur In A Heat Exchanger

The home furnace provides welcome warmth to your home during the cold winters

. This heating action depends largely on the effective working of the heat exchanger and therefore, you have to ensure it remains in top condition. Lack of regular heat exchanger maintenance can result in the formation of cracks in your heat exchanger.

Role of the Heat Exchanger

Every time you turn the furnace on, the pilot light of the furnace causes the fuel to ignite and this burning of fuel produces the heat. The metal portion of the heat exchanger absorbs this heat and when the fan located in the furnace blows air on to the heat exchanger, the air exiting the furnace absorbs this heat. When the fuel burns, it also gives rise to other products such as soot, water vapour and the gases carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and these substances travel into the innermost part of the heat exchanger from where they are vented out through the chimney. In other words, the heat exchanger is indeed the heart of your furnace and plays in important role in deciding how well your furnace manages to heat up your home.

Cracks in Heat Exchangers

Over time, heat exchangers tend to develop minor problems of which cracks are a common occurrence. These cracks can result from a variety of causes but the end result is always the same "" improper combustion of the fuel that reduces the heating capacity of the furnace. Only a heat exchanger maintenance expert can verify the presence of cracks by a thorough inspection, but it is a common observation that cracking causes a flickering flame that may be accompanied by rusting on the metal surface or the building up of soot on the furnace.

Why Cracks Occur

The most common causes of cracks in heat exchangers is formation of rust and overheating. If the water vapour produced during the combustion process does not totally move out through the chimney, it can condense on the heat exchanger surface and this moisture can lead to rusting and subsequent cracking of the heat exchanger. Sometimes, the air filter that regulates the quality of air entering the furnace may be blocked; this means very little air is drawn into the furnace and as a result, the heat exchanger heats up very little air and retains a large quantity of heat within itself. This overheating also typically causes cracking.

Dealing with Heat Exchanger Cracks is Important

Whenever you notice a build-up of soot, or an abnormal flame in the furnace, it is vital you arrange for a heat exchanger maintenance expert to inspect your furnace at once. When there are cracks in the heat exchanger, your home does not get heated to the expected levels. More importantly, the toxic carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide produced by combustion do not move out as intended and instead, contaminate the air entering your house and this can cause serious health problems.

A well-maintained heat exchanger means better heating of your home; it also means safety for your loved ones. Therefore, make sure you keep your furnace functioning right by having a heating expert company inspect it at regular intervals.

by: Stella Richard

POST COMMENT

Talk Fusion Review - What Causes People To Fail Cookie Making Made Easy My Busy Mom Method Your Photo Onto Canvas Ambleside Outdoor Shops Siib: Adding Managerial Expertise To Multiple Sectors Top 8 Ways To Utilize Your Tax Refund Top10 Digitalkameras 2012 Art From Your Own Dna Penang Property Market Bubble: Is The Same Going To Burst Soon? The Various Uses Of Example Tri Times Brochures Cool Flyer Layouts: The Important Areas Of A Brochure Create Tri Flyer Samples Through Ms Term 2007 Best Company Brochure Illustrations Reely Brochure Developing Onlin