subject: Problems Caused By A Faulty Heat Exchanger [print this page] The heat exchange is at the heart of your home furnace and decides how well-heated your home is. Most furnaces keep functioning flawlessly during the first few months but after that, gradually show signs of problems. Some of these can be avoided from growing worse by having a heat exchanger maintenance expert service your furnace periodically.
Insufficient Heating
The heat exchanger within a furnace absorbs the heat produced by fuel combustion and transfers this to the air that blows over its surface. If there is very little air entering the furnace through the air filter, it means that lesser hot air is generated and as a result, your home does not get heated to the expected levels. However, considering that the same amount of heat is being produced as before, the unused heat is retained on the heat exchanger surface and when this happens for very long, the heat exchanger may develop cracks that further affect its functioning.
Fire Accidents
A heat exchanger that does not function properly can cause the incoming air to pulse backwards to reach the burner and this results in a flame rollout. If you happen to have inflammable items lying close to your furnace, this flame rollout may easily set off a major fire. Therefore, it is vital to have a regular inspection of your furnace by a heat exchanger maintenance expert to keep the risk of a sudden fire breakout at bay.
Health Hazards
In a heat exchanger with cracks, the combustion byproducts toxic gases carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide do not move out from the furnace through the chimney as intended. Instead, these gases mix in with the air being blown in through the heat exchanger into your home. Of these, carbon monoxide is the most dangerous and high levels of this gas entering your home undetected can have a fatal effect. Low levels of carbon monoxide can cause the development of flu-like symptoms headaches, nausea, dizziness and extreme fatigue and exposure to higher levels can even cause immediate death.
Any leak in your homes heating system can lead to a leaking in on toxic gases into your home. Therefore, it is vital you have a trained professional carry out a periodic inspection and cleaning of your furnace.
Why Hire an Expert
From just a visual observation, a lay person cannot identify if there are problems with the heat exchanger. Of course, a flickering flame or excessive soot on the furnace can indicate some problems but there are others that do not have such visible effects. Heat exchanger experts are trained in identifying problems by using a combination of visual inspection and gas detection instruments. Therefore, rather than relying merely on your observation, it makes sense to schedule a regular furnace check to keep it functioning well.
The lifespan of most present-day furnaces is estimated at around 15 years by the manufacturer; however, it all depends on how well you maintain the heat exchanger. Dust and soot, rusting and clogged filters can greatly reduce the life of a furnace. Dealing with heat exchanger problems in the initial stages can help prevent the above mentioned potential dangers and ensure your family stays safe.
