When there is a problem with your heater, it is always best to take care of it as quickly as you can. By this, we mean getting repairs performed by a trained professional right away. Unless the problem is a dirty air filter, it is always best to leave repair in the hands of the experts.
There are some repair needs that you absolutely need to address as fast as you can. The main one we are discussing in this post is the need to fix a cracked heat exchanger. This is a problem in your furnace that can both affect your comfort and can put your well-being at risk.
What Is a Heat Exchanger?
Both gas furnaces and all-electric furnaces have heat exchangers that warm up the air around them to heat up the house. The difference with these systems is how the heat is made.
For an all-electric furnace, heat is created through electrical resistance. In contrast, a gas furnace uses the heat created by burning natural gas to create warmth.
When a gas furnace is in operation, natural gas is burned to create combustion gas that goes into a metallic heat exchanger. The metal of the exchanger then warms up and heats the air around it.
Why a Cracked Heat Exchanger is a Serious Problem
So, now that you know what your heat exchanger does, you likely already have taken a guess as to why a crack in this component is a major issue.
For starters, a cracked heat exchanger allows hot air to escape the system. This means that it won’t be able to be used to warm up the air being pumped into your home, resulting in reduced comfort and higher energy bills.
In addition to this, and on the more serious side of things, a cracked heat exchanger allows harmful combustion gases to escape the system and get blown into your house. This includes chemicals like carbon monoxide, which can create unpleasant health problems and can even be deadly in some cases.
How to Address the Problem
It is easy to see why a cracked heat exchanger should be taken care of quickly. But how do you know that you have this problem with your heating system? The cracks are often minuscule hairline fractures and are hard to detect. This is just one of the many reasons to leave the repairs to a professional.
Be on the lookout for warning signs such as longer heating cycles, reduced comfort, higher energy bills, and common signs of carbon monoxide exposure like fatigue, nausea, or dizziness. Make sure you have CO detectors in your home to alert you to dangerous levels of this gas. If you notice these indicators, it is best to have your heater examined and repaired by a trained professional as soon as possible.
You can rely on The Clean Air Act for this repair and any other furnace service in Oregon City, OR you might need. Please call Sydni, our Office Extraordinaire, to schedule your next appointment! We will take care of you from there!