Inspecting your furnace for a cracked heat exchanger is a critical safety measure. It’s one of the reasons why an annual furnace checkup is vital. Instead of merely saving you money by increasing furnace efficiency and reducing operating costs, however, the annual safety check could also save the lives of you and your family.
Fires resulting from furnace malfunctions are rare. Statistically, the greater safety risk comes from potential exposure to deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas. A byproduct of the combustion process, CO is produced when natural gas is burned inside the combustion chamber of the furnace. Here’s how a cracked heat exchanger can pose a threat in an otherwise safe heating system:
Natural gas from the burner in the combustion chamber ignites, creating a bright blue flame. The burner flame heats the tubes of the heat exchanger inside the chamber, which transfers heat to air flowing through the tubes and into your heating ductwork.
An intact heat exchanger safely contains combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, as they are exhausted through the furnace vent pipe. Should a crack occur in the heat exchanger, however, these gases may leak from the combustion chamber into the system airflow and disperse throughout your house.
Cracks may appear in a heat exchanger due to continuous expansion and contraction of the metal during heating and cooling cycles over the years, or because of rust or corrosion. As part of an annual furnace check-up, a qualified technician will visually inspect the heat exchanger for cracks or other defects. The technician will also test the furnace airflow for traces of carbon monoxide gas.
In many locales, if a cracked heat exchanger is discovered, the technician is required by law to “red tag” the furnace: shut it down and disable it so it cannot be restarted until proper repair is completed. It’s a serious step to take, but a cracked heat exchanger is a serious threat to your health and safety.
Don’t neglect an annual furnace checkup including inspection for a cracked heat exchanger. Contact Paitson Bros., Terre Haute’s premier source for heating and cooling expertise since 1922.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Terre Haute, Indiana about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about cracked heat exchangers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 812-645-6859.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Mdesignstudio/Shutterstock”
Jeff Paitson is a third generation business owner who continues to run the business with the same values that have been passed down from previous generations since 1922.
Jeff’s belief is that the business belongs to Jesus Christ; therefore 10 percent of the company’s profits go toward the Maryland Community Church.
Jeff is a Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce member and in his spare time, he enjoys 
Ethan Rayburn is a lifelong resident of Terre Haute and a 2005 graduate of Purdue University.
An Eagle Scout, Ethan spent four years as a non-profit executive with the Boy Scouts of America before joining Paitson Bros. as a comfort advisor and later General Manager. In that role, Ethan has brought a renewed enthusiasm for customer care, integrity, value, and service to Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning.
Ethan enjoys singing and was a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. He also enjoys playing and coaching soccer, spending time with his family and two young boys, and volunteering his time and resources with his church, Terre Haute First Baptist Church, which he has attended from a very young age.
Paitson Bros
1 (812) 232-2347
Serving the Wabash Valley, IN Area Since 1922