Signs You Should Call An AC Repair Technician For Furnace Heat Exchanger Repair | Grapevine, TX
Do you have a gas furnace? Then it has a heat exchanger. But what is the role of a heat exchanger in a furnace? To understand the working of a furnace exchanger, we must begin with understanding how a furnace works to heat the air. The furnace takes in gases and other fuels and burns them. The combustion produces heat energy, although it can also produce a dangerous and toxic gas sealed within a chamber. It is vented outside to ensure that your home has high indoor air quality. To get the heat from the sealed chamber, it is necessary to have a heat exchanger. However, the heat exchanger might run into issues that need the attention of a heating and AC repair technician.
Signs of a Compromised Heat Exchanger
To determine if the heat exchanger has to be replaced, you need to have an AC repair professional conduct a visual inspection. The professional might use an infrared inspection to diagnose the health of your heat exchanger to determine whether you should have it replaced. Below are some warning signs that could indicate that the furnace heat exchanger is compromised.
A Change In the Flame Color
Whenever your gas furnace is not working as efficiently as it should, it will produce a blue flame. It should burn without flickering within the sealed chamber. When the flame is erratically burning, or the color has changed into yellow, that could be a sign that oxygen is entering the chamber via a crack in the exchanger. Whenever you notice this, you should contact an AC repair technician immediately after turning off the system.
Soot Buildup or Discolored Metal
Whenever the furnace heat exchanger cracks, it might be discolored from soot buildup. The cracks break the seal attached to the combustion chamber, allowing the soot to come out via the other side. You might notice dark spots where there is a crack. When you notice soot accumulating in the furnace, that is a sign that the burner isn’t properly functioning. The soot comes from a buildup of carbon whenever the furnace doesn’t burn the gases completely. Whenever you notice this, contact an AC repair technician in Grapevine, TX because you might be dealing with a cracked heat exchanger or a faulty burner.
Carbon Monoxide Detected
The combustion process may produce carbon monoxide as a byproduct. It is an odorless gas that is invisible. If it accumulates inside your house, it might be fatal. The CDC advises installing CO detectors in every home and having your furnace inspected annually. A fractured heat exchanger that lets the gas into your air supply can cause carbon monoxide, which can be a symptom of the problem. It’s a dangerous situation if your CO detectors go off. Open the windows to allow fresh air, shut off the heater and leave the house. Call an AC repair technician once you are secure outside.
Heat Exchanger Clogged
Clogged filters and coils in your furnace can become clogged with dirt and dust. This accumulation may result in a blocked heat exchanger and impair the system’s ability to circulate air effectively.
Water or Excessive Condensation on the Floor
Your furnace’s internal drains might have a clog, or there may be a leakage in your humidifier connected to your furnace if you see excessive condensation on the heating system or water on the flooring beneath your gas furnace. Another possible cause is a heat exchanger that has fractured. Contact an AC repair technician whenever you notice water on the floor around the furnace.
Poor Heating
Your furnace’s efficiency is harmed when the heat exchanger is damaged. To heat your home, the furnace then has to work harder. You can experience subpar performance and a notable rise in your electricity bill. Have you noted that your furnace is poorly heating your Grapevine, TX home? Call a reliable AC repair technician for further inspection and repair.
What Should You Do If the Heat Exchanger Shows Signs of Compromise?
Have you noted either of the signs above? Do you suspect that your furnace heat exchanger has a crack? Then you should call a professional and reliable AC repair technician for a further inspection of the unit. This isn’t something that you want to tackle by yourself. On the other hand, continuing to use the furnace with a cracked exchanger poses a safety threat to you and your family. Hence, shut it off immediately if you suspect it has a cracked furnace exchanger. Unfortunately, a cracked furnace exchanger isn’t repairable. You should also think about how old your furnace is. If the furnace is older, replacing the heat exchanger might not be worthwhile. A damaged heat exchanger could indicate another issue with your furnace, like overheating. Spending the money to replace your heat exchanger may lead to discovering a larger issue that will also require repair.
How Do You Protect the Furnace Exchanger From Cracking?
It is suggested that the AC repair technician perform frequent inspections yearly to keep the furnace operating correctly. While the heating and cooling cycles that occur as part of the healing process cannot be avoided, a checkup can identify the warning indications and help you act before a problem arises. Making sure you change your air filters before becoming clogged is one straightforward approach to prolonging the lifespan of your furnace and heat exchanger. A blocked air filter might reduce the furnace’s airflow. The elements may overheat as a result, and the expansion and contraction may add to the stress already there.
The only way to protect the furnace heat exchanger is a routine air conditioning service to catch any underlying problems before they worsen. Unfortunately, you cannot repair a cracked furnace heat exchanger. Have you noted any of the signs above in your Grapevine, TX home’s furnace? Call us at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth for a deeper look.