A furnace heat exchanger is a vital component of your heating system since it distributes warm air throughout the home and protects leaking of the unhealthy gases in the blower. Ignoring minor issues in the furnace poses a risk to your family’s safety and might lead to the breakdown of the furnace. This guide discusses some of the signs of a damaged heat exchanger in your Tucson, AZ, home.
Why Will the Furnace Heat Exchanger Fail?
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There are different reasons why your furnace will fail. For example, an oversized or undersized furnace strains the furnace, causing overheating and cracking. Dirty or clogged furnace air filters will restrict airflow throughout the furnace, thus straining the system and developing stress cracks.
Finally, a heat exchanger will fail because of increased wear and tear caused by continuous expansion and contraction. Over time, this strain will cause the heat exchanger to crack due to fatigue. Discussed below are the telltale signs that your furnace is failing or signs that you might need a furnace repair or replacement.
Increased Soot in the Furnace
Incomplete combustion will lead to an increase in carbon emission inside the furnace. This leads to increased production of soot.
Incomplete combustion will occur for several reasons, such as using a faulty burner. A cracked heat exchanger will also cause increased soot production during the heating process.
The Heating System Produces a Strong and Unpleasant Smell
A cracked heat exchanger will emit a strong and unpleasant formaldehyde odor. When inhaled, these fumes are highly toxic to you and your family.
You should contact your HVAC technician immediately if you notice a formaldehyde odor. Note, ignoring this issue puts your family at risk of poisoning.
The Furnace External Components Corrode and Form Cracks
When you notice signs of wear and tear on the furnace, it might be a sign that the internal components are beginning to break down. It might also signal that the furnace heat exchanger is beginning to develop cracks. The best prevention for this is regular maintenance for your furnace.
Continued expansion and contraction of the furnace’s internal components will cause the development of stress cracks. However, the components of the furnace might rust when exposed to moisture. If you reside in Tucson, AZ, contact our professional HVAC technicians at MVP Air Conditioning LLC for all your furnace maintenance and repair needs.
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