A furnace is usually a background player in your home, ensuring you're warm during the cold winter months. It regularly doesn’t get noticed until a malfunction appears. 

One source may be that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. It can potentially be hazardous, so it’s worthwhile to know the signs of a cracked heat exchanger and what you can do if you are worried that is the problem.  

What Is a Heat Exchanger in a Furnace? 

A heat exchanger helps transition heat from the combustion chamber in your furnace to the air that circulates throughout the ventilation. It usually accomplishes this through coils or tubes that heat up the air while serving as a barrier to keep gas formed in the combustion chamber, called flue gasses, from getting out into your home.  

Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous? 

Because of its central role, it isn't surprising that a damaged heat exchanger can be very dangerous. A damaged heat exchanger can permit dangerous gasses – including carbon monoxide, which can be lethal – to flow through your home. 

For obvious reasons, don't ever use your furnace if you think there's a crack in the heat exchanger, as doing so could make the whole family sick. Reach out to an HVAC professional as soon as possible if you believe your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger that should be repaired. 

Four Symptoms of a Cracked Heat Exchanger: 

  • Furnace shuts off: Cracks in the heat exchanger may cause your furnace to shut off. 
  • Strange Smells: If the air escaping your furnace has a strong chemical odor, it may be an indicator that gasses are leaking through cracks in your heat exchanger. These byproducts, which can smell like formaldehyde, are a significant warning sign. 
  • Carbon monoxide alarm initiates or you recognize symptoms of poisoning: If a cracked heat exchanger is releasing carbon monoxide into your home, your carbon monoxide alarm should go off or household members may start experiencing signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Complications include headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting or feeling drowsy. If the alarm goes off or you feel sick, leave the home immediately and then call for help. 
  • Soot: If you see black sooty accumulating on the exterior of your furnace, it’s an indication something might be seriously wrong.

What You Can Do if Your Furnace Heat Exchanger is Cracked 

If you worry your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, call a pro well versed in furnace installation Muskogee right away so they can inspect your system and, if required, perform a furnace heat exchanger replacement. Costs should differ depending on the situation, but estimates run in the neighborhood of $1,000 to $3,000. 

However, the good news is that heat exchangers are often protected by the warranty. You should check the warranty paperwork on your furnace, as while the warranty might not cover the entire cost of repairs, it still may significantly lower your bill.  

How to Avoid a Cracked Heat Exchanger in Your Home  

One of the easiest ways to minimize the risk of problems in your furnace overall is via regular furnace maintenance. Furnaces work the best when they work efficiently. Hiring a skilled professional to check your furnace for worn-out parts, dirty filters and other likely problems can help you avoid getting a big bill later on.  

It’s also helpful to review your furnace filters every few months – it’s encouraged some filters be swapped out every 90 days or sooner if they are dirty or grimy. While the filters aren't connected to the heat exchanger itself, the strain of dragging air through a clogged filter makes your entire furnace work more vigorously to do its job. And the harder your furnace needs to run, the more wear and tear components like the heat exchanger will sustain.