{"id":2901,"date":"2024-02-19T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-19T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/?p=2901"},"modified":"2026-06-19T04:31:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T08:31:42","slug":"a-cracked-heat-exchanger-is-a-major-furnace-repair-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/a-cracked-heat-exchanger-is-a-major-furnace-repair-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"A Cracked Heat Exchanger Is a Major Furnace Repair Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"hands-opening-heating-cabinet\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Gas furnaces<\/a> are reliable and powerful heating systems that can work for many years delivering warmth to a home. It\u2019s why they\u2019re still the most common household heating system across the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some homeowners are cautious about using gas furnaces because of possible safety hazards. Burning natural gas<\/a> in any appliance has some risk of uncontrolled combustion and toxic gas leaks. But as long as a furnace receives regular maintenance each year and prompt repairs when needed, the risk is minimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We want to focus on one specific furnace repair problem that can create serious health hazards: a cracked\u00a0heat exchanger<\/a>. The more you know about it, the easier it will be to prevent it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Job of the Heat Exchanger<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The heat exchanger is the part of a gas furnace that does the actual heating of the air moving through the furnace and into the ductwork. The exchanger is a metal container where the hot combustion gas from the burners collects when a furnace is running. The combustion gas raises the temperature of the walls of the heat exchanger, and then when the blower turns on, the air it pushes around the heat exchanger picks up heat from the walls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason for having a heat exchanger in the first place is that the combustion gas cannot directly heat the air entering the house without allowing dangerous fumes to get into it. The exchanger serves as the \u201cmiddleman\u201d in the heating process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cracks in the Exchanger<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since a heat exchanger keeps harmful gases from entering the air, a crack is a potentially dangerous problem. A crack on the exchanger\u2019s metal may not look like much, but when the exchanger heats up, the metal expands and causes cracks to open\u2014enough to let toxic combustion gas byproducts seep into the air. Homeowners should also treat electrical burning smells or loud metallic grinding noises as serious hvac repair warning signs. This can mean carbon monoxide getting blown directly into the living spaces\u2014and that\u2019s bad!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several potential causes of heat exchanger cracks. One is age: after years of the metal of the exchanger expanding and contracting, the stress can lead to cracks. In Fresno, common HVAC issues can also include dirty filters, tripped breakers, and clogged condensate drains. A clogged air filter can cause weak airflow, and algae can build up in condensate drain lines in Fresno\u2019s warm climate, so those drains should be checked regularly to help prevent hvac system issues. Another cause is, which can form along the heat exchanger because of poor venting of gases from the exchanger. Corrosion weakens metal, making it easy for cracks to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What You Can Do About Heat Exchanger Cracks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best tool to use against this problem is prevention\u2014always schedule your furnace for routine maintenance and preventive maintenance each year, preferably in the fall, with scheduled tune-ups and inspections that help prevent costly breakdowns. This HVAC maintenance helps heating and cooling<\/a> systems maintain efficiency, can extend equipment life, and with annual service may improve energy efficiency enough to reduce energy costs by up to 30% over time. Our technicians will catch any problem that may lead to cracks so we can apply the proper furnace repair in Fresno, CA<\/a> to correct it. Homeowners should also replace air filters every 1\u20133 months, especially during peak summer usage. If a failing unit needs replacement, choosing the right new HVAC system and handling professional system installations are important for performance and energy efficiency. The process typically includes assessing the space, selecting the right unit for your heating installation and cooling needs, choosing hvac equipment that fits the home\u2019s needs efficiently, and checking ductwork and insulation, with system location affecting performance and noise, including placement in the attic when appropriate; we also provide new system installations for replacement situations and full upgrades. We will also detect when cracks have formed and take the proper steps to fix it. For older furnaces, we strongly recommend replacement when cracks start to occur. Emergency HVAC repair is available 24\/7 for urgent heating and cooling problems, and fast response times help restore cool air quickly and keep the home comfortable year round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your key protection inside your home against the dangers of heat exchanger cracks is CO detectors. Make sure to check all your home\u2019s detectors before winter to ensure they\u2019re working. They\u2019ll provide you with the necessary warning of increasing CO levels in your home so you can vacate and call the gas company.\u00a0For reliable service, homeowners should rely on a locally owned and operated air conditioning company that puts customers first, supports home comfort, and offers transparent pricing for year round comfort; licensed and insured technicians should handle repairs and installation for compliance with local codes and standards, and technicians should also have NATE certification to support modern diagnostic practices. Verify a California contractor\u2019s active C-20 HVAC license through the Department of Consumer Affairs or State Contractors License Board, and request itemized written estimates before repairs. We also provide free estimates for air conditioning<\/a> repair, ac repair, and new system installations. In California, major HVAC structural repairs and system change-outs require local building permits. Many companies offer financing to help customers manage the cost of repairs and new system installations, making service more affordable. Homeowners may also qualify for special financing programs that let them pay over time for a new HVAC system and other HVAC needs, often with promotional interest rates or deferred payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Purl\u2019s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning for your furnace needs in the Central Valley. Uncompromised Quality & Customer Service Since 1952.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We want to focus on one specific furnace repair problem that can create serious health hazards: a cracked heat exchanger.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[87,195,50],"vertical":[],"segment":[],"service":[],"class_list":["post-2901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-heating-service","tag-fresno","tag-furnace-repair","tag-heating-system-repair"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2901"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3333,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901\/revisions\/3333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2901"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=2901"},{"taxonomy":"segment","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/segment?post=2901"},{"taxonomy":"service","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purlsheetmetal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service?post=2901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}