5 Symptoms of a Cracked Heat Exchanger in Myrtle Beach, SC

The heat exchanger is the part of your furnace that transfers heat and conducts the exhaust out. Because it has exhaust flowing through it, a crack is extremely dangerous, potentially leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. Consider these five symptoms that indicate you may have a cracked heat exchanger in your Myrtle Beach, SC, furnace:

Strong Smell

Furnace exhaust has a very peculiar smell, which many people describe as smelling like formaldehyde. If you don’t know what formaldehyde smells like, some say it has a strong pickle-like smell. Find the source for any new or strange smells in your home to ensure there isn’t a dangerous situation forming.

Water Around Your Furnace

Keep an eye open for water collecting around the base of your furnace. There are many reasons you may see this other than a cracked heat exchanger, such as a clogged condensate drain. Shut down your system and call for professional furnace repair to identify and fix the source of the water leak.

Carbon Monoxide Detector is Going Off

First, be sure that you have a functional carbon monoxide detector in your house. If it goes off, get everyone out of your home quickly to prevent serious harm and call 911. Gas-burning furnaces and water heaters are the primary source of household carbon monoxide and may require a new unit.

Rattling Sound

A cracked heat exchanger may produce a rattling sound, especially when your furnace first cycles on. This is from the metal in the heat exchanger warming up and expanding. It may or may not stop once it warms up, but you should investigate the situation due to the risk.

Yellow-Looking Flame

The flame in your furnace should look blue when it’s operating properly. If it’s yellowish looking, a cracked heat exchanger is one of the possible problems. A trained HVAC service tech can help you track down the underlying problem.

Catch a cracked heat exchanger before it puts your entire household at risk. Call to schedule your furnace maintenance with the trusted service techs at Warren-Hay Mechanical today.

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