If your furnace has been red tagged due to a cracked heat exchanger, it’s time to choose between repairing or replacing your unit. Making this decision, however, is often easier said than done. In order to help you evaluate your current situation and take the right steps forward, here’s a guide to dealing with a cracked heat exchanger.
Why should I be concerned about a cracked heat exchanger?
Unfortunately, some owners will attempt to run their furnace even when a cracked heat exchanger has been detected. It’s important that you understand there’s a good reason behind your furnace being red tagged, or taken out of commission. Choosing to ignore the warning could yield serious consequences. By running a furnace that’s known to have a cracked heat exchanger, you could be acting within direct violation of the law, as well as putting yourself and your family in grave danger.
A crack in the heat exchanger can allow poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) to leak into your home, leading to illness or even death. Additionally, because your heat exchanger is such an integral part of your heating system, it’s typically an expensive problem. Therefore, any cracks found in your heat exchanger should be addressed promptly in order to maintain safety and comfort, as well as allowing you time to consider whether repair or replacement will be the most cost-effective solution.
Which is best: repairing or replacing my furnace?
Hiring your HVAC contractor to fix your heat exchanger may initially seem less expensive, but repairs should only be considered when:
- Your furnace is under 10 years old
- Repair parts are completely covered under manufacturer warranty
- Labor costs are less than 25 percent of the cost to replace
Even if your situation meets these criteria, you should still consider upgrading your furnace. Recent technological advancements ensure that today’s heating systems are far superior in efficiency and performance to those units manufactured only several years ago.
If you suspect a cracked heat exchanger or would like a quote on repairing or replacing your furnace, contact the pros at Ace Hardware Home Services. We proudly serve residents of Dayton and the surrounding areas.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about cracked heat exchangers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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