Did you know that the gas-powered furnace is the most popular type of heating system used in the country? This is for a very good reason. First off, furnaces today are very efficient, and paying for gas every month is more affordable than paying for electrical appliances as it is a cheaper fuel source. Furnaces produce a great amount of heat, and are a good choice for many homes in our area.
However, whatever gas-powered appliance we’re talking about, it does have the ability to develop safety hazards. This is why maintenance is so incredibly vital. Part of preventive maintenance, aside from cleaning your furnace and alerting you to any repair needs or any other need for HVAC services in Moore, OK, is inspecting your heater. It’s during this inspection we’ll check for anything that needs adjusting or fixing.
A Closer Look at the Heat Exchanger
Many homeowners don’t understand exactly what a heat exchanger is or what it does. That’s okay, but it’s a lot less okay if you don’t have maintenance done on a routine basis. The heat exchangers of your furnace are clam-shaped metal chambers that allow your furnace to actually heat up the air that travels through its ductwork system.
When the burners of your furnace ignite, they generate hot combustion gas, which collects inside these metal chambers. This gas heats up the metal walls of your furnace, and the blower fan comes on and sends air around the exchanger, where it picks up heat from the furnace wall, then continues through the air ducts.
When the process goes as planned, this combustion gas never comes in contact with the air that gets distributed through your vents. And once the heating process is complete, the combustion byproducts in the heat exchanger are vented out of the system through the flue of the furnace, so that the gas is harmlessly released and dissipated into the outdoor air.
The Dangers of Cracks
What happens during the heating process is that the metal of the heat exchanger expands and contracts with the heating and cooling of the system. This creates stress on the chambers, which eventually can lead to cracks. These cracks are tiny—you probably wouldn’t be able to even see them with a magnifying glass if the chambers are cool.
But the exchangers expand again with heat, and then enable some of the combustion gasses to escapes and enter your home’s airflow. This means that harmful gasses are sent throughout your home.
“How Do I Detect a Problem?”
Listen—do you hear a clicking noise coming from your furnace as soon as the blower shuts off? This can be the sound of the heat exchangers contracting as they cool. This should absolutely be investigated by a pro. Even if your heat exchanger doesn’t end of being the problem, any noise you’re unfamiliar with coming from your heater should be inspected to ensure you don’t have a dangerous problem on your hands.