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Capital Heating, Cooling, and Electric

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Handling a Cracked Heat Exchanger

December 5, 2022
Cracked Heat Exchanger

When it comes to furnace repair Waukesha WI, there are some repairs that definitely take priority over others. One of these is a cracked heat exchanger. This is not a minor repair by any means and isn’t something you should try to handle yourself.

If you think you have a cracked heat exchanger, you need to call an HVAC professional as soon as possible. This is a serious health and safety issue. Let’s take an in-depth look at the signs that your furnace has developed a cracked heat exchanger so you’ll know if this has happened in your home and what you should do about it.

Why Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger a Serious Issue?

The reason a crack in a heat exchanger poses serious problems is that it creates a major health hazard. To understand why you should know how a heat exchanger works. 

In gas furnaces, a heat exchanger is a metal container that collects hot combustion gas from the burners. The heat from the gas transfers to the metal walls, causing the exchanger to burn hot. Air from the blower moves around the exchanger and picks up the heat before it passes into the ventilation system. The remaining combustion exhaust in the exchanger is then sent through a flue to escape to the outside air.

If the heat exchanger has a crack, toxic combustion gases could potentially enter the air being blown into the rooms. This is a huge health hazard!

What Causes Heat Exchangers to Crack?

As they heat up and cool down, the heat exchanger’s metal chambers expand and contract. This strain can cause a crack to develop. Sometimes a reaction between the combustion gases and the metal occurs which leads to corrosion and weakening. 

How Do I Know If My Heat Exchangers Are Cracked?

You need to know the signs of a cracked heat exchanger because you won’t see them. These cracks are nearly invisible to the naked eye.

  • You can smell stinky odors such as rotten eggs, sulfur, or formaldehyde
  • Your carbon monoxide detector is going off
  • You’re suffering from headaches, nausea, dizziness, or flu-like symptoms
  • Your furnace isn’t heating properly
  • You hear a clicking noise from the furnace after the blower shuts off
  • Signs of corrosion anywhere on your furnace

What Should I Do If I Suspect My Heat Exchanger Is Cracked?

If anyone in your home is suffering from the physical effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, you’ll need to evacuate your home and call emergency services before doing anything else. The next step is knowing that this is a problem that can’t wait to be fixed and you should reach out to a professional HVAC company like ours for immediate repairs.

The Bottom Line

It’s important to keep up with maintenance to avoid this potential safety hazard. Although older furnaces are more likely to develop cracks in the heat exchanger, keeping up on maintenance every year can help avoid this problem or catch it early.

If you suspect you have a cracked heat exchanger, contact Capital Heating, Cooling & Electric. We’ve proudly served homes throughout Wisconsin since 2007.

Previous Post:Before and After Duct Cleaning - Capital Heating and CoolingHow Duct Cleaning Helps Your Home Comfort
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  • Heating
    • Emergency Heating Repair
    • Beyondify My Furnace
    • Boilers
    • Ductless Mini Splits
    • Furnaces
    • Heat Pumps
    • Radiant Heating
    • Zone Control Systems
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    • Emergency AC Repair
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Google Rating
4.8
Based on 2310 reviews
Capital Heating & Cooling
4.8
Zach Bernardi
Zach Bernardi
1695320406
Anthony and Otilio did an excellent job. They cut the static pressure in my HVAC system in half! They were fast and efficient and left the place as clean as they found it. The price was a bit more than I expected but it was high quality work.
Manuel S
Manuel S
1694726764
This place was amazing! Had our ducts cleaned by them and that went good. They were professional and clean. Showed us pictures of the before and after work. We then decided to get new air conditioner and heater for our house. The person who scheduled us, Justin, was very professional and answered all of our questions. He also strived to get us the best deal and explained all our options well. We scheduled for the new products the next day and the workers Antonio and Otilio were really good! Antonio explained every step of the process and answered all our questions. Once they were done Antonio did an awesome job of showing us the new system and explained the thermostat well. Overall me and my wife are very satisfied with this company and would highly recommend.
Bradley Scott
Bradley Scott
1694619232
The two technicians Alejandro and Joshua were on time, professional, respectful of my home, were willing and waiting to answer any questions I had, didn’t leave until the heating and cooling components of my furnace and air were operational. They also made sure I understood the functions of the newly installed thermostat. This was a great experience for me and I would definitely recommend Capital heating and cooling to anyone.
kateri Giehl
kateri Giehl
1693750061
We had an amazing experience with Capitol heating, cooling and electrical while having a new furnace/AC installed and air ducks cleaned. All of the employees with Capital were professional, responsible and respectful. We were especially impressed with our experience with Anthony and Otilio’s installation of the furnace and AC. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for quality HVAC service and products for your home.
Vicki Burbach (Miss Vicki)
Vicki Burbach (Miss Vicki)
1693594566
Anthony and Otilio installed a new central AC unit and did a wonderful job. They were knowledgeable and did a fantastic job. They were also respectful of my property.
Tom Halstead
Tom Halstead
1693417916
We always get great service with Capital Heating and Cooling.
Soccer Fan
Soccer Fan
1692806960
Have had up and down quality from this company over the past three years. One incident created an extremely dangerous situation for my family. The last straw came when they never showed for an appointment. When I called to find out why, they claim to have called me and emailed me. I have no email or calls or messages from them as they claim to have “in their records”.I’ve given them two stars instead of one for two reasons: James, who installed my furnace and AC, and Logan, who tried to fix my AC gave me an honest assessment of the situation. If I had been able to work with people like these two upstanding men in all my interactions with this company, I’d still be a customer. If you chose to go with Capital for your needs, just make sure to request James for your installs and Logan as your tech. They do 10 stars out of 5 quality work. Thank you James and Logan! I hope you get well deserved raises!!Updated 8/23/23:I gave Capital another chance after a year since I had some a/c issues that were covered by warranty. This is not the same company I worked with in the past. Between Anthony and Skandar, we had unbelievably thorough work, explained every detail, corrected some previous by errors techs who are no longer with the company, and gave me the confidence to change my review to 5 out of 5.
Daniel Cichy
Daniel Cichy
1692751144
Great service and the technicians were very knowledgeable and kind
Bryan A
Bryan A
1692129655
Anthony and the guys did a great job and answered all our questions about the new HVAC system.
Steven Roneid
Steven Roneid
1692026869
The guys were prompt, professional, and did a great job. They made sure any questions were answered.
David Wand
David Wand
1692026724
Very efficient and friendly service. Josh called ahead and did the work on the furnace in a professional way.
HootingCat 227
HootingCat 227
1691605028
Anthony and Otilio are fantastic people! They did an outstanding job and explained everything they did! My AC was on for only a couple minutes and an amazing improvement to my home! Thank you again! (My pets and lungs thank you too!)
Chris Colby
Chris Colby
1691522298
I had Arno and James at my house today to troubleshoot my A/C. They were both very professional and knowledgeable. It didn’t take long for them to diagnose the problems and come up with a action plan for repairs. They explained and showed me the all the issues. They make a Great team! I highly recommend using them for your A/C and heating needs.
ssgeraci
ssgeraci
1691429756
Our electrician, Chad, was on time and completed the Tesla wall charger installation in half of the estimated time. The work was professionally completed including cleanup. Chad is an excellent electrician and I highly recommend him and Capitol Heating Cooling and Electrical.
Hannah Gronowski
Hannah Gronowski
1691167192
Jamie was very professional and knowledgeable and walked my through the process of a furnace tune up, he was so helpful, I appreciate his work and I am so pleased with my wonderful experience with Jamie.
Victoria Lusz
Victoria Lusz
1690999134
Our Central Air stopped working, called a different company, they were unable to repair, and replacement was 2 weeks wait. Called Capital and they arrived within an hour, new Central Air installed within 2 hours. Amazing service! Quick to respond, polite and professional. I will recommend them to everyone!
Mark Christiansen
Mark Christiansen
1690389030
I had my AC go out. They were quick to respond. What I like how they were honest with my situation. I worked in construction for years and know that they were not going to sell me what I needed. Installation was great and super friendly.Overall a great job.
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