Does my heat exchanger have cracks?

Question

I had an hvac person come out to check my air conditioning and he happened to look at my furnace and he believes that I have some cracks in my heat exchanger. His believes so because there looked to be like a dark spot that might indicate some moisture that got burned. There is also a little bit of ashy like deposit on my furnace. Does it sound like this guy is right? He didn't actually do any kind of tests on it though.

Another thing.....I bought this house a year ago and I had a home protection plan that expired right before i found this out. However, I can still renew it and it will still count if i was to have someone come out and look at it and they determine that it did happen this past year while i had the protection plan. My only concern is that the home protection company has certain companies that work for them and I 'm afraid that if i renew and they come out and find that i do have cracks but try to tell me it's been like that for awhile, then it's not covered & im out $

Answer 1

See if there are companys in your area that will give you a bid for your furnace for free. what some charge for a service call are crazy. the gas company is not the way to go on a replacement. most ofthe time they will subcontract the work done but they want their cut too. They will add it to your monthly bill which makes it attractive but the final price is outrageous. it may be that you have a hot spot on your exchanger. excess air entering the exchanger is not too big a concern it is the products of the combustion process getting out and mixing with the living space air. many cracks are noticeable but there are times that they cannot be seen so a CO meter is used to determine whether the combustion chamber is leaking. the furnace must be running to determine this. If he felt that there really was a problem he would have documented it and red tagged the furnace. sounds to me like he was just "planting the seed" to sell you a furnace and "watering it " with a little suggestion that it might be dangerous. |Have the furnace properly checked. have them explain the readings and see them yourself. be sure that you have operated the furnace for about fifteen minutes the day before they come. burnt dust from not being used can give a faulty reading. if the crack IS at the hotspot it will be visible. stay there when he is checking it. the metal is weakened where the hotspot is I have known techs to reach in and poke a hole in the hotspot for the sale.

Answer 2

Home warranties are a rip off.

They will send out some company that is willing to work for what they are willing to pay. (you'll get the sharpest tack in the pack this way) If they conclude there is a crack, you'll get the cheapest furnace available to replace it, or new heat exchangers put into your old furnace.

Answer 3

If you had it inspected and since you can prove it, I would think the home warrenty people would have a hard time denying a claim. That does not mean they won't try.

A crack in a heat exchanger will put excess air in the chamber and can cause soot, dark ask, not grey. A little bit of grey ash is normal from lint that gets burnt and the contaminents in the gas.  

BUT I have seen where people see some spots and think there may be cracks when there are none. But it is likely a hot spot, a weak spot, and something is a little wrong. Could have been as simple as dirty burners.  

Companies will look hard for reasons to condemn a furnace so they can sell you a new one. I think you have to take it with a grain of salt.  

I'd ask the gas company out to check it again for a second opinion.

Good Luck

Answer 4

HVAC Tech.: You need to get a second opinion,Your life could depend on it. If you indeed have cracks in your heat-exchanger, that is how carbon-monoxide gets into the house  and makes you and your family wake up DEAD!! If you don't already have one get a carbon monoxide detector,AND INSTALL IT!!! The gas company will not inspect your appliances and that includes your furnace. Weather or not you can get your warranty in effect again, you need to know IF you HAVE a problem and cure it if you do. I have worked for several reputable companies and NEVER sold any one something they did not NEED. If you don't know the company ,contact the BBB. An honest tech will get you next to the furnace and show you how he tests and what he finds! If you are in a boat you don't have to have water up to your knees to KNOW the boat leaks. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish, Good Luck!!

Answer 5

You should contact your local gas company as they do normally inspect furnace heat exchangers. The absolutely best way to verify if the exchanger is cracked is to take a reading with a carbon monoxide meter. The gas company should be able to do that for you. They won't repair the furnace, in fact they'll red tag it and shut it off if it is defective, but at least you'll know. Also, if you need to replace the furnace, check with the gas company to see if they have rebates for energy efficient units. They'll often times provide a list of qualifying equipment for you. Good luck.