A heat exchanger is a device in your furnace that allows heat to transfer from your furnace and into your home. A flame is used to heat up the heat exchanger, but the carbon monoxide from the flame is kept safely inside. As your furnace ages, this mechanism may fail and crack. This may release these dangerous toxins into your home which can be harmful to your health. Read on for signs you have a cracked heat exchanger.

Your Furnace Isn't Turning On

If your furnace turns on, then off, but doesn't turn back on again, it may be due to a cracked heat exchanger. The crack will cause the blower to blow the flame the opposite direction and turn off the rollout switch. This may occur three times (depending on your furnace) and will not turn on again. If you aren't able to turn your furnace back on, call a professional furnace repair technician for help.

Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Turned On

If you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home (which you should), and one of them has sounded the alarm, it may be due to a carbon monoxide leak in your furnace. If you have an alarm sounding in your home call your local gas company to have your gas turned off, then call a professional HVAC technician to have your furnace repaired.

Carbon monoxide can be harmful to your health and even deadly if not detected. It doesn't have a scent, and it cannot be seen, which is what makes it so dangerous. Carbon monoxide detectors should be in every home that uses natural gas. 

You Smell An Odorous Gas

Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or smelled, but other chemical odors may be released from your furnace. If you smell anything at all that isn't normal coming from your furnace, it could be the sign of a cracked heat exchanger or some other type of problem. Turn your furnace off and call a professional furnace repair technician to inspect your furnace. These gases may cause health concerns for you including headaches, dizziness, or nausea. It's best to be safe and call in a professional.

If you think you have a cracked heat exchanger, or you have any other type of problem with your furnace, call in professional furnace repair services for help. Get your furnace repaired and prevent injury, illness, or worse, to yourself and others in your home.