Your furnace’s heat exchanger securely contains the combustion gasses used to heat your home. As this component ages, it can develop cracks and wear that impact its efficiency and can affect your safety. Keep reading for some common signs of a damaged furnace heat exchanger in Hartwell, GA.
Yellow Furnace Flame
Your furnace flame should burn steadily and be blue, but a yellow flame could mean an inefficiency issue with your burner or heat exchanger. If the flame is off-color or flickering, there may be serious damage that needs immediate furnace repairs.
Presence of Soot
Gas furnaces produce soot when there’s a substantial amount of carbon in the system. This occurs when your furnace isn’t efficiently burning all of its fuel, otherwise referred to as incomplete combustion. While this issue can result from a defective burner, it’s can also be caused by a damaged furnace heat exchanger.
Unpleasant Odor
If you notice what smells like formaldehyde near your furnace, immediately leave the area and call an HVAC service technician. Compromised heat exchangers leak toxic gasses into the air that can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea. The longer you’re exposed to these fumes, the more your health could be at risk.
Visible Rust or Corrosion
Many furnaces develop exterior rust and corrosion over time, which can become an issue when it spreads up into the interior of your furnace. Once your furnace heat exchanger rusts, it may develop cracks and no longer be able to safely heat your home throughout winter.
It’s essential to catch problems with your furnace heat exchanger as soon as possible to protect your health and home. Contact McGee Heating & Air Inc. if you’re noticing signs that your heat exchanger is damaged and you need heating services in Hartwell, GA. We offer standard appointments and provide emergency furnace repairs.
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