Is your Cibolo home suddenly feeling a bit frosty? Your furnace’s heat exchanger could be on its last legs. The heat exchanger is a must-have part of your furnace, and if it’s cracked, your system could struggle mightily to heat your home.

Can you run a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger? Technically, yes, but it’s not the best idea. Learn why that is below, then call us for furnace repair services in Cibolo, TX.

What Does a Heat Exchanger Do?

The heat exchanger does a lot of heavy lifting in your furnace. Heat exchangers consist of metal coils that absorb and transfer heat. Once those coils heat up, the heat exchanger sends warm air throughout your home via its ductwork.

Heat exchangers can last for 15-20 years without a problem. If yours develops a crack, you might notice signs like these:

• Your furnace won’t blow warm air anymore. Some furnaces have a failsafe that shuts the system off when it detects a crack in the heat exchanger.
• Your furnace’s flame is yellow instead of blue. This happens when oxygen gets into the system, often through cracks in the heat exchanger.
• You spot corrosion or cracks on the outside of the unit. If you see exterior damage, there are probably cracks inside the system, too.
• There’s soot buildup around the furnace. Soot builds up due to poor combustion, which happens when the heat exchanger is damaged.
• You smell something foul, like sulfur or gas, around the furnace. Broken heat exchangers can cause carbon monoxide buildup in your home, jeopardizing your safety.
• The efficiency of your furnace isn’t what it once was. The furnace seems to run constantly, and your heating bills are sky-high.

Can You Run a Furnace With a Cracked Heat Exchanger?

So, can you run a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger? There’s nothing stopping you from doing so, but it’s a pretty bad idea. The biggest reason why is that a cracked heat exchanger can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your house. Carbon monoxide kills, and even if it doesn’t, you might experience symptoms of CO poisoning like headaches, confusion, and fatigue. On top of that, your furnace could catch on fire or even explode. Just don’t risk it!

Your furnace might still work if the heat exchanger has a crack, but it’ll run far less efficiently than usual. You might notice the furnace running constantly in a vain attempt to heat your home. You’ll end up with high energy bills and little to show for it.

Why Do Heat Exchangers Crack?

What causes heat exchangers to crack in the first place? One of the biggest causes is running the furnace too much, which causes overheating. When that happens, the airflow can become blocked, which causes the heat exchanger to repeatedly expand and contract. Over time, that movement leads to cracks.

Blockages in the air ducts contribute to overheating, too. If you haven’t cleaned your ductwork in a while, it could be filled with dust bunnies, cobwebs, pet dander, and other junk that impacts the furnace’s efficiency.

Why Choose Apollo Air Heating & Cooling for Heat Exchanger Repair?

Can you run a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger? Better to be safe than sorry!

If you’re facing a cracked heat exchanger, don’t try to fix it yourself. Our technicians at Apollo Air Heating & Cooling will have your furnace fixed up in no time. Here’s why you’ll love working with our experts:

• We put our customers before profits. You can trust us to never recommend repairs that you don’t truly need.
• We understand that when your furnace stops working, you don’t want to wait long for repairs. That’s why we show up on time every time.
• We offer maintenance plans to keep your furnace in top shape all year long. Sign up now and save 20% on repairs.

We Love Serving Cibolo, TX

One of the reasons why we love serving Cibolo, TX, is that it’s loaded with wide-open spaces and natural wonders. We’re big fans of Crescent Bend Nature Park and Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary, which is home to nearly 300 bird species. And, of course, you can’t miss the nearby Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo. 

Can You Run a Furnace With a Cracked Heat Exchanger? Don’t Risk It; Call Us Instead

Can you run a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger? You can, but it’s just not worth the risk to the system or your family’s safety. If you suspect a crack in your heat exchanger, contact us at Apollo Air Heating & Cooling to schedule furnace repair today.