You’ve noticed that lately, you haven’t been feeling all that hot. There have been headaches, nausea, and just overall fatigue… and you aren’t sure why. That is, you aren’t sure until your CO detector starts going off.
A gas leak within your home is a serious and dangerous problem. And it is also one that can originate within your furnace. We don’t want you to be afraid of using your heater when we say this–as long as it is well taken care of you should be alright. However, if you own an aging furnace and you haven’t scheduled maintenance or repairs in a while, we need to talk! Why? Because the incident described above is avoidable with a timely furnace repair in Coeur d’Alene, ID.
How Your Furnace Works
We want to start by giving you a brief crash course on how your gas furnace operates because this will help you understand how a furnace repair can help you avoid a CO leak in your home.
Once you turn on your thermostat, your furnace ignites its source of natural gas. This creates combustion gases which are then sent to what is called the heat exchanger. The gases in the heat exchanger warm it up as it is made of metal. As it warms up, it heats the air around it which is then blown into your ducts and thereby your home.
Now we can back up and focus on the source of the problem: your heat exchanger.
The Problem with a Cracked Heat Exchanger
As we said, your furnace creates combustion gases that are sent into your heat exchanger. It isn’t too hard to imagine then why a crack in this essential part of your system is problematic. Having a cracked heat exchanger means there are going to be combustion gases, such as carbon monoxide, leaking out of your furnace and into your home, presenting a big risk to your health and wellness, not to mention your comfort.
How To Tell You Have a Cracked Heat Exchanger
There are some telltale signs that will warn you it is time to call a professional to check your heat exchanger. These include:
- A rattling noise: When your heat exchanger warms as it is filled with gas, the metal expands. This, of course, opens the crack which creates a rattling noise.
- A lack of heat: If the combustion gases in your heat exchanger escape, they can’t produce the heat you need, leaving your furnace blowing cold air into your home.
- The smell of gas or rotting eggs: Natural gas doesn’t have a smell but many gas suppliers add certain agents to their gas so that, if it leaks, there is a noticeable smell to alert you to the problem.
Get the Issue Fixed Fast
When you contact ACI Northwest for your furnace repairs, you can rest assured knowing we will get the issue resolved quickly and efficiently. Our professional technicians know exactly how best to address furnace repairs so they can ensure your comfort and your safety for years to come.
Contact ACI Northwest today to schedule your next appointment.