What is a “cracked” furnace?
The part of a gas furnace that transfers the heat from the flame to the air in the house is called a “heat exchanger”. If the heat exchanger has a crack, the fumes (carbon monoxide) enter the air that comes out of the registers. Even a small crack is extremely dangerous and should be tended to immediately. Heat exchangers can be replaced, however, if they are out of warranty, it is usually not much more to install a new higher efficiency furnace.
The heat exchanger is the main component of your furnace. If the heat exchanger has a crack or a rust hole, combustion fumes (including carbon monoxide) can contaminate the air in your home. This is a potentially deadly situation and must be addressed. The heat exchanger or furnace needs to be replaced immediately. If you suspect there might be a crack in your furnace s heat exchanger or a carbon monoxide problem with your furnace, turn the system off immediately and call for service.
