It might seem as if you don’t need to know too much about the heating system in your home. In large part, this is true. As long as you have qualified technicians work on your heater from time to time, there’s not much you need to know about its inner workings (unless that’s something that interests you).
Still, we think there’s one part you should know more about, because it concerns your family’s health and safety. The heat exchanger is a vital component of your furnace allowing the air from your home to heat up. But it can also contribute to some major safety risks in your house.
What Is the Heat Exchanger?
The heat exchanger is a part inside of your furnace typically made of cast iron or steel. The heat exchanger participates in a crucial exchange during the combustion process. As fuel combusts inside of a heat exchanger, it gets warm along the outside. Typically, a heat exchanger is a set of curvy tubes, which expands its surface area and allows for greater heating efficiency.
The main feature of any heat exchanger is that it is airtight. During combustion, certain byproducts result that you do not want in your home. This includes carbon monoxide—a dangerous, odorless, colorless gas that can prove toxic.
What Goes Wrong?
Unfortunately, your heat exchanger could spring a leak—one that allows carbon monoxide to leak out into your home. And this gas can be deadly. The heat exchanger may get a hole for a few different reasons—faulty installation, faulty repairs, or old age. The most important thing is that you do whatever you can to prevent dangerous CO leaks.
- Only allow professional HVAC technicians to service your heating equipment.
- Schedule heating inspections once a year in the fall.
- Have carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home, just in case.
Contact Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning for your heating service needs in Colorado Springs, CO.
