Heat exchanger inspections
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Here we discuss how to inspect furnace heat exchangers for leaks. We
recommend that you never rely on visual inspection alone to determine the safety
of a furnace heat exchanger. Dangerous carbon monoxide gas leaks, potentially
fatal, can be present intermittently depending on variations in heating system
operation and building conditions. This website answers most questions about
central heating system troubleshooting, inspection, diagnosis, and repairs. We
describe how to inspect residential heating systems to inform home owners,
buyers, and home inspectors of common heating system defects. Readers of this
article should also see How to Inspect Heating Systems and those considering
using instruments to test heat exchangers for leaks should review
Recommendations for gas measurement instruments & gas detector tubes for indoor
gas level tests. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you
wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.
Visual inspection of the heat exchanger for cracks: It is possible in some cases
to see a damaged heat exchanger by spotting Cracks in the steel, discoloration,
or soot.
Extending the heat exchanger visual inspection with light and mirror: One can
try with a flashlight and mirror to extend the total area that can be seen above
the Burner itself with the burner off of course.
Using a telescoping mirror and flashlight one can inspect most of the interior
of most oil fired furnace combustion chambers and most of the interior of the
simple can-type oil fired furnace heat exchangers.
Common heat exchanger leak, crack, or rust points: that should be included in an
inspection include cracks at welds, seams, and on certain models, a heating
service technician may know that defects have been found at a particular
location.
Known causes of heat exhanger damage: in addition to the possiblity of leaks and
rust damage we've already discussed, other conditions can make a visible or
hidden heat exchanger crack or opening more likely to have occurred. These
include evidence that the system was dropped or damaged during shipment or
installation, or knowledge of or evidence of overheating, such as the furnace's
burner having been forced to operate past the normal high temperature limits of
a fan limit switch. We encountered this last damage after an inspector, knowing
that once the blower comes on any furnace gas leak may be diluted or even
reversed in direction, wired the furnace's gas burner to keep operating past the
normal high limit on that safety control, so that s/he would have a longer
period to test the system for leaks.
Known problem furnace or heat exchanger brands: Some heating furnace brands and
models have become known to have frequent or specific safety concerns. If your
furnace model has been recalled or has had a safety warning issued concerning it
that information can often be found by searching the US Consumer Product Safety
Commission's website or by asking your local heating contractor to check that
information for you. Some examples of heat exchanger and carbon monoxide
warnings about heating products include:
Any evidence of furnace heat exchanger damage or of carbon monoxide or flue gas
leaks should be taken seriously and those heating systems should be immediately
checked by a professional.
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