Why Good Furnaces Go Bad

Statistics show, 超过15年的炉子每10个就有2个, 年度hth华体会下载不足或被忽视的地方, 热交换器是否有可能被破坏并有潜在危险. 问题不会以一种容易发现的方式出现. Instead, 随着热交换器破裂的恶化, increased amounts of carbon monoxide (a poisonous bi-product of furnace combustion) can find its way into your home instead of being vented outdoors. 而且，随着设备老化，发生这种情况的几率也会增加.

熔炉的年龄可能无关紧要

It is important to know that every furnace, no matter the age, can become unsafe. Newer government energy guidelines have mandated furnace manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency. One obvious way they've done this is to reduce the thickness of metal used in their heat exchangers to allow faster transfer of heat from the burning fuel to the indoor air.

如今在热交换器中使用的较薄金属的缺点是, 如果加热炉尺寸不正确或安装不正确, 许多新的熔炉在短短几年内就被发现失灵了. Unfortunately, homeowners don't know if this has occurred until a problem is detected. For this reason, the qualifications and reputation of the installing contractor should be a determining factor when taking bids instead of price alone.

是什么导致热交换器失效?

The heat exchanger is the metal passage separating combustion products and gasses from the indoor air being heated. This metal is exposed to the hot flame within the furnace and is constantly expanding and contracting as the furnace heats up and cools down. The stress of this constant expansion and contraction will eventually wear the metal out. 这就是所谓的“金属疲劳”. Over time, this will cause the metal in the heat exchanger to split or crack-no different than if you were to bend a paper clip back and forth until it breaks.

Horizontal furnaces (typically installed in crawlspaces below the home) and oversized furnaces (where the gas is continually turning on and off) are subject to more stress and usually wear out sooner due to their operating conditions. These types of furnaces should be inspected yearly-especially if more than ten years old.

保持炉子鼓风机的清洁是至关重要的

Dirt build-up on the blades of your furnace's blower can also contribute to early aging of your furnace's heat exchanger. Blower cleaning is critical since a build-up of dirt on the blower blades will reduce the furnace's airflow and cause it to use more electricity. 较低的气流会使炉子升温, increasing the rate of expansion and contraction of the heat exchanger's metal. 最终的结果是过度的金属疲劳和最终的过早破坏.

我如何知道我的炉子是否安全?

A professional inspection is the most accurate way to know for sure if your furnace's heat exchanger is sound. 电子“气体嗅探器”可以帮助找到坏的热交换器, but it is important that they never be used as the reason to condemn a furnace. 他们可以被愚弄，在很多情况下是错误的.

许多公司提供大约60美元的检查服务. However, these include very little, if any, actual cleaning of the furnace, 通常只需要20到30分钟. 这种类型的项目可能会让你对你的装备有一种信心, 但它们并不能让你的炉子运转得更好.

A better investment is a complete tune-up and cleaning that includes a heat exchanger inspection. When comparing prices, it is important to know that a good tune-up should take a technician anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, 并将始终包括去除和清理高炉鼓风机.

如果你的热交换器被发现有故障, knowing how to verify the problem may save you from unnecessary expense and grief. Unfortunately, without this knowledge, trusting homeowners can sometimes be misled by unscrupulous companies into replacing their entire furnace.

See the problem for yourself

The only true way to know for sure if your heat exchanger is cracked is to actually see the crack. If a service technician claims to be able to see a crack in your heat exchanger, 他应该能给你看, too. 大多数有信誉的公司都会坚持这一点.

您也可以自己验证它. 这可以通过移除炉子的鼓风机来实现, 或者在炉子顶部切割一个管道系统, 然后插入一盏灯到燃烧器区域的火焰通常是. If the heat exchanger is cracked, you will see light inside the ductwork shining through the crack. 另一种方法是在热交换器外面喷水. If there is a crack, 你会看到水从里面渗出来, 导致换热器内部出现一个湿点. For either test, a mirror can help you look into the different burner sections. 如果你还有疑问，我们很乐意给你第二个意见.

What are my options?

If you do have a failed heat exchanger, it is serious and, if left uncorrected, can be fatal. That is why, 当发现一个失效的热交换器, 为了明显的安全起见，炉子必须关闭. Since it is against the law to repair it, the heat exchanger or the entire furnace must be replaced. Which should you choose?

首先，请参考你所拥有的与你的炉子有关的任何保修信息. However, 如果失败是由于不合适的尺寸或安装, consider that a new heat exchanger will be subject to the same conditions which led to the premature failure of the original. 在这种情况下，一个新的熔炉可能是一个明智的投资. Of course, other factors such as the age and efficiency of your existing furnace should also be considered in making your decision.