Who Can You Trust With Your Cracked Heat Exchanger?
CBC News recently reported in this important article about a prevalent furnace scam practise in Canada. It is a very real, but sometimes inappropriate diagnosis of a cracked Heat Exchanger during furnace service or repair. In this post, I will clarify what this diagnosis really means for homeowners, and how you can avoid the possibility of getting taken advantage of by unscrupulous HVAC technicians or furnace contractors.
What is a Heat Exchanger?
A Heat Exchanger is a major component of the furnace that transfers heat from the burner flame to the air that is circulated throughout your home. One common example of a heat exchanger is the radiator in a car which transfers heat from the engine to the outside air. Heat exchangers are designed in many different shapes and sizes.
What Actually 'Cracks'?
Repeated heating and cooling of the heat exchanger can cause the metal in the heat exchanger to fatigue over time. This metal fatigue combined with moisture can cause cracks to develop in the heat exchanger. When cracks occur in the metal, combustion gases can seep through the cracks and enter the home along with the air circulated by the furnace. In some cases, these combustion gases can contain carbon monoxide, or CO. All combustion gases are usually expelled through an exhaust vent (like a tail pipe on a car) leading to the roof or an outside wall of the home.
Carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless, and significant exposure can lead to death. It is the responsibility of a responsible furnace technician to identify cracks in the heat exchanger as part of routine annual furnace maintenance or a repair service diagnosis.
Why Cracked Heat Exchanger Scams Occur
In heat exchanger scam article, a spokesperson for a Heating & Air Conditioning service company stated in a previous investigation; “we have discovered that in three recent instances, technician’s efforts to adequately diagnose a furnace operating issue were not in full compliance with either our own or the industry standard.” Why wouldn't a furnace technician comply with the industry standard for such a serious safety issue? Normally, a cracked heat exchanger is documented and presented with verifiable proof. In the case of a verified cracked heat exchanger, the homeowner should replace the furnace as soon as possible for the safety of people living in the home. However, a cracked heat exchanger diagnosis can also be an opportunity for a furnace repair company to get a sale.
Now you're probably getting the point. Unethical furnace repair companies or uncertified furnace technicians may view cracked heat exchangers as an excuse to recommend and charge for a new furnace. This leads to the unethical practise of falsely claiming a heat exchanger is cracked, in an effort to sell a new furnace to the homeowner.
How To Avoid Cracked Heat Exchanger and Other Furnace Scams
In this previous post, I discussed in some detail how to avoid these Furnace Scams. The crux of it is, always ensure your furnace is being worked on by NATE-certified Furnace Technicians. NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence, and is the only nationally recognized certification for the HVAC/R industry. You can know a NATE-certified technician from the patch on their shirt or uniform. Certified and properly trained technicians understand the proper HVAC procedures necessary to accurately diagnose heat exchanger failures. It’s actually very difficult to visually determine whether a heat exchanger has cracks. If a visual inspection indicates a potential crack or weak spot in the heat exchanger, it should be followed up with a heat exchanger test to verify failure.
NATE-certification is THE key to quality problem diagnosis and workmanship. NATE-certification does not necessarily mean that every repair will be simple or inexpensive, but it does mean that you will most likely have a high-integrity and highly qualified furnace technician, with the professional experience and training to diagnose, estimate and make the repairs needed more safely and efficiently. It bears repeating that there is a high value to skilled workmanship. So don't be afraid to ask for expert furnace repair service, which includes proper licensing, high ethical standards of excellence, and NATE-certification.
For more information on NATE-certification, visit http://www.hvacradvice.com/.