A furnace is often a background player for your home, ensuring you're warm in the cold winter months. It regularly isn't noticed until something goes wrong. 

One source might be that your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. It’s a potentially dangerous issue, so it’s worthwhile to learn the symptoms of a cracked heat exchanger and what you can do if you believe that may be the problem.  

What Is a Heat Exchanger in a Furnace? 

A heat exchanger helps transition heat from the combustion chamber in your furnace to the air that moves through the ventilation. It usually handles this using coils or tubes that heat the air while serving as a barrier to keep gas formed in the combustion chamber, called flue gasses, from getting out into your home.  

Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous? 

Given its central role, it’s no surprise that a cracked heat exchanger can be hazardous. A crack in the heat exchanger can permit dangerous gasses – such as carbon monoxide, which can be lethal – to flow across your home. 

For that reason, never use your heating if you believe it has a cracked heat exchanger, as this could make your entire household ill. Reach out to an HVAC professional right away if you think your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger that needs to be repaired.