Should You Repair Or Replace A Cracked Heat Exchanger?

Your furnace's heat exchanger is essential for transferring heat from the gas burner to the warm air that's distributed throughout your home via the ductwork. Not only can a cracked heat exchanger rob your home of its warmth, but it also allows dangerous gases to escape. The potential for carbon monoxide poisoning makes it dangerous to operate your furnace with a cracked heat exchanger.

With your furnace sidelined, it's time to decide whether it's worth repairing or replacing the heat exchanger.

When to Consider a Repair

The best time to consider a heat exchanger repair is when the furnace itself is only a few years old and still within its warranty coverage. Most furnace manufacturers cover their heat exchangers with an extended parts warranty. Some warranties offer coverage for 10 years, while others feature limited lifetime coverage. Most furnace installers also warranty their labor for up to 5 years after the furnace installation.

Keep in mind that heat exchanger repairs are no easy feat. The heat exchanger can prove difficult for a heating repair service to access, depending on the furnace model. Most heat exchanger warranties do not cover the cost of labor and efforts to repair a cracked heat exchanger can prove time-consuming. In some cases, the damage to a heat exchanger can be too extensive or inaccessible to repair properly.

When to Consider Replacement

A complete replacement of the heat exchanger may be necessary if the component is extensively damaged or if repairs are too difficult to carry out in a timely fashion. Some HVAC experts may even prefer a heat exchanger replacement to time-consuming repairs.

You should consider a heat exchanger replacement if the cost of replacement is significantly lower than the cost of buying a brand-new furnace. Even when labor costs are factored in, a heat exchanger replacement may still be affordable as long as the replacement is done under warranty.

Should You Consider a New Furnace?

If your furnace is over 10 years old and no longer covered under warranty, it may be cheaper to simply replace the entire furnace instead of investing in a heat exchanger repair or replacement. A complete furnace replacement has its perks -- you'll get to replace your current low-efficiency furnace with a higher-efficiency model, potentially saving hundreds of dollars in annual utility costs in the process. You'll also get the peace of mind that comes with owning a brand-new furnace instead of worrying about the next potential breakdown.