Chances are good, that if you cannot see the breech in your furnace's heat exchanger, then it probably isn't cracked and you probably don't need a new furnace or firebox.
Fluorescent hydro scanning is the only proof positive way of verifying for cracks in a heat exchanger.
Never accept only a visual determination from a contractor or the Gas Company. You could be investing needlessly in a new furnace.
The most common cause of cracking is from expansion and contraction of the metal during the furnace cycling process. Your furnace will turn on and off more than 100,000 times each year. This causes stress and will eventually degrade the heat exchanger to the point of failure.
The overwhelming reason is lack of airflow across the firebox. This lack of airflow can come from improperly maintained furnaces with clogged filters, clogged air conditioning coils, ducting that is too small or improperly installed ducting.
Easy, give us call. We will perform a HeatMaxx evaluation. This HeatMaxx evaluation will let you know how much airflow your furnace is actually putting out and what the temperature rise across the heat exchanger is. Too high a temperature rise equals cracking. We can perform this on a regular service call.
If we perform your furnace tune up and it breaks down this season, our service is free. We are that confident that your heating system will work perfectly after we tune it up and fix any little items that could need a little tender care.
Left Picture: Rust buildup in the firebox burner area due to lack of proper maintenance. This can cause a fire in the home. A simple cleaning and we are good until next year
Wall furnace to forced air furnace upgrades, floor furnace to forced air furnace upgrades and single stage 80% AFUE to three stage 95.5% AFUE with variable speed technology are just some of the upgrades that we perform every day.
Right Picture: This was a minor fix. The condensation line was clogged for the air conditioning system. The wiring needed to be cleaned up and then they we back in business.
As far as we are concerned our job is to impress you so that you think our work is worth at least twice as much as your investment. If that isn't the case, we didn't do our job good enough and we don't think that you should owe us anything. It's that simple. Left Firebox: Cracked firebox from a clam shell furnace. This is a stress area that is held together by a missing ring (think rivet). This is very difficult to find unless a fluorescent hydro-scan is performed. This furnace was under warranty.
If the heat exchanger or firebox fails in the first 10 years we will replace the entire furnace for you at no charge. No shipping, no handling, no warranty and no labor charges whatsoever. This includes code required upgrades. No charge means absolutely no charge. No other company offers this rock solid guarantee.
We perform the first year's maintenance for free on every new furnace that we install and there after at a very affordable investment amount. Many clients actually reduce their utility bill significantly after maintenance making that maintenance more than pay for itself.
Left: This furnace heat exchanger is suffering from water running down it from a leak in the condensation pan of the evaporator coil (air conditioning) on top of the forced air furnace.
A couple of the products of natural gas burning are carbon monoxide and moisture. While carbon monoxide can kill, the moisture from the natural gas flames is what’s typically destroys a firebox.
Left: This is an inside view of a ruptured firebox. On the surface, this cracked and rusted through heat exchanger looked just fine. This is why a thorough examination of your heat exchanger and furnace is required each year.
Not all furnaces are created equal. Some burn hotter and some burn cooler. Metal fatigue on a hot burning furnace can start the day it’s installed. The most important day in the life of the furnace.
Left: You can see the metal discolorations in this fairly new firebox. Design flaws allow parts of the firebox to expand and contract with the heat at different rates than other parts of the heat exchanger. This movement causes stresses and then cracks.
We here at the Empire Family of Services offer the finest heating and air conditioning service and repair in Southern California. With our highly trained heating and air conditioning service personnel and our friendly office staff we strive to ensure that your heating and air conditioning experience is a fast and painless one.
Our primary focus is your convenience and safety. With two hour service windows 6 days a week, no overtime ever, we can meet you at your home at the appointed time for your home air conditioning repair. We will meet your time table for your air conditioning service, guaranteed.
Wall furnace to forced air furnace upgrades, floor furnace to forced air furnace upgrades and single stage 80% AFUE to three stage 95.5% AFUE with variable speed technology are just some of the upgrades that we perform every day.
Right Picture: This was a minor fix. The condensation line was clogged for the air conditioning system. The wiring needed to be cleaned up and then they we back in business.
Above: The gas valve was set wrong on this furnace and the burners were over firing.
Above: This is an attic furnace where the flames actually left the firebox and were burning up the side of the furnace in back of the gas valve. This is very dangerous. Regular maintenance is your key to safety and efficiency.
This furnace was removed from a home in Irvine. The homeowners were complaining of headaches and burning smells. A large crack in the firebox was flooding the home with carbon monoxide.
This flame roll out was again from a crack in the furnace blowing air into the burner chamber forcing the flame up and out. Notice the electrical wires that are burnt. Regular furnace tune ups can catch these problems before they become life threatening.
If you have Weatherking furnace have it immediately checked out by our service department. We can usually solve their heat exchanger problems if they haven't already burnt through.
For Only $39 we will come to your home and diagnose what ever problem you are having with your furnace.
Plus: The service charge is applied towards any work or repair that we do.
