Cracked heat exchanger leads to new boiler
Until last winter, I had never given much thought to how the boiler operated or the importance of the heat exchanger. I didn’t realize exactly what a heat exchanger is. I’ve since learned that it is made up of coiled tubes that contain the moderate gasses produced by the combustion process. When the blower starts up and cool air flows over the heat exchanger, the air becomes warmer without coming into contact with dangerous gasses. The heated air then rises into the plenum, which is a box made out of sheet metal that links to the supply ducts. From the supply ducts, the air gets spread throughout the house. The combustion byproducts get sent through the flue pipe and safely delivered outside by way of the chimney. The heat exchanger is the barrier between the breathing air and carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur, VOCs and more. A always operating heat exchanger and ventilation system ensure that none of those combustion gasses ever get circulated into the living space. Because I failed to keep up with typical professional maintenance for the boiler, the accumulation of dust on the filters, blowers, coils and heat exchanger made it hard for air to pass through the system. The heat exchanger hot and developed a small crack. Finding a heat exchanger to match my certain boiler proved impossible, and I had no choice however to replace the entire heating unit, then neglecting annual upkeep ended up costing me a superb deal. I now have a brand new boiler, and I’m taking very nice care of it.