My Furnace Has Been Condemned?
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No one likes hearing that their furnace has been condemned due to safety and health concerns, and that it has to be replaced. Getting this news is stressful and inconvenient, to say the least, but unfortunately it does happen. There’s a very good reason why state law makes condemning a furnace an HVAC company’s responsibility. The biggest threat is Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning, which can cause illness and even death.
What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)?
Carbon Monoxide (CO), known as the “Silent Killer” is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. The burning of any fuel has the potential to produce carbon monoxide.
What is a Heat Exchanger?
A cracked heat exchanger is one of the most common reasons why a furnace has to be condemned. Heat exchangers used in home heating systems separate the poisonous gases (CO) created during the combustion process from your indoor breathing air. They house Carbon Monoxide before venting it, usually through a chimney or a pipe … but a cracked heat exchanger can expel deadly gases into your home.
“Every year 600 Americans die due to accidental acute Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Over 20,000 are made ill and treated.” ~Centers for Disease Control
How Did My Heat Exchanger Get Cracked?
Like all technologies, heat exchangers eventually fail. The normal process of expansion and contraction as a heat exchanger heats up and cools down weakens it over time, and eventually causes cracks in the metal. Once the heat exchanger is cracked, it is compromised and will leak harmful gases into your indoor breathing air. Overheating is often the culprit in systems that break down prematurely. Restricted air flow from poor or infrequent maintenance, an aging system, or even something as simple as a dirty air filter can restrict airflow and result in an overheated heat exchanger. Heat exchangers should be visually inspected annually. Light or water passing through a breach is a positive confirmation of a hole or crack. Sanford can also use a tool called a combustion analyzer to determine if CO is leaking into your home, and confirm a technician’s analysis.
What Are My Options Now?
If a heat exchanger is compromised, homeowners have two options: replace the heat exchanger or replace the furnace. Heat exchangers are located at the center of the furnace, which means technicians must disassemble most of the furnace in order to troubleshoot or replace them. When all the work required is factored in, a heat exchanger replacement can sometimes cost more than a new higher efficiency furnace! Therefore, you may want to consider your options, because energy efficiency and the cost of installation can sometimes make replacing a heating system the better way to go. Also, if a system is out of warranty then you may want to consider replacing it with a new system that will run more efficiently at a fraction of the operational cost as well. If your heat exchanger is still under warranty, then you’re probably in luck, provided the part is available in the timeframe it’s needed in.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever):
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- *Per the US Consumer Product Safety Commission High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:
- Mental confusion
- Vomiting
- Loss of muscular coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- Ultimately death
*Per the US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Other Possible Sources of Carbon Monoxide
Attached garages: Carbon monoxide gets trapped inside once the garage doors are shut, and then leaks into living spaces through the many imperfections inherent in houses (entry doors, framework, gaps and cracks in drywall, wiring & plumbing penetrations, leaky ductwork, etc.).
Gas Ovens and Ranges: These appliances are “seldom vented to the outside. Therefore, the potential for elevated carbon monoxide levels in the house air is very likely if the appliance is producing” carbon monoxide, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Unvented Heaters and Fireplaces: Kerosene or gas space heaters, or malfunctioning wood stoves or fireplaces can leak and set off carbon monoxide alarms (hopefully you have several).
Other sources: Lawn mowers, chain saws, forklifts, generators, pool heaters, BBQ grills, trash incinerators, tobacco smoking, and propane-powered refrigerators in hunting/fishing camps.
If your furnace has been condemned, then you really need to do something about it, and quickly. DO NOT turn it back on after it’s been “red tagged”–this is simply a red tag that designates a furnace as unsafe to operate–because your system will leak harmful gasses into your home. Instead, call Sanford Temperature Control!
Adrian W.
Marketing Manager
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I thought Derek was polite. Courteous knew what he was doing. Got my furnace fixed in one day. I was very appreciative and because of his service I will now only use you guys going forward. He’s a great technician.
I'm always impressed when a service provider takes the time to educate me about the product I bought. Eddie explained the protocols for maintaining my mini-splits
, provided me with the knowledge that he brought to the inspection and showed me how to improve the longevity of the product. In the process he convinced me to extend my service.
Good job -
Eric, our Sanford tech, did wonderful as always. maintaining our beast of a heating system takes skill. He is prompt and kind gets the maintenance taken care of quickly. He doesn’t mind the annoying dogs or the beam that you have to duck under going up and down stairs.
They check in the day before coming and Eric texts when on the way. He is always on time. We have been very happy with the work and the professionalism.
This was my first time using Sanford. Derek was amazing. He diagnosed the problem quickly, showed me the problem, and then quoted me a price which was very reasonable. He had the part on the truck and had the problem fixed within a half hour. From the person I made the appointment with, Irish, to the dispatcher I spoke with for an estimated time of arrival, to Derek, my experience was nothing but positive. I had such a great experience that I will always use Sanford for my heating, cooling, and plumbing needs. Highly recommended!
After Sanford did such an impressive job installing our new Bosch furnace last winter, it was a no brainer as to who we wanted to add a central air conditioner to our house.
They gave us two options and we chose to go with a heat pump. Jason and his team did an incredible job installing the system in just a single day. The quality of their workmanship is second to none and he couldn’t be a nicer person to work with.
Another great job by Sanford !
We had Brian B come to our home to conduct a follow up visit to evaluate our Carrier AC that was installed in February. Just like the three-man crew who did the installation, Brian B did an outstanding job of making sure that everything was working just fine. He answered all our questions and made sure we were confident that our AC would be working fine this summer. Great job.
Extremely happy with the service I received. Mike did an excellent job of servicing my HVAC system. He was very efficient, knowledgeable and took the time to answer all my questions. Also, the office personnel were very helpful and responsive to all my requests and questions regarding scheduling and pricing. I will be using them again and would highly recommend Mike.
Excellent service. Arrived on time. Asked me questions to diagnose any possible issues. Explained several things I did not know about my system.
Eric was very pleasant & thoroughly cleaned & diagnosed my system. Every Sanford employee with whom I have had dealings has been pleasant, attentive, and professional. A friend recommended Sanford to me & I recommend them to you as well. I have been very happy with my equipment & service & know I can contact them anytime with questions & concerns & they will respond in a timely manner. Thank you Eric!
Our tech was great! He was respectful of the space (and rolled with the chaos of small kiddos running around like goons), knowledgeable, and efficient. We’ve used Sanford for years and will continue to do so.
Kyle G. from Sanford was awesome and super respectful. They installed furnace and AC system. He explained everything without being condescending, helped set up the wireless system, checked it and his team cleaned up everything after the job. My standards are pretty high and Kyle not only met them, he exceeded them. Thank you.
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