What Exactly Does A Heat Exchanger Do?

Have you ever been in a position where your furnace wasn't producing enough heat? Like most people, you have called a technician to diagnose the problem.

After waiting on (cold) pins and needles to find out what is wrong with your furnace, the technician comes back to inform you that the heat exchanger in your furnace is cracked and your furnace needs to be replaced.

Why would your furnace need to be replaced if the heat exchanger is cracked? Couldn't it simply be repaired? What happens if a crack heat exchanger goes without attention? What exactly does this heat exchanger do, how does it work when it is not damaged? 

These are all common questions that are asked when a homeowner is given the news that a simple service call has turned into an expensive replacement. 

In this blog, we will answer all of these common questions previous mentioned.

Let's start with the basics, shall we?

1. What does a heat exchanger do? How does it work?


When your furnace turns on, burners send hot combustible gases to your heat exchanger. From there, heat from the combustion gases gets transferred to the metal walls within the heat exchanger, which causes those metal walls to heat up. 

Now that the walls are heated up, cold air from your house goes over those hot metal walls on the outside of the heat exchanger. This allows air from your home to heat up without picking up those dangerous combustible gases within the heat exchanger. Warm air is then distributed through out your home using your duct work.

However, those dangerous combustible gases need a place to go, or vent to. 

With standard furnaces, those gases are blown out of the heat exchanger and vented outside of your home. If you have a high efficiency furnace, those gases are cycled through a second heat exchanger, where even more heat is pulled from those gases and used to further heat your home. 

Severely cracked heat exchanger

2. What does it mean when your heat exchanger is cracked? Can it simply be repaired?

Cracks in a heat exchanger can’t be fixed long-term, and repeated short-term repairs can cost more than a new heating unit. The metal of the heat exchanger is generally too thin to weld shut and nearly impossible to access without removing it completely. Often even more cracks are found along the way to attempting the repair of the original.

3. What happens if a cracked heat exchanger goes without attention?

These gases contain the products of combustion. If they get into your air supply circulating through your house, gases like carbon monoxide (CO) can have dangerous health consequences. Heat exchanger cracks cause interior pressure changes, affecting how well the furnace burns.

Small crack in heat exchanger

Poor combustion, when the furnace flame burns incompletely‚ produces higher carbon monoxide levels. Soot can block the venting of these lethal gases, sending it into the house, thus your family breathes them in. We've all heard the unfortunate news stories about family tragedy brought on by carbon monoxide exposure, especially in the winter heating season. The worst cases of odorless, colorless carbon monoxide accumulation cause death. The main reasons carbon monoxide poisoning can happen are:

• Inadequate or blocked gas vents
• Heat exchanger problems
• Incomplete combustion, resulting in high CO production
• Lack of fresh, clean air and proper ventilation in the home
• CO detectors missing or non-functional

Please be sure you have working CO monitors/detectors, right outside each sleeping area. Don’t forget smoke alarms and radon detectors.

There you have it! Those are the basics of a heat exchanger and why they are so important to your heating system. If you have been given a diagnosis of a cracked heat exchanger and would like a second opinion, feel free to give us a call. We offer $49 furnace inspections so you may have piece of mind to make an educated decision for you and your family's safety and comfort, give us a call and we will be more than happy to come take a look! (616) 205-5522.

Have a heating or cooling topic you would like to know more or have questions about? Feel free to email us at DSBComfortZone@gmail.com and we will answer you or cover your interests!

As always, thank you for reading!

  DSB Comfort Zone

  Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

  201 E. Division St.

  Suite A

  Sparta, MI 49345

  P: (616) 205-5522

  F: (616) 205-5533

  W: www.dsbcomfort.com

Common Furnace Problems: Not Enough Heat

Our last blog, we covered some troubleshooting tips for when your furnace is not producing heat for your home. In this blog, we will give you common problems for when your furnace is not producing enough heat, and some troubleshooting tips you can use.

Have you ever had to hold your hand over the heating vent to see if there was any heat coming out, only to find not enough heat is coming out? Before you call a technician out, let us tell you what might be happening and what you can do at home to fix it yourself.

The possible causes of "not enough heat":

• A dirty furnace filter will block your heat from reaching your registers.
• Your gas burners may be dirty or need an adjustment.
• The air flow in your duct system might be blocked.

So what can you do besides calling a technician to your home at 10 PM? 

First, check your furnace filters. This should be one of the first steps you take when doing any trouble shooting with your heating and cooling system. It is a quick and easy fix and is often overlooked.

If the air flow to the furnace is blocked, remove the blockage, but ONLY if you can safely do so. Any blocked register or grille will greatly constrict your heat from coming through the registers.

Lastly, if your gas burners are dirty or are in need of an adjustment, that is something that needs to be handled by a professional, and we do NOT recommend you try to clean or adjust them your self. You might do more damage to injure your system, or even injure yourself.

These are, again, more common problems when dealing with not enough heat. It is a starting point, but if the things you can troubleshoot do not work, you do need a professional technician to assist you.

Our next blog will cover what might be wrong when your furnace kicks on and off frequently. We will also include troubleshooting for this topic as well. Thanks for reading!!

Stay warm!

DSB Comfort Zone

Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

201 E. Division St.

Suite A

Sparta, MI 49345

P: (616) 205-5522

F: (616) 205-5533

W: www.dsbcomfort.com

Common Furnace Problems: No Heat

Here in Sparta, Michigan, we are noticing the temperatures are taking a nose dive! Temperatures have been in the low to mid thirties lately, sometimes with the occasional wind gust that will chill you straight to your bone.

Yes, the cold weather is making it's return upon us. It is time for sweaters, chili, thick comforters, hot coco, and thermal underwear. The best feeling though, is when you come inside and feel the heat warming you up. Have you ever come home to the heat not working?

If you have, then the question arises, "Why isn't the heat working?"

In this blog series, we will take a look at the more common problems of why your furnace is not working. We can even show you some tips that might fix your problem, saving you money from a service call.

The most common problem, of course, is no heat.

Your possible causes might be the following:

• Dirty furnace filter
• Thermostat set at a temperature that is too low
• Your thermostat is not working
• A circuit breaker or a fuse might be blown or tripped
• Your natural gas or propane valve might be closed
• The pilot light might not be lit (only if you have a non-electronic ignition)

So what can you do at home yourself that would troubleshoot these problems?

First, check your furnace filters. A dirty furnace filter will stop the heat from coming into your home. It is the simplest and cheapest fix there is!

Next you can check if your thermostat setting is set to "heat", there should be a flame symbol if you have an electronic thermostat. If you have an older thermostat make sure the switch is set to "heat". Once the setting is set to "heat" set your temperature at an appropriate setting.

You can further do some testing by adjusting the temperature up or down a few degrees to see if your furnace kicks on.

If you have a tripped circuit breaker, or a blown fuse, simply reset your circuit breaker or replace the blown fuse.

Should the pilot light not be lit, simply relight the flame.

If these simple steps do not fix your problem, then it is time to call your service technician out to your home to help you, as the problem might require an expert to fix. When the technician gets to your home, you can tell him about the troubleshooting you have already done.

In our next blog we will cover what could be wrong when there is not enough heat coming from the furnace, as well as some troubleshooting tips.

Stay warm!!

DSB Comfort Zone
Heating, Cooling and Ventilation
201 E. Division St.
Suite A
Sparta, MI 49345
P: (616) 205-5522
F: (616) 205-5533
W: www.dsbcomfort.com

Is A Furnace Inspection Really That Important?

Now that the weather is getting cooler, you might have noticed heating and cooling companies are advertising furnace check and tune ups. One of the questions we are asked by our inquiring customers, and folks at picnics, is "Are these check ups necessary?"

The answer is: ABSOLUTELY!!

Just like your vehicle, your furnace needs maintenance. Without proper maintenance, you are risking a malfunction with your heating system at an inconvenient time. Have you had your furnace quit working in the middle of the night on the weekend? How about during the holidays? If you have, you know about "after hour" and "emergency" service rates, which can be high.

So, what is done during these "check and tune ups"?

A number of things, actually. Every heating and cooling company is different, but there are basic things that should be checked. If your service technician is checking things on this list, they have earned every dollar of the service, which is usually between $80-$150 annually (check out our $49 inspection special!)

• Vent system - This should be checked for leaks and/or blockages
• Combustion gases - These should be analyzed to unit specifications
• Blower door - The door should be checked to make sure there is a tight seal at the furnace
• Fresh air intake and louvers - These should be checked for blockages
• Heat exchanger - Needs to be checked for rust and corrosion
• Burners - They need to be checked for proper ignition burner flame and flame sensing
• Drainage lines - These need to be checked for blockage and leaking
• Thermostats - Their operation, wiring and calibration need to be checked
• Blower wheel - This needs to be checked for debris
• Amps - Preforming an amp draw test will make sure of the correct amperage
• Wiring - All wires should be checked for corrosion and exposed wires
• Filters - Filters checked and or replaced.

This list seems simple enough, so couldn't a homeowner do it themselves? Sure!! But, only if that homeowner has experience in HVAC. These "check and tune ups" are a little more detailed than simply hooking up a vacuum and sucking out some dust. 

Is the "tune up" worth the money? As professionals, we say of course it is, but it is up to the homeowner. Is spending $49 now to have a "once over" better then paying hundreds in after hours fees, parts and labor? Absolutely. Most of the time the cost of these "tune ups" are barely enough to cover the trip to your home, so if your technician checks even half of the things on this list, he has earned every dollar by giving you piece of mind.

Do We Fix It or Do We Replace It??

As a homeowner and keeping up with your household maintenance, this question must pop into your head from time to time...

"Do we fix it? Or would it be better to replace it?"

Our technicians are asked that frequently in these hot summer months. While we can make recommendations, the decision is ultimately yours. With that is said here are somethings to consider while contemplating your decision.

• When it becomes too much to repair - If you are having frequent service calls on your system, it might be time to replace your air conditioning system. By purchasing and installing a high efficiency central air conditioning system, it will ultimately pay you back by your energy savings, and not needing to pay for service calls. You might want to also consider replacing your system when your repair bills are over $500. Financing is more for replacement, and not for servicing. So when your air conditioning system breaks, you usually are on your own in covering the cost of the repairs.
• Hot spot and cold spots - Have you ever walked into a room and it was cold, but the next room is too hot? This is called the "Goldilocks Syndrome". If you find yourself in this situation, it could be a sign of improperly sized equipment. Just because you bought the biggest unit there was available, does not mean it will work better for your home. The same goes for your duct work. When purchasing your system, it is important that the equipment you are buying is properly sized for your home. If it is not, you are likely to have the "Goldilocks Syndrome" or frequent service calls.
• The age of your system - Equipment that is over 10 years old, should be under consideration for replacement, even if it is still functioning properly. Ten year old equipment is less efficient by current standards.
• Rebates, tax credits and financing - When it comes to rebates on your new system, often your local utility companies offer rebates for updating your system (here in West Michigan, Consumers Energy and DTE Energy BOTH offer rebates) and by utilizing those rebates, your system can become less expensive for you when you replace it for a newer energy efficient system. The federal government also offers a tax credit for updating to a higher efficiency system. Like we already started talking about, financing only covers replacements, so it is not likely you will be financed to repair your system.

Of course there are some other things you might want to factor into your decision. However, these are the more common reasons we see in the field. When hiring your contractor to replace your equipment, make sure they are doing a thorough job inspecting your home. Insulation, windows, ducts, and square footage (to name a few) should all be considered when purchasing your replacement. 

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask us!

If you need repairs done or interested in a free quote for replacement, give us a call. We would be more than happy to put you back in your comfort zone!

Stay cool!

DSB Comfort Zone Heating and Cooling

201 E. Division St. 

Suite A

Sparta, MI 49345

Phone: (616) 205-5522

Website: www.DSBComfort.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DSB-Comfort-Zone/293025420811077

YouTube: http://youtu.be/jNPR2EeFK8M

Understanding Industry Lingo

Here is a scenario.

It is hot out today, and extremely humid. You decide to turn on your central air conditioner (if it isn't already running) and you anticipate sweet relief as you hear your system turn on. A couple of minutes pass by and you check your vents but do not feel the cold air coming out. Thinking that it might take a moment for the system to "warm up" to cool down the air, you go about your business. A few moments later, you check again, still no cool air. You go through the basic check list of checking your filters and for ice, but can not figure out what is wrong. So, you decide to call your HVAC company and have a technician come out to fix your air conditioner. 

After he arrives, he gets right to work. Then he comes back to give you his diagnosis. You listen intently as he explains what is broken and how it needs to be repaired. He hands you the authorization form and goes to get the parts needed. 

Do you ever find yourself wondering what on earth he just said to you? He knows his industry very well, but the jargon he used, made no sense to you. 

In this blog, we will give you three more common key terms and definitions in layman's terms so you can understand what is being done to fix your system, and what is being replaced.

Air Conditioner Diagram

• Condenser Unit - A typical configuration of a condensing unit is: The condensing coil  wraps around the sides of the unit with the compressor inside. In this condensing coil section, the refrigerant goes through multiple tube passes, which are surrounded by heat transfer fins through which cooling air can move from outside to inside the unit. There is a motorized fan inside the condenser unit near the top, which is covered by some grating to keep any objects from accidentally falling inside on the fan. The fan is used to blow the outside cooling air in through the heat exchange section at the sides and out the top through the grating. These condenser units are located on the outside of the building they are trying to cool, with tubing between the unit and building, one for vapor refrigerant entering and another for liquid refrigerant leaving the unit. Of course, an electric power supply is needed for the compressor and fan inside the unit.
• Evaporator Coil - An evaporator is used in an air-conditioning system to allow a compressed cooling chemical, such as Freon or R-410A (your refrigerant), to evaporate from liquid to gas while absorbing heat in the process. This coil is located next to your furnace in the duct system. 
• R-22 and R-410A - In 1987 an international environmental group called The Montreal Protocol established requirements that began the worldwide phaseout of ozone-depleting CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons, more commonly known as Freon in air conditioning.). These requirements were later modified, leading to the phaseout in 1996 of CFC production in all developed nations. Currently, we can service existing systems with Freon (R-22), however, we can no longer INSTALL systems with R-22. Today, air conditioners are installed using R-410A. By the year 2020, companies will no longer manufacturer R-22. After 2020, the servicing of R-22-based systems will rely solely on recycled or reclaimed refrigerants. 

Of course, there are many other parts and details we can discuss and I am sure you have questions on. If you have a question, feel free to leave it in our comments section, and we will be happy to answer anything you are unsure of or would like to know!

From all of us here at DSB Comfort Zone, stay cool!

Why Is My Air Conditioner Frozen?

Why Is My Air Conditioner Frozen?

Frozen unit at one of our customer's rooftop unit (taken 6/12/2013)

Here is an all too common problem we face in the heating and air conditioning industry; a customer will call our office with a service call. When we get out there we see an all too common problem. Their air conditioner has frozen up. Perhaps this has happened to you before, as well.

After telling the customer what the problem is, 9 times out of 10, the customer asks: “What caused my central air conditioning to freeze up?” 

There are three main reasons why it could be freezing up:

1) Lack of airflow

If there is a lack of airflow to your central air conditioning unit, you run the risk of severely damaging your entire system. When there is a lack of air flow, warm air moves through the return ducts. The air passes over an extremely cold refridgerant coil to "drop off" its heat. When air comes in contact with this coil, the moisture in the air condenses. Normally, the water will exit through the system's drain line, but if air flow is constricted, the water can not move down the drain line. With no place to go, the water will freeze to the evaporator coil. The simplest way to fix this problem, is to turn off the unit for 24 hours and check your filters. If they are dirty, clean or even better yet, replace them. When you turn your air conditioner back on, and there is no more ice forming, then you have solved your problem.

2) Refrigerant leaks

Air conditioners have to have a particularly balance level of refrigerant to keep the system running smoothly and efficiently. When your air conditioner has low levels of refrigerant, that usually means there is a refrigerant leak. Once the levels of refrigerant in the coil are too low, the air conditioning unit will not be able to absorb heat going through the system and your air conditioning unit will freeze. In this situation, it is better for you to contact your heating and cooling company for a technician to take a look and address the problem.

3) Outdoor temperature

Your air conditioner is only supposed to be operated when the outdoor temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If you run your air conditioner when the temperature is less than 65, you will be pushing the fluids in your air conditioner through when they are at their thickest. This can cause damage to your unit besides the freezing problem.

There are some troubleshooting tips you can do. First thing you should do is turn off the unit. Let the air conditioner defrost, a 24 hour period should be enough time, but if it is not and you can, give your air conditioner another 24 hour defrosting period.

Next you should check your filters. If they are dirty, first step is to replace them. Give your unit the 24 hour defrost time before trying to turn it back on. If you do not see any ice, then turn it back on and keep an eye on it. If ice reforms, it is time to call a service technician (our number is (616) 205-5522)

If after the 24 hour defrost period, and changing the filter does not work, you need a professional to help repair your unit, you might even consider replacing the system. DSB Comfort Zone offers a full inspection of your system, as well as providing you with everything you need to replace your air conditioner. We check everything from your refrigerant levels, filters and even your duct work. In this blog we discussed the the three most common problems, however, some units might have more technical issues that only trained professionals would be able to notice and discuss with you.

DSB Comfort Zone

Comfort In Any Season

201. E. Division St.

Suite A

Sparta, MI 49345

Phone: (616) 205-5522

Email: info@dsbcomfort.com

Website: www.dsbcomfort.com

Facebook: Comfort Zone Heating and Cooling

Twitter: @DSBComfortZone