Cracked Combustion Chamber Oil Furnace

Beware of an unethical technician who finds a crack with a camera on a furnace that seems to be running just fine.

Cracked combustion chamber oil furnace.

Step 2 look for cracks or rust spots in the metal walls of the combustion chamber and heat exchanger using a flashlight if necessary. It has been taken care of well over it s 30 years of service. The easiest way i have found to find a crack in the combustion chamber of an oil furnace is to pull the blower turn the lights out turn the furnace on if it has a crack or hole in the combustion chamber i guarantee you will see it. This will be detected with a combustion gasses tester.

April 17 2019 the combustion chamber of an oil fired furnace will eventually collapse and require replacement. Now remember this does not hold true if the crack is way up in the heat exchanger. Often when cracks are present in a heat exchanger soot from the combustion process will seep through and discolor the metal. This trips a safety switch and shuts down the furnace.

If you have been told your furnace s heat exchanger is cracked ask the tech to show you the exhaust s oxygen readings when. A cracked heat exchanger allows air from the furnace blower to interfere with the flame causing it to flutter or even roll out. Our furnace is an esso ultramatic hot air furnace. The result will be a buildup of soot around the crack site and or spots that are a darker color than the rest of the metal.

If a heat exchanger is cracked air forced into the combustion chamber will cause the oxygen reading in the furnace s exhaust to rise to abnormal levels. A cracked heat exchanger similar to a clogged exhaust or chimney prevents the combustion gases from properly venting out the furnace and results in an internal pressure irregularity that can cause a flame roll out. 3 years ago we had the abspestos chamber replaced sorry if it is spelled wrong and now we find it needs to be replaced again. Also look for sooty discoloration which might appear if combustion byproducts are passing through barely visible cracks.

Turn off the furnace and open it for inspection using your furnace s manual as a guide.