Avoid The Cracked Heat Exchanger Scam In South Jersey

October 21, 2021

Every year, we hear horror stories about homeowners who got cheated out of thousands of dollars by some dishonest HVAC company that ran the cracked heat exchanger scam on them.

Those companies give the rest of us a bad name and don’t represent the many honest, hardworking companies around the country. So, as the winter heating season approaches, we’d like to give you the inside scoop on how this scam works and how you can avoid it.

If you’re already feeling pressured by someone to buy a new furnace, or they’ve already shut down your heater, jump straight to the “How To Avoid Getting Scammed” section.

But if you have a minute, we’ll walk you through the entire situation by answering the most frequently asked questions about this problem.

In this article, we’ll cover:

What Is A Heat Exchanger In A Furnace?
What Is The Cracked Heat Exchanger Scam?
How Does A Heat Exchanger Crack?
Does A Cracked Heat Exchanger Leak Carbon Monoxide?
Can You Fix A Cracked Heat Exchanger?
How Do I Avoid Getting Scammed?
Furnace Repair And Maintenance In Ocean City, NJ

Meanwhile, if you have questions or concerns about the heating system in your South Jersey home, please call us at (609) 390-3907 before you commit to spending a lot of money! We’ve been in business here for more than a century, and we’re happy to answer your questions and help you stay safe and warm all winter.

What Is A Heat Exchanger In A Furnace?

The heat exchanger in your furnace is the component that generates the warmth you’ll feel throughout your house. It’s a chamber where the natural gas combusts and produces heat. From there, your furnace pushes the heat through the ductwork to reach each room.

What Is The Cracked Heat Exchanger Scam?

The cracked heat exchanger scam is when a dishonest HVAC tech or contractor tells you the heat exchanger in your furnace is broken. It’s leaking carbon monoxide, so they have to shut down the unit so only they or another HVAC company can turn it back on.

Now that you’re left out in the cold, they’ll tell you that the only way to fix the problem is to replace the entire heating system. Since you can’t visually inspect the problem yourself, you have to take their word for it.

And, you’re in time crunch when they turn off your heat in the middle of winter. So, you’re likely to take their word for it and drop thousands of dollars on a new system.

Now, here’s the problem: Cracked heat exchangers are a real thing. So the threat of CO poisoning. And, you can’t fix this part — the best solution is to replace your system.

But, a quick system replacement is easy money for a contractor. They’ll make a bigger profit swapping out furnaces than troubleshooting a problem and making repairs.

And, you can’t see the broken part. At best, you’ll often get carbon monoxide readings that point to the problem.

As a result, this problem is an easy target for scammers: They’ll use fake readings and their authority as HVAC contractors to shut down your system and force you to buy a new one.

But, with the proper knowledge, you can avoid getting scammed.

How Does A Heat Exchanger Crack?

A heat exchanger can crack when there’s too much stress on it. It often happens if your system short-cycles and fluctuates quickly between very hot and very cold.

What It Means When Your Furnace Short-Cycles

Short-cycling is when the furnace turns on for just a minute or two, then shuts off, then kicks back on again right away. Central heating systems should run for 10 to 15 minutes a few times every hour.

A common cause for short-cycling is heat backing up into the system. Maybe you have an oversized furnace, and it blasts too much heat at once. It can’t circulate, so it builds up in the ductwork and furnace itself.

Or, there’s a break or a clog somewhere, and the heat can’t escape. Then you’ve got the same problem. After all, furnaces aren’t made to store the heat. They need to generate it and move it out.

So, before the furnace can overheat, it will shut off. And, a lot of times, it sends a blast of cold air through the system, so nothing gets fried. But that should only be a temporary measure. You want to address the problem as soon as you notice it.

Does A Cracked Heat Exchanger Leak Carbon Monoxide?

Since carbon monoxide is a natural byproduct of burning fossil fuels, this gas can build up inside the heat exchanger. That’s where the combustion occurs, so that’s where the CO comes from.

When your furnace is working as it should, that poisonous gas escapes through your exhaust system and never gets into the house. But, if the heat exchanger is cracked, the carbon monoxide leaks out of the system and into your home.

Can You Fix A Cracked Heat Exchanger?

You can’t repair a heat exchanger once it’s cracked. They make them as one piece, and it needs to be airtight. Even replacing one is usually not cost-effective.

That all means you have to take your tech’s word for it — and that’s where some people take advantage of homeowners.

How Do I Avoid Getting Scammed?

So with all this in mind, how do you avoid getting scammed like this? Here are some easy steps to take:

Only Work With HVAC Contractors You Know
Get A Second Opinion
Ask Them To Show You The Part
Get Annual Heater Tune-Ups

Only Work With HVAC Contractors You Know

Work With Established Contractors You Can Trust, Like Broadley’s

Only use HVAC contractors that have a physical address and have been in business for a while. You can look them up online to check reviews and their BBB rating.

Many scammers set up a fly-by-night operation and cold-call people offering free inspections. They just want to get in your house and shut off the heat. Do your homework before letting anyone check your system.

Get A Second Opinion

Even with no heat in the winter, have another HVAC company double-check the first contractor. You’re about to make a considerable investment, so ignore any high-pressure sales tactics. You can always wait an extra day or two before making a decision.

Ask Them To Show You The Part

Along with getting a second opinion, ask the first HVAC company to show you the cracked part once they take apart your furnace. And, ask them if they will reassemble the unit at no charge if it turns out the heat exchanger is fine.

Most scammers will back off at that point, but you can’t always rely on it. But always ask lots of questions. Ask to see the readings. Ask them to try it again while you watch. And, get that second opinion no matter what.

Get Annual Heater Tune-Ups

A heater tune-up won’t do you much good if someone’s already turned off your furnace. But, getting an annual check-up for your system can prevent it from happening in the first place. Even though many scammers offer a free inspection to get in the door, the tune-ups themselves are legit.

With an annual tune-up, you’ll have a certified tech run through dozens of inspection points. They’ll make any minor fixes before they cause more significant problems. And, they’ll make sure everything’s running smoothly. That includes checking CO levels.

Once again, go with a reputable contractor that’s been working in your town for a while. This way, you can trust their word. And, when you get the tune-up in the fall, you have more time to decide if they find an issue.

Schedule Your Heater Tune-Up

Furnace Repair And Maintenance In Ocean City, NJ

Whether you have a small problem, a larger issue, or just want to stay on top of things, you need an HVAC company you can trust. And, when it comes to furnace repair and maintenance in Ocean City, NJ and across South Jersey, Broadley’s has been the name to trust for more than a century.

We’ve serviced homes and businesses in Atlantic County and Cape May since 1920. Today, we have the A+ BBB rating and dozens of five-star reviews to back up our excellent reputation. If you think there’s a problem with your heater, or you want to keep your system in great shape, click below or call us today.