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11-15-2007, 04:19 PM
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Location: Cary, NC
30,087 posts, read 52,792,093 times
Reputation: 28262
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This is the rusted out heat exchanger in a furnace. Those holes in the heat exchanger can allow Carbon Monoxide and other combustion gases to enter the house.
Major safety hazard, and major inefficiency wasting fuel.
If you have a furnace that is more than 6 or 7 years old, it is worthwhile to have a licensed HVAC company service and inspect it prior to heating season. |
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11-16-2007, 06:53 AM
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Location: The Garden State
522 posts, read 1,432,766 times
Reputation: 1505
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Thanks for the reminder Mike.
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11-16-2007, 07:51 AM
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Location: A little suburb of Houston
3,702 posts, read 15,596,827 times
Reputation: 2035
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I came home from vacation recently and found my hall ceiling soaked. This turned out to be an AC problem. While the tech was checking out the AC, he also checked the heater and found a 10 in crack in the heat exchanger. He literally fixed it so I could not turn the heat on. Needless to say, I had the whole system AC and heat replaced. I also figured that the leak may have been the cause of my illnesses late last winter/early spring which I went to the doctor numerous times for. Felt fine when spring warmed up. The HVAC tech said that my habit of leaving a window cracked probably saved my life.
I encourage everyone to get their systems checked regularly.
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11-16-2007, 09:00 AM
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176 posts, read 997,781 times
Reputation: 124
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I am on a maintenance contract with my HVAC company. They do a check up once a year.
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11-16-2007, 09:54 AM
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781 posts, read 3,437,057 times
Reputation: 269
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Another life saving tip......use a Carbon Monoxide Detector. We have two...one upstairs and down and they simply plug into an outlet (with a battery backup) and it sends a beeping signal if it detects any CM in the air.
Top 5 Carbon Monoxide Detectors - Best Buys for Carbon Monoxide Detectors (http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/buyersguides/tp/top_codetectors.htm - broken link)
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11-16-2007, 10:20 AM
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Location: Philaburbia
30,319 posts, read 55,118,963 times
Reputation: 50561
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I have a 30-year-old furnace (which is not getting replaced until it dies!) ... along with a maintenance contract and CO detectors on each floor!
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11-16-2007, 10:41 AM
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204 posts, read 685,781 times
Reputation: 107
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Have furnace checked and serviced annually and have detectors.
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11-16-2007, 06:42 PM
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25,223 posts, read 36,611,804 times
Reputation: 32845
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Last spring
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11-16-2007, 07:12 PM
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Location: Sometimes Maryland, sometimes NoVA. Depends on the day of the week
1,501 posts, read 10,331,706 times
Reputation: 1090
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Just had our furnace (oil) done on Oct 30. Nov 9, the ignitors went out, and now they say we need new electrodes, too 
We've been busy sealing our exposed ducts with mastic to reduce air leaks, then we are insulating the ducts in unheated areas  |
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