Heat Exchangers

Junior

What is the best way to tell if a heat exchanger is cracked or leaking? Any help will be appreciated. Thank You

Gregg Jackson

I would try

to isolate with valves and pressure test.

John@Reliable

For a WAF?

You can use a combustion analyzer or smoke bomb,these are two ways.

Wayco Wayne

Are you

talking about furnaces or boilers??? Boilers are easy to know. You get water all over the floor. Furnaces are harder. I have a 2 inch wide by 18" long mirror. I take out the burners and shine a flashlight up the heating cell. I look for rust spots or even hairline cracks. I also have a Testo optic flexible wand. It's a flexible wand with a lens you can look through and see out the end. It has a light bulb in the end so you can see.

JIM F.

heat x checks

we use all kinds of methods to check heat exchangers.
1) draft test- using a draft gauge, take draft reading when burners running. then turn on blower. if gauge moves to positive side. heat exchanger cracked.
2) smoke bomb- temporarily block smoke pipe with rags or newspaper. (make sure burner doesnot operate) put smoke bomb in chamber. turn blower on. if any smoke goes into duct work , heat exchanger cracked.
3) co test- if co levels in duct work is at dangerous levels. unit should be replaced.
4) other signs of cracked heat exchanger- soot at registers(supply) , soot on return air filter, smells.
5) with burner running watch flame when blower starts, if it moves dramatially go to step 1
jim f.