One of the most serious issues we encounter as an Ottawa HVAC company is a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger. As a licensed HVAC company, we are required by law to put a red tag on the furnace and disengage it for the safety of the homeowner and their family.
A cracked heat exchanger may cause the leakage of carbon monoxide into your residence. A carbon monoxide detector is highly recommended to help to detect such issues that can even result in death with overexposure.
Generally after the furnace has been identified as unsafe, the homeowner will have two options available; repair or replace the furnace.
If you suspect a carbon monoxide leak, evacuate immediately.
Call us at 613-592-5770 after notifying the authorities.
Furnace Repair Option
A heat exchanger is a part that can be replaced, however the repair cost sometimes is too much to justify – especially for an older furnace. We typically recommend that the furnace be replaced if the repair cost is more than 75% of the cost of a new furnace, or if the furnace is more than 10 years old.
New Furnace Option
A new furnace offers many benefits over an older repaired unit.
First, furnace efficiency and technology has increased substantially over the past few years. A new furnace will usually reduce your utility costs each month, helping to save money over the appliance’s lifetime.
Secondly, new furnaces are subject to government grants. Currently, the Ontario Power Authority offers additional grants to help subsidize the cost of a new appliance along with other Federal programs.
Red Tagged Furnace Advice
At AirZone HVAC Services, we offer professional recommendations about if you should repair or replace your furnace. We look at many criteria to ensure we are giving you the best and most cost efficient advice for your home.
If you have a furnace that is red tagged, please ensure to check your furnace warranty. Often the warranty covers a cracked heat exchanger for a certain period and the repair may be covered. We provide no pressure advice on the best course of action for your HVAC equipment, and take pride in offering honest advice about your best course of action when it comes to Ottawa HVAC repairs.
