The ABC's of Home Heating - Heat Exchangers

In a gas furnace, the heat exchanger is one of the most critical components of the heating process. It's where the combustion gasses enter after exiting the burners. As the combustion gasses are drawn into the heat exchanger, heat is transferred onto the heat exchanger walls. The combustion gasses, which are at this point beginning to cool down, exit through exhaust pipes by a draft inducer blower and are sent out of the home. In a high-efficiency furnace, these gasses go through a second heat exchanger, where even more heat is extracted before they are vented out of the home.

As part of the heating process, a blower motor and fan take air from inside the home and draw it across the heat exchanger, which the combustion gasses have heated. The air picks up heat from the heat exchanger walls and is blown through the home's ductwork, where it then exits through vents throughout the home.

Because the heat exchanger is responsible for removing exhaust fumes from the home, it's important that a qualified heating technician inspect the unit for any cracks or damage that can cause dangerous carbon monoxide gas (CO) to leak into the living space.

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