How to Clean a Furnace Heat Exchanger

When winter approaches, you're likely thinking about preparing your home for the cold weather, and that includes your furnace. Cleaning it is a great way to ensure it runs effectively. However, many property owners don't know how to properly clean their furnace heat exchangers.

Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling is here to teach you how to clean a furnace heat exchanger with this detailed guide. You can learn why cleaning a furnace's heat exchanger is essential, indicators it's time for a cleaning, and a step-by-step guide to complete the process. If you'd prefer to hire a professional, contact Boiling Springs' heating maintenance expert, Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling, today!

Why You Should Clean Your Heat Exchanger

You'll notice your gas furnace provides greater indoor air quality and increased comfort levels. Routinely cleaning your furnace and its heat exchanger can help prevent expensive repairs and the early breakdown of your unit. The recommendation for how often you should clean your heat exchanger varies based on the area you live in, property needs, and climate, averaging between every one to five years.

When you book your annual maintenance appointment, you can ask your HVAC technician how often you should clean your furnace or other systems. They can also assist you by providing professional cleaning services and improving the efficiency of your system.

How to Know if It's Time for a Heat Exchanger Cleaning

Everyone needs to clean their furnaces and boilers from time to time to promote the heat transfer process and have more energy-efficient units. Some signs that it's time to clean your furnace's heat exchanger include the following:

• You notice a rotten egg or sulfur smell from your furnace.
• Dark soot stains are building up in various areas of your furnace.
• Your carbon monoxide detector is going off.
• Moisture is leaking from your furnace.

Cleaning Your Furnace Heat Exchanger

You can follow these simple steps to ensure your furnace's heat exchanger is clean and debris-free.

1. Turn Off the Gas or Power

The first step is to shut off any power or gas connections, as you never want these active while you start cleaning. It's extremely dangerous and could get you seriously hurt. You should also turn off the breaker and check everything is off before getting started.

If you don't know how to properly shut the power off or feel nervous about doing something wrong, reach out to a local professional. When learning how to clean a furnace heat exchanger, you'll need to remove the access panel to reach the furnace's heat exchanger. 

2. Remove Dirt, Dust, and Debris From the Heat Exchanger

You can use a damp cloth to clean pipes, hoses, and other areas of your gas furnace. Next, vacuum up any dirt, debris, dust, and cobwebs on, in, and around the unit. You should also clean each chamber and the heat exchanger block with a wire brush and cleaning solution, but you may need to repeat this step multiple times if you have particularly stubborn scale and soot.

Check that the water for your heat exchanger is clear to know you've cleaned it as thoroughly as possible. When everything is shiny and smooth, you'll know that the job is complete.

3. Replace the Exchanger After Cleaning

You can reconnect the exchanger's connections using bolts, nuts, and screws, then restore the access panel. Check that other areas of your furnace are in optimal condition. You should ensure your condenser drain is clean with a solution and that you have a fresh, dust and dirt-free air filter.

When everything is done, restore power back to your appliance and check that it works properly. You should notice your furnace's performance improve and enjoy a more comfortable property.

Receive Furnace Maintenance and Other HVAC Services from Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling

We hope you now have a better idea of how to clean a furnace heat exchanger, but we recommend you call a seasoned professional for the safest, most effective results. As the number-one team in the Boiling Springs area, our business advises against DIY furnace maintenance. At Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling, we offer a wide range of HVAC systems to help residents enjoy the greatest indoor air quality, comfort, and safety for fair prices.

Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling proudly serves Boiling Springs, South Carolina, and the surrounding areas. We perfectly resolve any heating system issue with precision and the highest level of care. Call us today at (864) 689-2303 to schedule your service appointment!