furnace inspection: Are Furnace Inspections Really Needed Every Year? - 10/09/12 07:49 PM
In a recent blog post about fall maintenance for Minnesota homeowners, I mentioned having your furnace inspected / tuned up by a qualified heating contractor annually.  One reader sent me an email asking if this was really necessary - here's his original question:
I have a question about furnace tune-ups.  You say get one every year - is that really necessary?  What do the HVAC guys actually do to the furnace to "tune" it up?  There's no spark plugs to replace like a car tune-up, and my understanding is they basically vacuum out dust and inspect it.  Couldn't the homeowner do this … (50 comments)

furnace inspection: How Serious Is A Cracked Heat Exchanger? - 03/01/10 10:23 PM
It's an industry standard: if a furnace has a cracked heat exchanger, it gets replaced.  The American Gas Association has even put this in writing - they say "Any visible crack or hole is reason for requiring replacement of the heat exchanger or furnace."  When I inspect a furnace and I find a cracked heat exchanger (and I find a lot of them), I always say to replace it.
So what's the big deal with cracks or holes?  The concern is that a cracked heat exchanger could allow exhaust gas from the furnace to contaminate the household air with carbon monoxide.   In order … (13 comments)