The most common cause of a cracked exhaust pipe is worn-out flex pipe. Flex pipes become brittle over time and are more susceptible to cracks that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks. A gas furnace can also be damaged if it’s overloaded with too much heat; this overload causes the heating elements in the furnace to expand, which stretches the exhaust pipe until it breaks. To repair a broken furnace, you’ll have to remove the inside panel of your furnace and inspect the existing flex pipe. You may be able to use an old piece of flexible pipe or install a new one depending on how badly damaged yours is. Or, reach out to your local trusted contractor for help. Furnace Replacement Inver Grove Heights MN
Make Sure the Gas is Shut Off to the Furnace
- Make sure the gas is shut off to the furnace.
- Locate a shutoff valve near your furnace and turn it clockwise until it’s fully closed. If you don’t see a valve, check your furnace’s manual for instructions on how to turn off its gas supply.
- Turn off any pilot lights as well, if applicable.
- Remove any debris from around the pipe that may have caused the crack in the first place (if possible).
Remove the Inside Panel
Once you have removed the furnace body from the wall, you can now remove the inside panel. This is held in place by several screws and will come out easily once you remove them.
Inspect the Pipe and Clean It
If the crack is in a pipe that runs from your furnace to outside, you can remove it and inspect the pipe for damage. If you find that there are no cracks, simply clean the pipe with a wire brush to remove any dirt or debris that may have accumulated on it.
If you do find cracks, however, then replacing the damaged part of your exhaust system will be necessary.
Install the Flex Pipe
- Make sure the flex pipe fits into the exhaust pipe.
- Make sure the flex pipe is not kinked.
- Make sure the flex pipe is not too long, because this can cause problems with your furnace’s performance and may even be dangerous for you or your family if it catches fire.
- The same goes for making sure it’s not too short, which could also lead to problems with operation and safety issues as well as being very frustrating when trying to make repairs on your own!
Secure the Flex Pipe in Place
Once you’ve secured the flex pipe in place, use a clamp or screw to secure it to the frame of your furnace. If tightening by hand doesn’t seem like it will do the trick, use a bolt and nut instead. You can also choose from any number of other fasteners including:
- Washers
- Rivets
Insert a screw through the top of the clamp into a threaded hole in one of the locking tabs. The screw should be long enough to go through the clamp and secure it. It is important to make sure the screw is long enough to go through the clamp, so that it can serve as a permanent fixture once you’ve finished tightening it all up again.
Reassemble the Furnace
After you’ve successfully repaired the exhaust pipe, turn your attention back to the furnace. Make sure that all of the panels are installed and tightened down, then turn on the gas valve at the gas line leading into the furnace. Test for leaks by applying soapy water to all joints between pipes, fittings and connectors; if there’s a leak in any of these places it’ll show up as bubbles forming around them when you run warm water over them.
Get Your Broken System Running Again
Thank you for reading this article on how to repair a cracked gas furnace exhaust pipe. We hope that it helped you in some way and that your broken system running again. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at any time! We’re here to help!
Furnace Replacement Inver Grove Heights MN
This is all you need to do if your exhaust pipe is broken, but if there are other issues, then it might be better to call an HVAC professional. Contact us at Rumpca Services in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota to find out more today!
