A cracked heat exchanger is the most dangerous furnace failure - and it is silent.
The heat exchanger separates combustion gases from the air circulated through your home. A crack allows carbon monoxide - an odorless, colorless gas - to enter your living space. According to the CDC, carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for over 400 deaths annually in the United States. Heat exchangers in SoCal furnaces are particularly susceptible to thermal stress cracking because furnaces cycle on and off more frequently in mild climates - more cycles means more expansion/contraction stress over the life of the unit. AIRONE performs a heat exchanger inspection on every maintenance visit using a combustion analyzer - not a visual check alone.