Anyone know of a furnace cement for high temperature to repair a small hole in a natural gas central heat exchanger. The central unit is not very old but out of warranty. The heat exchanger was manufactured in two pieces of metal. It was spot welded several places in the middle of the unit. Would like to get a few more years out of it. Is there anything that can be used safely? I remember seeing a furnace cement in a small old time hardware store many years ago. It may have had asbestas in it but I don’t remember. Any help would be appreciated. Larry
Edited 4/11/2002 1:24:51 AM ET by Larry
Edited 4/11/2002 1:25:55 AM ET by Larry
Replies
Larry, if somebody says that they know of a product that will make this repair, I'm going to kick them. I'll do it. This is a fire, inside the house, burning away as you sleep.
There was a story in the paper last year about a family that died in an apartment house fire after reporting a glow coming from the heating duct. How dumb is that? Buy a bag of apples and save up your lunch money to get a real replacement part. It works for me.
No such product. Buy a new HX or furnace. BTW, what make and model furnace do you have and how old is it? Almost anything worth buying will have a stainless steel HX with a 10 year warranty.
If you do decide to use the furnace cement, be sure to get a large enough supply so that they can seal your caskets with it as well.
Tim and Bob,
I found out since my original post that there is a Plumbing product called Hercules Furnace cement. I am hoping to find out if anyone heard or used this product. I just found out that 20 years ago that Carrier used Stainless Steel heat exchangers and they changed to steel now because SS lasted too long. Will get back to another post on the years old the unit is. It is a gas pack Carrier unit. Also the hole is not rusted through. It is a spot weld that give way to the contraction and expansion of the two pieces of metal that made up a U shaped tube in the 4 tube heat exchanger. Larry
Larry,
I would not recommend repair of the heat exchanger by any means. I know everyone doesn't have a $1000 laying around, but a new furnace is the best option, a new HX is the next best option, if you can obtain and properly install it. Seeing how the heating season is just about over in the lower 48, start saving and buy a replacement this fall. If it is old enough to be out of warannty, it is probably not all that efficient either.
Just curious, though, how did you discover that there was a hole in it? And are you operating this furnace now?
Hey Pal... please heed Bob's post. he said it well.
Have to agree with Wet Head and Bob. Also advise that you buy a CO detector.