A homeowner in Grand Saline, TX contacted us about their dining room staying cold despite the heating system running. Our technician inspected the rooftop HVAC unit and discovered it was in lockout mode. The safety system had shut down the unit because flames were rolling out of the heat exchanger area.
Upon closer inspection, we found holes in the heat exchanger that were causing the dangerous flame rollout condition. This is a serious safety hazard that makes the heating system unsafe to operate. The damaged heat exchanger allows combustion gases to escape into areas where they don't belong.
Family Air HVAC Services immediately shut off the unit to protect the family's safety. A heat exchanger with holes cannot be repaired and requires full system replacement. We provided the customer with a detailed estimate for a new heating system.
Heat exchanger failure is a common issue in older heating systems. The metal can develop cracks or holes over time due to repeated heating and cooling cycles. When this happens, the safety controls properly shut down the system to prevent carbon monoxide exposure and fire hazards.