Heat Exchanger Inspection and Repair in Central Oklahoma
A cracked heat exchanger is not a repair I put on the fix it later list. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and at high enough concentrations, fatal. I have been inspecting and replacing heat exchangers in central Oklahoma for 45 years, and I red-tag any furnace where I find a confirmed crack. That furnace does not run again until the heat exchanger is replaced or the system is condemned.
Oklahoma homes with furnaces from the 1970s through the 1990s are most at risk. The 80 percent AFUE furnaces common in that era have heat exchangers now approaching 30-40 years old. If your furnace is over 20 years old and has not had a combustion analysis recently, schedule one before this heating season. The CO Crack Detection Diagnostic at $345 is the most important HVAC inspection you can do on an older home.
Heat Exchanger and Inducer Pricing
Heat Exchanger Clean and Inspect
$395
Full visual and combustion inspection
CO Crack Detection Diagnostic
$345
Combustion gas leak detection at all HX passages
Combustion Analysis
$195
Measure CO, CO2, O2, flue temp, efficiency
HX Replacement 80pct AFUE Warranty
$1,895
Manufacturer provides part, labor only
HX Replacement 80pct AFUE Non-Warranty
$2,295
Parts and labor
HX Replacement 90pct+ AFUE Non-Warranty
$2,695
Parts and labor, includes secondary HX
Secondary HX Replacement 90pct+ Furnace
$1,195
Condensate section of high-efficiency furnace
CO Lockout Emergency Service
$495
Emergency response to CO alarm or red-tag
OEM Single-Stage Inducer 80pct Furnace
$1,084
OEM Two-Stage Inducer 80pct Furnace
$1,277
OEM Single-Stage Inducer 90pct Furnace
$1,417
OEM Two-Stage Inducer 90pct Furnace
$2,250
OEM Single-Port Pressure Switch
$477
OEM Dual-Port Pressure Switch
$539
Universal Single-Port Pressure Switch
$35
No-Heat Emergency Bundle
$681
Emergency service plus inducer and switch
Inducer and Pressure Switch Performance Package
$389
Cabinet Cleaning and Draft Pressure Test
$319
Gas Pressure Test and Adjustment Bundle
$195
How I Test for a Cracked Heat Exchanger
I use a combustion analyzer that measures CO parts per million in the flue gases and also samples the supply air stream. I test at every passage and port while the furnace is running at full fire. I also use a camera inspection to look inside the heat exchanger for visible cracks, rust perforation, or separation at the stress points. A combustion analysis at $195 gives combustion efficiency, CO ppm, CO2 levels, oxygen levels, and flue temperature.
CO alarm or yellow flame? Shut the furnace off and call 405-375-4822. Do not restart it.
Replace Heat Exchanger vs. Replace Full Furnace
On a furnace under 15 years old with a valid warranty, heat exchanger replacement is the right call. On a furnace 20 or more years old with no warranty and an aging blower motor and controls, replacing the full system usually makes more financial sense. A new 96 percent AFUE furnace will pay back the difference in energy savings within a few heating seasons, and you get a fresh 10-year parts warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a heat exchanger and why does it matter?
The heat exchanger is the metal chamber in your furnace that separates combustion gases from the air you breathe. Hot exhaust gases pass through the inside. Your blower pushes house air across the outside, picking up heat without ever mixing with combustion products. If the heat exchanger cracks, carbon monoxide from combustion can enter your living space. This is a life-safety issue.
What causes a heat exchanger to crack?
Age and thermal cycling are the primary causes. Every heating season, the heat exchanger expands when the furnace fires and contracts when it shuts off. After 15-25 years, cracks develop at stress points. Overheating accelerates cracking. Common causes include restricted airflow from dirty filters, blocked vents, or a failed blower motor.
How do you detect a cracked heat exchanger?
The most reliable method is a CO and combustion gas leak test using a combustion analyzer at each heat exchanger passage while the furnace is running at full fire. I also use a camera inspection with the burners off. A confirmed crack means I red-tag the furnace. It does not run again until repaired or replaced.
What does heat exchanger replacement cost in Oklahoma?
Warranty replacements where the manufacturer provides the part run $1,895 in labor. Non-warranty replacements are $2,295 for standard 80 percent AFUE furnaces and $2,695 for 90 percent plus high-efficiency units. On furnaces 15 or more years old, replacing the entire furnace is often the more economical choice.
What is an inducer motor and what does it have to do with the heat exchanger?
The inducer motor is a draft fan that pulls combustion gases through the heat exchanger and out the flue before the main burners fire. A failed inducer motor almost always trips a pressure switch and causes a no-heat lockout. Inducer replacements run $1,084 to $2,250 depending on furnace type.
Do you charge a dispatch and diagnostic fee?
Yes. There is a $99 dispatch fee for all service calls. The CO Crack Detection Diagnostic is $345. For a confirmed CO lockout or emergency no-heat call, the No-Heat Emergency Bundle at $681 covers the emergency service and includes the initial diagnostic work.
Serving Central Oklahoma Including:
🔧 Not Sure? There’s a Third Option — HVAC Rebuild
Not every failing system needs full replacement. A rebuild replaces the major components — compressor, coil, refrigerant circuit — at 40–60% of replacement cost. I’ll tell you honestly whether your system is worth rebuilding. 45 years of experience. No pressure.
Ready to Schedule? Call or Book Online.
Call 405-375-4822 or book online. Same-day appointments available when the schedule allows.
9 dispatch fee applies to all service calls. 11 diagnostic credited toward repair or replacement if you accept an estimate within 14 days.