Krugerville Aubrey Pilot Point North DFW
Heat Exchanger
Verified Before You Spend a Dollar
Heat Exchanger Service
The One Diagnosis Worth Checking Twice
The heat exchanger is the steel wall between the flame and the air your family breathes. When it cracks, combustion gases can cross into the supply air, and carbon monoxide gives you nothing to smell as a warning. That is why a genuine crack means shutting the furnace down.
It is also the diagnosis most often used to sell a furnace that did not need replacing. HMS Heating & Air Conditioning tests rather than tells: combustion analysis, carbon monoxide readings at the vents, and a camera inside the cells. You see the numbers and the photos, then you decide.
Choose HMS
Built on Honesty, Since 2015
HMS Heating & Air Conditioning was founded by Gary Hays, a North Texas native who served in the Marine Corps as an aviation electrician.
He earned his HVAC license in 2015 and built the company on a simple standard: explain the problem, lay out your options with prices, and only then pick up a tool. That's how we handle every heat exchanger call across Denton County, and it's why so many of our customers come from referrals and stay for good.
And if it turns out you don't need the expensive fix, we'll tell you that too. Honesty, integrity, and a reasonable price have been the standard here from day one.
We Service and Repair All Major HVAC Brands
Our Process
Tested and Shown, Not Just Declared
-
Take It Seriously
A suspected heat exchanger fault is a combustion safety issue, not a comfort complaint. If you smell gas or the CO alarm has gone off, leave and call from outside.
-
Get in Touch
Call, text, or message us. Hours are 8am to 5pm with emergency service available around the clock.
-
Test the Combustion
Combustion analysis at the flue, carbon monoxide readings in the supply air, and flame behaviour with the blower running. Numbers, not a hunch.
-
Inspect the Exchanger
Panels off and a camera into the cells. Cracks hide at the welds and the bends, which is why this gets missed on a quick look.
-
Show You What We Found
Photos from inside your furnace and the combustion numbers written down. You should never have to take this one on faith.
-
Lay Out the Options
A cracked exchanger is a replacement, either the part or the furnace. We price both and tell you which makes sense for the age of the system.
Warning Signs
Signs Worth Calling About Today
The carbon monoxide alarm sounded. Leave the house and call from outside. Even if it stops, something set it off and a furnace is the first place to look.
The flame moves when the blower starts. A burner flame that rolls or flickers as air begins moving can mean air is crossing where it should not.
Headaches or nausea that ease when you leave. Symptoms that lift once you are out of the house and return when you are back in it are worth taking seriously.
Soot or scorching around the burners. Black streaking or rust flaking inside the cabinet points at combustion that is not going where it should.
A strong chemical smell when it fires. A sharp or formaldehyde-like smell at start up is not normal on a furnace that has been running all season.
What to Expect
What a Heat Exchanger Call Covers
Your Home,
Protected
-
Combustion Analysis
Flue gas readings and carbon monoxide in the supply air. This is the measurement that settles it either way.
Schedule This Service -
Camera Inspection
Panels off and a camera into the cells, because cracks hide at the welds and the bends where nobody looks.
Schedule This Service -
Carbon Monoxide Testing
CO has no smell. We test the air coming out of your vents rather than waiting for an alarm to do it for you.
Schedule This Service -
Exchanger Replacement
Many exchangers carry a long parts warranty. We check your model and serial before you pay for anything.
Schedule This Service -
Furnace Replacement
Past a certain age the labour to swap an exchanger is most of a new furnace. You get both numbers.
See Furnace Replacement -
Airflow That Caused It
Restricted airflow overheats an exchanger and shortens its life. Fixing the cause stops it happening again.
See Airflow Diagnostics
Customer Reviews
Trusted by Homeowners Across Denton County
"HMS is literally the best heating and air company you're ever going to find. We've been using them for years now and they have never let us down!!!"
"We woke up to a freezing house today because our unit's fan wasn't turning on. We called HMS, and Michelle was so kind on the phone. She quickly dispatched a technician, who arrived within an hour. They identified the issue right away…"
"These guys were on time and made things happen during the ice storm. Stayed till the job was done and restored my heat. I highly recommend!"
"Andrew and Nate were very professional, honest, & thorough.. They took their time making sure they diagnosed the problem correctly, within a few hours our heating system was running.."
"I had been with a different HVAC company for several years and they were going to charge me thousands of dollars to repair my heating unit. I wanted a second opinion, so I contacted HMS. Gary Hays was incredibly polite and professional…"
"I had an urgent need for my system to be checked due to concerns of carbon monoxide. They were at my house within 30 minutes. I was so grateful they were there when I needed them!"
"Top notch service! Andrew took the service call dispute awful weather conditions. He diagnosed the problem and gave us the solution. 10/10 would recommend this company. I'll definitely call them next time I have an issue."
"HMS deserves every one of these 5 star reviews! Andrew and Nate were super friendly, quick and easy to work with. They found the issue didn't push any extra products but did present all my options. I'll be calling them from now…"
"Very prompt and reliable. I appreciate the communication from the first contact through completion of the job. Andrew was very respectful, honest, knowledgeable, and efficient. Highly recommend!"
"Service techs were on-site within three hours of my call for assistance. The repair price was in line with regional standards, and the technicians were very helpful and nice to deal with. Would recommend this HVAC company for systems and repair."
"They did an amazing job with answering my call right before closing, coming out within 2 hours, and fixing my AC all in one night! Super professional, kind, and honest about what work needs to be done! Highly recommend for anyone!"
"Great company. Highly recommend. Gary and Andrew have helped us out in a pinch several times. They are fairly priced, prompt, don't push extras, and have great communication."
Common Questions
Heat Exchanger Questions, Answered
Can a cracked heat exchanger be repaired?
Honestly, no. Welding or patching a cracked exchanger is not accepted practice and no manufacturer supports it, because the repair sits inside a combustion chamber that cycles between hot and cold every day. The fix is a replacement exchanger or a replacement furnace. Anyone offering to patch one is taking a risk with your air.
How do I know if mine is actually cracked?
Combustion analysis and a camera inspection, not a guess. Elevated carbon monoxide in the supply air, flames that move when the blower starts, and visible cracking at the cells are the evidence. We show you the readings and the photos.
Is it dangerous to keep running the furnace?
A confirmed crack can put carbon monoxide into the air you breathe, so the furnace should be shut off until it is resolved. Carbon monoxide has no smell, which is exactly what makes it worth testing for rather than waiting to notice.
Should I replace the exchanger or the whole furnace?
It comes down to age and warranty. Many exchangers carry a long parts warranty, so on a younger furnace replacing the part is sensible. On a furnace past fifteen years the labour to swap an exchanger is a large share of a new system's cost and usually not worth it.
Will my home warranty or manufacturer warranty cover it?
Often the part, rarely the labour. Heat exchangers frequently carry a twenty year or lifetime parts warranty from the manufacturer. We will pull your model and serial and find out before you make a decision.
What causes a heat exchanger to crack?
Metal fatigue from heating and cooling thousands of times, made worse by anything that overheats the furnace. Restricted airflow is the usual accelerant, which is why a neglected filter or undersized return can shorten the life of an exchanger by years.