When the old exchanger fails — repair, match, or switch

Furnace Direct replaces and installs HRVs and ERVs in Crystal and west-metro Hennepin County. We stock nothing for over-the-counter sale; the replacement quote is the offer.

Step one: is it actually dead?

1. No power at the unit / breaker tripsElectrical first. A tripped breaker plus a burnt smell is usually end-of-life, not a reset.
2. Runs but no airflow at the hoodsFilters, core frost, or failed motors. We open it before quoting parts versus swap.
3. Runs, airflow weak, house still staleBalance lost or ports undersized for today's sealed shell. Often replacement with redesign.
4. Wall control dark, unit silentControl or low-voltage path. Cheap if the box is healthy; we do not guess from the driveway.
5. Core looks like felted insulationContamination and age — replacement territory for most Crystal calls.
6. Homeowner switched it off years agoTreat as inactive. Inspect, then replace or redesign rather than celebrating a dusty restart.
7. Condensate or stain under the cabinetDrain or frost issues. May be repairable; stains into finished ceilings push urgency.
8. Noise that started suddenlyBearing or impeller failure. Get a triage visit before the unit locks up mid-winter.

Step two: match the old core, or change it

What gets reused, what gets replaced

Retiring the old unit properly

We remove and haul the failed exchanger unless you want the label photographed for records. Abandoned boxes left in Crystal basements just confuse the next trade. Refrigerant is not the issue on these products — dust, moldy cores, and sharp cabinet edges are.

Why Crystal has so many of these calls

The postwar ranch belt and later infill hit the age where original ventilators — or the first aftermarket adds — fail together. Crystal Lake–side humidity makes damp complaints memorable; inland remodeled ranches produce the dry ones. Both show up as "replacement" on the calendar.

Replacement questions from Crystal