OT- furnace update!

Re: OT- furnace update!

Tom Dunlap

LOL

I was having a problem with a printer so I talked with my brother...very computer smart. He told me that a Short, Sharp, Shock...ie, gentle thump might work. To my reaction he said: 'After all, they are electro 'mechanical' devices!'

Re: OT- furnace update!

Richard Long

The six inch drop test is often very effective on fixing problems.

Re: OT- furnace update!

John K Jordan

Thumping, whacking, and rapping has fixed so many things over the years, many dozens for me!

Of course, in the case of a switch, keep a close eye on it! When contacts are temporarily fixed by rapping chances are the contacts inside are compromised and a more permanent fix might involve disassemble and cleaning.

JKJ

Re: OT- furnace update!

Tom Norton

It will require replacement as it is a sealed unit.

Another term

Clifton C

is, "percussive maintenance"

Re: OT- furnace update!

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

It seems a couple times each winter, the thermocoupler on my 30+ year old furnace needs to be replaced.

It finally occurred to me last winter when I was at the drug store late at night buying a replacement thermocoupler , that I buy a few of them to have on hand when it dies. It only took me 24 years to think of that.

Give me a few more years old furnace...

Joe, your gas valve may be suspect

Tim Greif - West of Chicago

There's no way furnace thermocouples can go bad that often. You may have a weak detector in your gas valve, to the point where it fails to respond to the millivolt output of your thermocouple. You could also have a weak pilot that's not fully heating the thermocouple. Either will cause the furnace to be intermittent. Most thermocouples put out 15-25 millivolts when heated with even a BIC lighter. Most gas valve will register the pilot ok with less than that. On my old Reznor unit heater in my shop (manufactured in 1964), every few years I need to remove and blow out the pilot burner jet assembly with compressed air or I get the same intermittent operation. The flame isn't strong enough to keep the thermocouple covered, and the gas valve drops out when idle. Just a thought.

Interesting. Thanks for the info/tip

Agree...

John in NM

I've seen that same effect on pilots running propane too - usually on the 3-5 year time scale. People often replace the entire valve assembly, but I've also heard of cleaning the pilot jet work rather than replacement.

Coincidentally, all these were also at higher elevations - over 6000'. Less oxygen generally means a dirtier flame so I wouldn't be much surprised if it was due to that over the propane.

Re: Agree...

walta

Tom now we have a clue.

First check both the intake and exhaust pipes for obstruction (bird or squirrels) If you can’t see think leaf blower.

Next blow out all the drain lines if water backs up it will stop the flow if air and the pressure switch are intended to sense the disruption of air flow and shut down the furnace.

Walta