Furnace HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GNBRETT]

Ok, so the jackass propane guy delivered propane to my house this morning and for some unknown reason he thought no one was home and turned the valve on the propane tank off!

The barking dogs, car in the driveway, lights on in the house I guess was not a BIG enough clue to this moron to think to actually knock on the customers door before he turns the valve off which turns the pilot off.

My pilot is not very easy to get to as it is in the attick. I have no basement.

Anyway, I did not realize that he shut the pilot off till cool air came from the vents after this jackass left....

Anyway, so I climb up there (Not easy since I just had shoulder surgery last week and am in a sling) to turn the switch to PILOT. I wait two minutes while depressing the pilot buttom which is supposed to open up some filiment to allow PROPANE to flo thru the main valve.

Well, I did that and it worked fine. Switched the switch back to ON and the flame was burning fine.

I went back downstairs to turn the blower motor back on from the thermostat control panel. It starts blowing air but it's still cold. So I go back up stairs to see that the flame is no longer burning.

I attempt the re-light the pilot again but when I switch it back to PILOT and depress the POLOT button it wont stay on after I remove my finger from the PILOT button to switch it back to the ON position.

I had the PILOT button depressed for about 3-4 mintes this time and when I remove my finger from the button the flame goes out so therefore I cannot switch it to ON so the burners can burn??????????

Anyone have any suggestions? It's fuken COLD in here!!!! It's down to 56 degrees and expecting a low of 12 tonight! Pipes are gonna freeze. Tried calling these azzholes back to send a tech out but no one calls me back. I have tried like 7-8 times.

Anyone? Thanx....

 

[notacarlo]

I found this Brett, I'm still looking around for DIY diagnosis.



I went to a Heating and Air Conditioning customer's home the other day. They had called me to tell me that their heater was not coming on. It is December and getting colder in northern California. I am a compassionate guy so I headed over there after I finished with my regular job.

I arrived at the home and went to where the heater is located in a closet in the home. (yours maybe in the attic, basement, or garage) I removed the door and found a 30 year old Heating unit. This unit has a standing pilot light, a flame that burns continuously, and it was not lit. After trying to light the pilot light unsuccessfully I determined that pilot light would not stay lit.

The older Heating furnaces with standing pilot lights have a thermocouple, that is designed to sense the pilot light flame. That is how the pilot stays lit when you remove your hand from the dial, while trying to relight the pilot. If the thermocouple fails the pilot will not stay lit and the burners will not light so the furnace will not heat the house. You can visually check the thermocouple as well as the pilot flame. Look at the pilot flame while holding the knob in the start position.

1. Is the pilot flame floating (if it is have a Heating serviceperson check the gas valve)

2. Is the copper lead bent or kinked

3. Is the thermocouple insulation damaged

4. Is the thermocouple tip dirty

You can clean the tip by lightly sanding it. Also make sure it has not slid down out of the flame. If you feel the flame is aimed properly and the thermocouple is clean and there are no visible signs of damage then damage is on the inside, remove it. You can take it to an appliance parts and service dealer where they will sell you the correct part or you can call a heating service person to come replace it for you.

You can find this tip and many others at central air conditioner furnace thermocouple at homemaintenanceworld.com The site for the home improvement do-it-yourselfer.

Article Source: Troy Dobson - EzineArticles.com Expert Author

 

[blackmonte]

Where is the regulator outside at? Check the vent on the regulator If ice is on the vent the diaphram wont allow gas, also air might be in the lines it takes alot to purge air out of the lines but check the reg vent outside

 

[GNBRETT]

Gonna go up and try all of those. Thanx.

 

[BandAid]

probly the thermocoupler...probly not the vent line on the reg since it was working and cycling fine befor,usually the clogged reg is in the begining of the heat season,since spiders live there..hardware store carries the Thermocoupler..

 

[blackmonte]

Thermocouplings should be changed evey year very cheap insurance, As cleaning the pilot assembly and orfice for some reason bugs love the propane.

 

[blackmonte]

Ice in the reg vent is very common here thats why I put limiters ,or a copper tube with a loop bend on them all the time snow piles up and covers the vent. But agree sounds like a thermocoupling

 

[GNBRETT]

Ok, so the Tech just called and said he'd be out in an hour. Before I blow myself up im just gonna wait till he gets here and let him fuk with it.

The guy that came out last year did change the coupler. This one was working fine till he shut everything off. But I have a feelling that the Thermocoupler will need to be changed again from what you guys are stating.

I will let them change it and pay for it I guess since this is all because the delivery guy was too lazy to actually knock on my door. I was just panicking cause it's like 52 degrees in here now! Thank god for heated blankets

I'll let you guys know how it turns out after he leaves. Thanx.

 

[notacarlo]

GOOD.....


This thread makes me cold.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Damn man, hope you get it fixed soon...

Maybe turn the oven on and stand in front of it :biggrin:

BW

 

[Darkcyde]

GOOD.....


This thread makes me cold.

awwwhhh, 78 in LA and all the bitches out with their new years ideas. clear and sunny but dipping in the low 50's tonight, what ever will I do haha! just got back from family on the east coast and don't miss the weather one bit! I guess winter is rough out there, sucks about the pilot but yea definitely let the expert do it if your feeling the slightest bit of hesitation. Any firewood or bbq's to burn in the mean time?

 

[GNBRETT]

Maybe turn the oven on and stand in front of it :biggrin:

BW

Oh don't kid urself, that things cranken right now.....:biggrin: Didn't realize how much heat an oven can thro. Ghetto style....

 

[GNBRETT]

awwwhhh, 78 in LA

U suk! It will 78 in Connecticut...... in July

 

[BobbyBuick]

Air in gas line
Thermocouple not in flame correctly
thermocouple not tight at valve
dirty pilot
bad thermocouple
if you have a thermocouple you need to start saving for a new furnace they havnt made them for at least 20 years and probably more like 25
and if you have propane with a thermocouple you are paying way to much for heat in your home you could cut your bill by 45-60% with new equipment
good luck Bob Slusser
Gen Manager Airtron Heating and A/C

 

[GNBRETT]

if you have a thermocouple you need to start saving for a new furnace they havnt made them for at least 20 years and probably more like 25
and if you have propane with a thermocouple you are paying way to much for heat in your home you could cut your bill by 45-60% with new equipment
good luck Bob Slusser
Gen Manager Airtron Heating and A/C

Going with a wood stove next year anyway so I dont have to deal with this BS. Not sure on Pellet or wood yet.

 

[GNBRETT]

air in gas line
thermocouple not in flame correctly
thermocouple not tight at valve
dirty pilot
bad thermocouple
if you have a thermocouple you need to start saving for a new furnace they havnt made them for at least 20 years and probably more like 25
and if you have propane with a thermocouple you are paying way to much for heat in your home you could cut your bill by 45-60% with new equipment
good luck bob slusser
gen manager airtron heating and a/c

dp

 

[blackmonte]

Yeah those wood stoves are nice $ 60 a month to heat your home

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

Hope you have better luck with your furnace than we did:frown:

 

[TurboBuRick]

I would say thermal coupling too. Sometimes you can take them out and clean it up with a little emery cloth and they will work again. Other times it requires a new one.

I would get an extra one regardless and wire tie it to the unit. Next time you will be more prepared. Like John said, cheap insurance.

 

[Dabigguy]

I am not a guy HVAC, but I make my living in the gas fireplace industry. I rarely have to replace thermocouples. I do find that there are problems with the pilot assembly being partially clogged which causes issues that appear to be much like a bad thermocouple, but it is just a clogged pilot. Changing the thermocouple causes the pilot clog to temporarily loosen and makes you think the thermocouple was the problem and not the pilot orifice.

It is called a thermocouple, not a thermocoupler. Call it a thermocouple and the tech will respect your input more.