Furnace Question

[SandEagle]

Well just my luck.. on the coldest day of the year, my furnace decides to crap out on me. I have a heat pump that works in conjuction with the furnace, not sure how it all works. I checked the furnace and there's no fire getting ignited. i'm only getting cool air blowing from the vents.

my question: should i shut off the heat completely? will there be any gas leaks if i just let it go? thanks

 

[RadiclDreamer]

If you dont mind, when you get it replaced let me know the cost, I am getting ready to replace my old furnace in Feb. Also the sq ft would be nice too. I just want to know what im looking at.

 

[spidey07]

Pilot light lit?

There should be no leaks to worry about unless you smell it.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
If you dont mind, when you get it replaced let me know the cost, I am getting ready to replace my old furnace in Feb. Also the sq ft would be nice too. I just want to know what im looking at.

For reference, we had 80000BTU's installed in our old 1300 sq ft house for about $2500 installed. I'd imagine 90000BTU's would be around $3000-$3500 now.

bad time of year for this to happen, but most furncace issues have to do with the thermocouple. I bet it's $150 or less to fix.

 

[Gibson486]

is it gas? if so, you may have to manually light the fire. You put it on pilot, press the button and insert a flame. Hold button for 1 minute, the let go and turn furnace up.

I just learned this a day ago b/c my mom was having the same problem. The flame just kept dying.

 

[SandEagle]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
If you dont mind, when you get it replaced let me know the cost, I am getting ready to replace my old furnace in Feb. Also the sq ft would be nice too. I just want to know what im looking at.

For reference, we had 80000BTU's installed in our old 1300 sq ft house for about $2500 installed. I'd imagine 90000BTU's would be around $3000-$3500 now.

bad time of year for this to happen, but most furncace issues have to do with the thermocouple. I bet it's $150 or less to fix.

yup, that's the range that my neighbor paid. Luckily I have home warranty so if they can't fix it I get a new furnace for FREE. definitely worth paying $40/month for warranty. Already got a new heat pump out of it, saving me thousands. check out AHS, they're pretty awesome.

Originally posted by: Gibson486
is it gas? if so, you may have to manually light the fire. You put it on pilot, press the button and insert a flame. Hold button for 1 minute, the let go and turn furnace up.

I just learned this a day ago b/c my mom was having the same problem. The flame just kept dying.

I'd try this, but I'm too much of a wuss. i'll just wait for the hvac dude to look at it tomorrow

 

[spidey07]

SandEagle,

Fail. You need to learn how to light a pilot light. It's neither difficult nor dangerous.

 

[Rubycon]

How cold is it outside?

Once the temperature drops below the balance point (about 30F) your heating system will need to fall back on supplementary heat - sounds like natural gas/propane in your case. It can be oil (the most common is resistance wire "strip heaters").

When it's really cold out the heat pump loses its effectiveness to the point where it costs too much to run to be effective. This is the cold lockout and can be set from +10 to -10F. If the temperature is in this range and your supplementary heating fails you lose all heat!

Does your system use a standing pilot? (that's quite outdated now btw) Most use a high voltage spark generator (a snapping noise heard at call for heat) OR a hot plate/wire ignitor that's nothing more than a piece of metal of high resistance that glows orange and is in the path of the gas flow causing it to ignite. A failure of either will result in a MTFI (main trial for ignition) failure. The flame controller in most small gas furnaces is a wire (some also use a photo sensor) in the flame and these can break off. This is not to be confused with a thermocouple which is used in standing pilot systems to detect a loss of pilot light. When the thermocouple cools (it generates a minute amount of current based on the Seeback effect) the current fades causing the pilot valve to close. This prevents gas from filling the combustion chamber and your living space! (which could be very bad!)

Do you smell gas near the furnace when it first starts? Do you hear the combustion air fan (usually only heard when standing next to the furnace) when it first starts? If not you may have a control issue. If this sounds complicated you may want to retain the services of a qualified heating system technician.

 

[SandEagle]

Originally posted by: spidey07
SandEagle,

Fail. You need to learn how to light a pilot light. It's neither difficult nor dangerous.

i know

but based on the info below, it seems like too much work for me. hell, i dont even know where the gas valve is. besides, i'll pay the service charge to avoid seeing any spiders down there... i hate spiders. no offense to you though




http://www.repair-home.com/Rel...as_Furnace_Pilot_Light

"Relighting Your Furnace's Pilot Light
- Turn off the gas at the main valve at your utility box
- Wait five to ten minutes for gas fumes to waft away
- Get a long match?yes, a fireplace match, not a standard match
- Set the gas valve on your furnace to "pilot"
- Press the red button as you hold the match to the pilot valve
- Keep pressing the red button for 30-60 seconds so the pilot can heat the thermocouple. Release the button and see if the pilot remains lit
- If pilot goes out, wait five to ten minutes and repeat the process
- Once the pilot stays lit, turn the main gas valve back on
- If the pilot light continues to go out, call a technician, who may need to adjust or replace your thermocouple or adjust your pilot





Rubycon - it's 1 degrees F outside now. it sucks. the home is 15 years old, so i dont know if its a newer or older type of furnace. they all look the same to me

 

[spidey07]

Heh, well make sure the tech shows you how to do it. The secret is holding in that button for longer than 30-60 seconds to make sure the thermocouple heats up.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Rubycon - it's 1 degrees F outside now. it sucks. the home is 15 years old, so i dont know if its a newer or older type of furnace. they all look the same to me

Uh-oh. At that temperature you will need to get that burner working or it's going to get very uncomfortable soon. :Q

At 15 years old it could be any type mentioned.

If you pull the top cover off you will know if you have a pilot or not as if it has a red knob that has a pilot/run/off position you have a standing pilot system.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Rubycon - it's 1 degrees F outside now. it sucks. the home is 15 years old, so i dont know if its a newer or older type of furnace. they all look the same to me

Uh-oh. At that temperature you will need to get that burner working or it's going to get very uncomfortable soon. :Q

At 15 years old it could be any type mentioned.

If you pull the top cover off you will know if you have a pilot or not as if it has a red knob that has a pilot/run/off position you have a standing pilot system.

Frozen/busted pipes anybody?

OP - you can probably still get somebody out if you call. I'd highly recommend that you do. You do NOT want to deal with busted pipes.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Rubycon - it's 1 degrees F outside now. it sucks. the home is 15 years old, so i dont know if its a newer or older type of furnace. they all look the same to me

Uh-oh. At that temperature you will need to get that burner working or it's going to get very uncomfortable soon. :Q

At 15 years old it could be any type mentioned.

If you pull the top cover off you will know if you have a pilot or not as if it has a red knob that has a pilot/run/off position you have a standing pilot system.

Frozen/busted pipes anybody?

OP - you can probably still get somebody out if you call. I'd highly recommend that you do. You do NOT want to deal with busted pipes.

Or at minimum get some space heaters for the night.

 

[SandEagle]

thanks for the info guys. i picked up 4 space heaters for the night. didn't think about busted pipes, but oh well that's covered under warranty too i'll follow up tomorrow.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
If you dont mind, when you get it replaced let me know the cost, I am getting ready to replace my old furnace in Feb. Also the sq ft would be nice too. I just want to know what im looking at.

For reference, we had 80000BTU's installed in our old 1300 sq ft house for about $2500 installed. I'd imagine 90000BTU's would be around $3000-$3500 now.

bad time of year for this to happen, but most furncace issues have to do with the thermocouple. I bet it's $150 or less to fix.

yup, that's the range that my neighbor paid. Luckily I have home warranty so if they can't fix it I get a new furnace for FREE. definitely worth paying $40/month for warranty. Already got a new heat pump out of it, saving me thousands. check out AHS, they're pretty awesome.

Originally posted by: Gibson486
is it gas? if so, you may have to manually light the fire. You put it on pilot, press the button and insert a flame. Hold button for 1 minute, the let go and turn furnace up.

I just learned this a day ago b/c my mom was having the same problem. The flame just kept dying.

I'd try this, but I'm too much of a wuss. i'll just wait for the hvac dude to look at it tomorrow

I do not blame you. I was scared and backing away when my mom was showing me how to put the pilot light on.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
If you dont mind, when you get it replaced let me know the cost, I am getting ready to replace my old furnace in Feb. Also the sq ft would be nice too. I just want to know what im looking at.

We replaced a natural gas forced air furnace in the house we rent last year (February, I believe). Total cost, including materials, furnace, beer & cash for bro-in-law who helped me, plus money for the guy from the place I bought it from to come out and inspect it, so my warranty would be valid, it was under $1000. Around 2000 sq ft; basement is also heated. I'd expect it to cost at least double that if you're paying a company to install it.
- - - - - - - -
Also, OP: $40 per month warranty - is that a warranty for anything in the house? Or just a warranty on your heating system? Sounds like ignorance can be expensive. If the problem is the most typical one for a system with a pilot light - the thermocouple, you're out the cost of 4 space heaters (unless you borrowed them) instead of a $6.99 thermocouple that either of my children could install by the time they were 14.

No offense meant, but you really need to educate yourself in this day and age in order to avoid being ripped off. It's astounding (to me) that you don't even know if you have a pilot light or not on your furnace. It's equally amazing that you don't know where the main gas valve is. Complete ignorance is what leads people to be charged for things like having their blinker fluid replaced.

Take a picture and I'm sure one of us can help you.

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: SandEagle

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
If you dont mind, when you get it replaced let me know the cost, I am getting ready to replace my old furnace in Feb. Also the sq ft would be nice too. I just want to know what im looking at.

For reference, we had 80000BTU's installed in our old 1300 sq ft house for about $2500 installed. I'd imagine 90000BTU's would be around $3000-$3500 now.

bad time of year for this to happen, but most furncace issues have to do with the thermocouple. I bet it's $150 or less to fix.

yup, that's the range that my neighbor paid. Luckily I have home warranty so if they can't fix it I get a new furnace for FREE. definitely worth paying $40/month for warranty. Already got a new heat pump out of it, saving me thousands. check out AHS, they're pretty awesome.

Originally posted by: Gibson486
is it gas? if so, you may have to manually light the fire. You put it on pilot, press the button and insert a flame. Hold button for 1 minute, the let go and turn furnace up.

I just learned this a day ago b/c my mom was having the same problem. The flame just kept dying.

I'd try this, but I'm too much of a wuss. i'll just wait for the hvac dude to look at it tomorrow

I do not blame you. I was scared and backing away when my mom was showing me how to put the pilot light on.

WTF

I hope that's sarcastic.... :Q

 

[SandEagle]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
......

Also, OP: $40 per month warranty - is that a warranty for anything in the house? Or just a warranty on your heating system? Sounds like ignorance can be expensive. If the problem is the most typical one for a system with a pilot light - the thermocouple, you're out the cost of 4 space heaters (unless you borrowed them) instead of a $6.99 thermocouple that either of my children could install by the time they were 14.

No offense meant, but you really need to educate yourself in this day and age in order to avoid being ripped off. It's astounding (to me) that you don't even know if you have a pilot light or not on your furnace. It's equally amazing that you don't know where the main gas valve is. Complete ignorance is what leads people to be charged for things like having their blinker fluid replaced.

Take a picture and I'm sure one of us can help you.

Dr. Pizza - that $40 covers all electric appliances in the home, heat pump, furnace, A/C, washer/dryer, plumbing, etc. It's totally worth it IMO.

I finally got the issue resolved today. From the invoice: inducer motor tubing block to pressure switch cleaned

i watched him do it so i'll be prepared next time it happens. :thumbsup:

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Got a quote today, 75,000 BTU @ 95% eff with install, 1 extra return, 1 extra vent for $3200, flat fee. Guy said if they need more materials or labor, he eats it.