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#1
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furnace help, please
my pilot light on the furnace doesn't want to stay on.. i had it off all summer and now i can't get it to stay lit. the flame doesn't reach the thermal switch thingy.. i can make it stay on temporarily by putting a bit of flame to the "switch" itself but the pilot will extinguish a few moments later.. there is also a click right before coming from the gizmo where one has to depress the knob to light the pilot and then turn it to ON.. i have tried a few different times trying different ways with no luck.. any ideas?
(the proper names of parts would also be appreciated) thanks, brrrr |
#2
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The unit with the dial is called the regulator.
The thermal switch thingie is called a thermocouple. What typically happens is that spiders cause the pilot tube to restrict the gas output and the flame won't reach the thermocouple. If the thermocouple doesn't sense heat from the pilot light, it shuts off the gas to the pilot light. This is so that you don't blow up your house. So, you just get in there and remove the pilot light tube and check for spider webs. Clean it out thoroughly, reinstall it, and the flame should reach the thermocouple. After the thermocouple heats up, you can remove your finger from the override button on the regulator, and the pilot light will remain lit. Then turn the dial on the regulator to "ON" and you'll have heat via the main burners. |
#3
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Try it a few more times. It might take a while to get the 'stale' gas out of the pipe. If its still no good, either the pilot is crudded up, or the control unit is bad. Either way I would leave it to a pro to service.
__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles 2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed 2005 Toyota Sienna 2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible 1999 Toyota Tacoma |
#4
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thanks guys.. i took the thermocouple off and blew crud out and lit the furnace "manually" and let it heat up the house a bit.. now i notice "scaly" material on the burners that must have falllen from above.. hmmm? the pilot still does not work unless i use my lighter to heat up the thermocouple.. i may bend the deflector shield a bit to direct the flame closer to the thermocouple..
are thermocouples ready available? cost? i understand your comment about hiring a pro but i feel it's probably the thermocouple and i hate to drop a $100 or more for such a little part.. looks like i should be able to exchange that myself... the crud thing worries me a bit though. |
#5
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It sounds like the pilot light is the problem, not the thermocouple. If the pilot light reaches the thermocouple, then the system will function properly. You can adjust the position of the thermocouple to ensure that it is in the pilot flame. But, if you have NO pilot flame, then a new thermocouple can't help you.
Sometimes the regulators have an adjustment for the size of the pilot flame............sometimes not. |
#6
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ok, thanks BC.. i'll look into that more tomorrow.. for tonight i'll be ok.. got some space heaters working and ahh the h2o bed is 93F...
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#8
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lol. yeah and i was planning using more electrical heating appliances this winter but i don't have all i need and my firebox still needs tuck&pointing before i can fire up... well, and more wood too... |
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#10
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i think somehwere along the way he mentioned being a landlord.. or i am just confused...
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#11
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__________________
Steve '87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale '84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving '77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored '08 250EX Ninja English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms. |
#12
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My greatest accomplishment was to remove a gas furnace from one of them, prepare a new proper concrete plinth, install a brand new furnace, have the the new ducts made up, and add all wiring, gas lines, and exhaust (PVC) lines. Total cost for the job, including the furnace, and all parts was $850.00. A heating contractor would have got $3K for the job, and he would not have done the concrete plinth nor would he have run a new thermostat line. It took two full weekends to get it all done, but, the satisfaction of throwing the switch and watching three main burners light off was immense. |
#13
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Not to be funny, but anyone who doesn't know what the thingy is called, is best advised to get a licensed contractor to assess the problem. Every winter season has reports of houses blowing up from leaking or faulty gas furnaces, so why risk it to save the expense of a service call? Also, a new high efficiency unit with electronic ignition will probably save you a bundle in gas bills if your current system is more than 10-15 years old.
__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles 2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed 2005 Toyota Sienna 2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible 1999 Toyota Tacoma |
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#15
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Now, a leak in a gas line is a completely separate discussion. There are no safeguards to prevent a tragedy in such a case. |
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