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Troubleshooting Gas Heat

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Posted: Mon Oct 18th, 2010 01:25 am

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1^st Post

Bobice

Joined:	Sun Nov 30th, 2008
Location:	Bay Shore, New York USA
Posts:	194
Flavorite Brew:	Coffee
Status:	Offline

Troubleshooting Gas Furnaces and Gas HeatersThere are many potential reasons that a furnace might not be working, but fortunately, many of the solutions are as easy as pressing a button. Use this chart to fix a wide range of conditions that prevent your furnace from working.

GAS AND FURNACE HEATER TROUBLESHOOTING CHART

Problem
Possible cause
Solution

Furnace won't run

1. No power.

1. Check for blown fuses or tripped
    circuit breakers at main entrance
    panel, at separate entrance panel,
    and on or in furnace; restore circuit.

2. Switch off.

2. Turn on separate power switch
    on or near furnace

3. Motor overload.

3. Wait 30 minutes; press reset
    button. Repeat if necessary.

4. Pilot light out.

4. Relight pilot.

5. No gas.

5. Make sure gas valve to furnace is
    fully open

Not enough heat

1. Thermostat set
    too low.

1. Raise thermostat setting 5°.

2. Filter dirty.

2. Clean or replace filter.

3. Blower clogged.

3. Clean blower assembly.

4. Registers closed
    or blocked.

4. Make sure all registers are open;
    make sure they are not blocked
    by tugs, drapes or furniture.

5. System out of balance.

5. Balance system.

6. Blower belt loose
    or broken.

6. Adjust or replace belt.

7. Burner dirty.

7. Call a professional.

Pilot won't light

1. Pilot opening blocked.

1. Clean pilot opening.

2. No gas.

2. Make sure pilot light button
    is fully depressed; make sure
    gas valve to furnace is fully open.

Pilot won't
stay lit

1. Loose or faulty
    thermocouple.

1. Tighten thermocouple nut
    slightly, if no results, replace
    thermocouple.

2. Pilot flame set
    too low.

2. Adjust pilot so flame is
    about 2 inches long.

3. Electric pilot faulty.

3. Call a professional.

Furnace turns
on and off
repeatedly

1. Filter dirty.

1. Clean or replace filter.

2. Motor and/or blower
    needs lubrication.

2. If motor and blower have
    oil ports, lubricate.

Blower won't
stop running

1. Blower control
    set wrong.

1. Reset thermostat from
    ON to AUTO.

2. Limit switch set wrong.

2. Reset limit switch
    for stop-start cycling.

3. Limit control
    needs adjustment.

3. Call a professional.

Furnace noisy

1. Access panels loose.

1. Mount and fasten access
    panels correctly.

2. Belts sticking, worn,
    or damaged.

2. Spray squeaking drive belts
    with belt dressing; replace worn
    or damaged belts.

3. Blower belts
    too loose or too tight.

3. Adjust belt.

4. Motor and/or
    blower needs
    lubrication.

4. If motor and blower
    have oil ports, lubricate.

5. Burner dirty.

5. Call a professional.

Last edited on Mon Oct 18th, 2010 01:40 am by Bobice

____________________
Retired US Army Refrigeration Specialist / NYC Board of Education HVAC/R (Retired)
40 Years HVAC/R service, sales,installations. a tragedy has happen to me : http://web.me.com/zenzoidman/Bobice/

Quote

Posted: Sun Oct 24th, 2010 05:17 pm

Quote

2^nd Post

ACtechGUY
Master Appliantologist

Joined:	Sun Sep 27th, 2009
Location:	New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Posts:	137
Flavorite Brew:	Landshark
Status:	Offline

Additions to Bobice's troubleshooting gas furnaces.....

1. No power.
1. Check for blown fuses or tripped
circuit breakers at main entrance
panel, at separate entrance panel,
and on or in furnace; restore circuit.
Check wirenut connections where power enters furnace, they have a way of burning up.

2. Switch off.
2. Turn on separate power switch
on or near furnace
Check the switch itself. Switches have a way of going bad after 20 or 30 years

Not enough heat
2. Filter dirty.
2. Clean or replace filter.
That washable "Electrostatic" air filter is too restrictive to airflow causing furnace to overheat. Try a less restrictive filter.

Furnace noisy
1. Access panels loose.
1. Mount and fasten access
panels correctly.
2. Belts sticking, worn,
or damaged.
2. Spray squeaking drive belts
with belt dressing; replace worn
or damaged belts.
Blower wheel very dirty or some trash got sucked into the blower wheel causing unbalanced operation(shaking).

____________________
Don't know much. But learned early on, once you let the smoke out of a something electrical, you can never put it back in!! :oops:

Quote

Posted: Sun Oct 24th, 2010 06:45 pm

Quote

3^rd Post

Bobice

Joined:	Sun Nov 30th, 2008
Location:	Bay Shore, New York USA
Posts:	194
Flavorite Brew:	Coffee
Status:	Offline

All we can add helps. Gives homeowners a "Warm and Fuzzy" feeling about Honest Technicians.

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Current time is 01:34 pm
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