Question:
Some furnaces have a limit that allows them to try to light several times and if it fails to start properly to shut down. This is reset by turning the power off and back on. It sounds like you have a beginning problem in the furnace lighting circuit that will probably get worse. Dan
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Last night I noticed it was a bit chilly in here, so I checked the > thermostat (a new Honeywell) and it showed the temperature was a few > degrees lower than what it was set for. The display indicated the > furnace was on, but it wasn’t on. So I went down to the furnace room > and there is a switch on the ceiling – I flipped it off and back on > and in a few seconds the furnace came on. What was wrong? > Something similar happened last year and I thought it was the > thermostat, and that’s why I got a new one. But it’s doing it again. > The old thermostat was a Honeywell Chromatherm III (sp?) and it would > make a double clicking sound every 20 seconds or so. So I’d flip the > furnace switch off and on, and then the furnace would start. So now I > guess it wasn’t the thermostat after all…
Response:
Good suggestion, but is the furnace gas, or oil? Standing pilot or ignition system? What Dan is talking about is the interlock between starting an ignition system and gas flow. P
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Some furnaces have a limit that allows them to try to light several times > and if it fails to start properly to shut down. This is reset by turning > the power off and back on. It sounds like you have a beginning problem in > the furnace lighting circuit that will probably get worse. > Dan > Last night I noticed it was a bit chilly in here, so I checked the > thermostat (a new Honeywell) and it showed the temperature was a few > degrees lower than what it was set for. The display indicated the > furnace was on, but it wasn’t on. So I went down to the furnace room > and there is a switch on the ceiling – I flipped it off and back on > and in a few seconds the furnace came on. What was wrong? > Something similar happened last year and I thought it was the > thermostat, and that’s why I got a new one. But it’s doing it again. > The old thermostat was a Honeywell Chromatherm III (sp?) and it would > make a double clicking sound every 20 seconds or so. So I’d flip the > furnace switch off and on, and then the furnace would start. So now I > guess it wasn’t the thermostat after all…
Response:
Might be something simple, like a sticking relay. — I also hate to receive spam, so please discard the "go" to email me
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Good suggestion, but is the furnace gas, or oil? Standing pilot or ignition > system? What Dan is talking about is the interlock between starting an > ignition system and gas flow. > P > Some furnaces have a limit that allows them to try to light several times > and if it fails to start properly to shut down. This is reset by turning > the power off and back on. It sounds like you have a beginning problem in > the furnace lighting circuit that will probably get worse. > Dan > > Last night I noticed it was a bit chilly in here, so I checked the > > thermostat (a new Honeywell) and it showed the temperature was a few > > degrees lower than what it was set for. The display indicated the > > furnace was on, but it wasn’t on. So I went down to the furnace room > > and there is a switch on the ceiling – I flipped it off and back on > > and in a few seconds the furnace came on. What was wrong? > > Something similar happened last year and I thought it was the > > thermostat, and that’s why I got a new one. But it’s doing it again. > > The old thermostat was a Honeywell Chromatherm III (sp?) and it would > > make a double clicking sound every 20 seconds or so. So I’d flip the > > furnace switch off and on, and then the furnace would start. So now I > > guess it wasn’t the thermostat after all…
Response:
: Might be something simple, like a sticking relay. Or a dirty flame sensor or debris in the hose going to the air switch activated by air from the SMALL fan. : — : I also hate to receive spam, so please discard the "go" to email me : > Good suggestion, but is the furnace gas, or oil? Standing pilot or : ignition : > system? What Dan is talking about is the interlock between starting an : > ignition system and gas flow. : > : > P : > > Some furnaces have a limit that allows them to try to light several : times : > > and if it fails to start properly to shut down. This is reset by : turning : > > the power off and back on. It sounds like you have a beginning problem : in : > > the furnace lighting circuit that will probably get worse. : > > : > > Dan : > > : > > > Last night I noticed it was a bit chilly in here, so I checked the : > > > thermostat (a new Honeywell) and it showed the temperature was a few : > > > degrees lower than what it was set for. The display indicated the : > > > furnace was on, but it wasn’t on. So I went down to the furnace room : > > > and there is a switch on the ceiling – I flipped it off and back on : > > > and in a few seconds the furnace came on. What was wrong? : > > > : > > > Something similar happened last year and I thought it was the : > > > thermostat, and that’s why I got a new one. But it’s doing it again. : > > > The old thermostat was a Honeywell Chromatherm III (sp?) and it would : > > > make a double clicking sound every 20 seconds or so. So I’d flip the : > > > furnace switch off and on, and then the furnace would start. So now I : > > > guess it wasn’t the thermostat after all… : > > : > > : > : > —
Response:
> >: Might be something simple, like a sticking relay. >Or a dirty flame sensor or debris in the hose going to the air switch >activated by air from the SMALL fan. > Wow, so many possibilities! I decided to have the furnace cleaned > next week, and I’ll have the service man fix whatever this problem is. > In Ontario you want to make sure the furnace is in tip top shape > before winter sets in! Thankyou for all your responses.
Hi: You have just decided on the best possible solution. Our furnace wasn’t performing very well, but we ignored it. When we called in a company to clean our air ducts, they found a huge hole on the inside of our furnace in the garage. It was allowing carbon monoxide to escape into the ducts. Fortunately, we never had the heat on during the night, and during the days, the windows were open…..We had a new furnace installed…..My Mother had a problem with her wall heater because it would not come on, but the pilot was lit – she thought she needed a new thermostat…..We called the local gas & electric company to come and check it out (for free) and they found that the whole insides were faulty and it had to be "Someone Up Above" that saved her. With the pilot lit and the holes inside the workings, the whole house could have blown up. We are now "True Believers" in not playing with a faulty heating system. We live in California so the weather is milder than where you live, so we got lucky. Good luck, Maureen
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