Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - heater not working
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12-22-01, 03:00 AM
I live in a mobile home and last night my heater quit working. It is an older model gas heater. It has a auto button and a continuous button. It also controls the air conditioner. When on auto the blower doesnt come on but when the continuous button is on the blower kicks on but no heat. The pilot light seems to be lit but still no heat. Please help I am freezing in here. Thanks.
Sharp Advice
12-22-01, 04:37 AM
Hello Qloraloo. Welcome to the Heating and Cooling Appliance forum and the Do-It-Yourself Web Site.
Since you stated the heating unit is an older model, we'll assume the unit has a constant burning pilot lite. If the burners are turning on but the fan isn't turning on, most likely the fan switch is defective and or the motor itself is defective or burned out.
Check for a safety reset button. Some furnaces have push button resets. A pilot flame burners safety device button may be located directly 'ON' the gas control valve. However, the reset button may have an alternate location on some older brands and models of heating appliances with pilots.
Easiest method for determining the location of a reset button, is to follow backwards, from the pilot flames location, the tubing from the thermocouple.
Furnaces equipped with 'always on' constant burning pilots which either will not remain 'ON', turn "ON" or are 'ON' but the burner flames will not turn 'ON' may have one or more other problem possibilities.
Mentioned below are several other possibilities that may apply.
The pilot flame must be all blue in color. There should not be any yellow color in the pilots flame. The flame should be the correct size to both provide enough heat to the thermocouple or pilot generator and also provide a positive source of ignition for the gas.
It's also possible the magneto head contained within the body of the gas valve or other reset device is defective. The magneto head is the part the thermocouple threads into. The magneto part may or may not be individually removable and replaceable on all types of gas valves or remotely located safety devices.
Keeping in mind the reason the heating appliance may not operate as you described and or mentioned above, consider the possibility there may be a short or grounding in any part or section of the wiring system or thermostat.
The do-it-yourself person can do electrical tests and continuity tests on several electrical parts. However, I do not recommend relying solely on either test to determine if any electrical or electronic part or parts are causing the problem. The idea is not to replace costly parts until the defective one is found.
The only positive proof any part is functioning correctly, is to carefully remove the part or parts you suspect to be the potential problems, and have the local appliance parts store person test it or check it. Appliance parts dealers carry replacement parts for all appliances and are listed in the phone book under appliances.
Suggestion:
Read the manufacturers online web site for product information, problem solving methods, disassembly, reassembly methods, repair proceedures and instructions, pictorials and schematics, which may be available online.
Check the ARCHIVES, within this forum, for other postings on this topic and the replies offered.
Regards & Good Luck
Tom_Bart....TCB4U2B2B.....Company Enterprises
Fast.....Fair.....Friendly & Highly Efficient.....:D
Gas Appliances Forum Moderator
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Problem Diagnostics Technician.
Since you stated the heating unit is an older model, we'll assume the unit has a constant burning pilot lite. If the burners are turning on but the fan isn't turning on, most likely the fan switch is defective and or the motor itself is defective or burned out.
Check for a safety reset button. Some furnaces have push button resets. A pilot flame burners safety device button may be located directly 'ON' the gas control valve. However, the reset button may have an alternate location on some older brands and models of heating appliances with pilots.
Easiest method for determining the location of a reset button, is to follow backwards, from the pilot flames location, the tubing from the thermocouple.
Furnaces equipped with 'always on' constant burning pilots which either will not remain 'ON', turn "ON" or are 'ON' but the burner flames will not turn 'ON' may have one or more other problem possibilities.
Mentioned below are several other possibilities that may apply.
The pilot flame must be all blue in color. There should not be any yellow color in the pilots flame. The flame should be the correct size to both provide enough heat to the thermocouple or pilot generator and also provide a positive source of ignition for the gas.
It's also possible the magneto head contained within the body of the gas valve or other reset device is defective. The magneto head is the part the thermocouple threads into. The magneto part may or may not be individually removable and replaceable on all types of gas valves or remotely located safety devices.
Keeping in mind the reason the heating appliance may not operate as you described and or mentioned above, consider the possibility there may be a short or grounding in any part or section of the wiring system or thermostat.
The do-it-yourself person can do electrical tests and continuity tests on several electrical parts. However, I do not recommend relying solely on either test to determine if any electrical or electronic part or parts are causing the problem. The idea is not to replace costly parts until the defective one is found.
The only positive proof any part is functioning correctly, is to carefully remove the part or parts you suspect to be the potential problems, and have the local appliance parts store person test it or check it. Appliance parts dealers carry replacement parts for all appliances and are listed in the phone book under appliances.
Suggestion:
Read the manufacturers online web site for product information, problem solving methods, disassembly, reassembly methods, repair proceedures and instructions, pictorials and schematics, which may be available online.
Check the ARCHIVES, within this forum, for other postings on this topic and the replies offered.
Regards & Good Luck
Tom_Bart....TCB4U2B2B.....Company Enterprises
Fast.....Fair.....Friendly & Highly Efficient.....:D
Gas Appliances Forum Moderator
Energy Conservation Consultant & Natural Gas Appliance Problem Diagnostics Technician.