Troubleshooting a Gas Furnace - Furnace Repair

The gas furnace is an appliance looking like a large box that does the following:

• takes in cold air
• cleans it with an air filter
• heats it up with a gas burner using a stainless
• steel heat exchanger
• distributes the warm air with a blower motor through your home's ductwork

The heated air then cools down in your home's various rooms and returns to the furnace through return air grills and ductwork.

The cold returning air enters back through the air filter into the furnace to complete another heating loop.

Sometimes there is a humidifier mounted on the furnace or the return air ductwork.

Furnaces come in different efficiencies measured in AFUE.

Once in a while things don't work quite right and you need to troubleshoot a gas furnace repair or relight a standing pilot if it has one. Most newer furnaces have electronic ignitions and need special troubleshooting.

• Thermostat set too low and no calling for heat
• Thermostat not working
• Circuit breaker or fuse controlling the furnace is tripped or blown
• Natural gas or propane control valve is closed
• Pilot light is out

• Check that thermostat is in heat mode and has appropriate temperature setting
• Try moving dial setting up or down a few degrees
• Clean contacts in thermostat if it is a non-digital type
• Reset tripped circuit breaker
• Replace blown fuse
• Relight pilot light

• Dirty furnace air filter
• Gas burners may be dirty or need adjustment

• Replace dirty air filter
• Call furnace service technician to have burners adjusted.

• Dirty furnace air filter
• Blower motor problem
• Thermostat problem (heat anticipator)

• Adjust thermostat heat anticipator
• See also Troubleshooting a Thermostat
• Replace dirty air filter
• Oil blower motor lubrication ports (usually at each end of shaft) with light weight oil
• Check for proper belt tension. Belt should depress about 1 inch at center of span.
• If too loose, tighten belt.
• Replace frayed belt.

• Thermostat set to fan continuous
• Faulty fan limit control switch on furnace (if thermostat has no fan setting)

• Change thermostat fan setting
• Reset or replace furnace fan limit control switch

• Higher pitched "squealing" sound may be caused by slipping blower belt or motor or shaft bearings in need of oiling
• Lower pitched "rumble" sound may be caused by a poorly adjusted pilot light if this problem occurs with the burners off.
• Lower pitched "rumble" sound may be caused by dirty gas burners if the problem occurs with the burners on.

• Oil blower motor lubrication ports (usually at each end of shaft) with light weight oil
• Check for proper belt tension. Belt should depress about 1 inch at center of span.
• If too loose, tighten belt.
• Replace frayed belt.
• Adjust pilot light
• Call furnace service technician to have burners adjusted or cleaned.

• A pilot can go out due to a strong draft, dirty orifice or dirt in the gas tube.
• The thermocouple may also be faulty and is shutting off the gas supply.

A thermocouple is used on a standing pilot furnace (with a pilot light). An electronic ignition furnace (intermittent pilot or hot surface ignition) uses a flame sensor. The flame sensor and thermocouple both perform similar functions in that they both control the flow of gas from the gas valve. The flame sensing rod can be straight or “L” shaped. In both cases the thermocouple or flame sensing rod are generally part of a pilot burner assembly and both connect to the gas valve or to the electronic control box.

• Shut off gas and power to the furnace.
• Remove the furnace's access cover.
• If the furnace has been running, wait 30 minutes or so until the thermocouple cools.
• The end of the thermocouple is screwed into the gas control valve. Unscrew the nut that holds the thermocouple end fitting into the control valve.
• The thermocouple is fastened to the standing pilot burner assembly bracket with a nut at the bottom of the bracket or a nut below and above the bracket. Unscrew the nut(s) and remove the thermocouple.
• Connect the new thermocouple to the pilot burner assembly bracket.
• Clean the threaded gas control valve opening and fasten the thermocouple end fitting to the gas control valve about 1/4 of a turn beyond where it feels tight by hand.
• Turn on the gas and power to the furnace.
• Turn on the pilot light and make sure about 1/2” of the thermocouple is in the pilot flame.
• Replace furnace access cover.

• Shut off gas and power to the furnace.
• Remove the furnace's access cover.
• If the furnace has been running, wait 30 minutes or so until the flame sensor cools.
• The sensor may integral to the gas ignition system or independent and fastened to the burner assembly with a screw.
• If your sensor is removable, first disconnect the electrical wire leads to the sensor. Disconnect the other end of the leads at the control box.
• Next, remove the flame sensor by loosening the fastening screw(s) with a nut-driver or wrench.
• Replace the flame sensor and fasten with the fastening nut, tightening with a nut-driver or wrench.
• Connect the electrical leads to the sensor other end of the electrical leads to the electronic control box.
• Replace furnace access cover.

Article provided by Bob Formisano, About.com Guide

Bondo is a two-part putty manufactured by 3M. While the term "Bondo" is a registered trademark for this company's product, it is commonly used in the U.S. as a genericized trademark to refer to all auto-repair putties or so-called plastic body fillers. Bondo is a polyester resin product that when mixed with a hardener (an organic peroxide), or catalyst, turns into a putty which then sets and becomes rock-hard. The user can apply the mixed Bondo, sand it to the proper shape, and prime and paint it like the material around it.

Information courtesy of Jim at Jim's Home Repair Stuff

It is important to maintain the proper humidity levels in your home and workplace. Indoor humidity levels should be between 30 to 50 percent with the ideal level being about 45 percent. Humidity levels can be easily checked with a hygrometer. They are inexpensive and look similar to a thermometer.

If humidity is too low, you can suffer from dry noses, skin, and throats, as well as cracked fingertips, and you're more likely to catch a cold. Dryness can also damage wood and drywall, cause your wood floors to shrink, and even cause your piano to go out of tune. Static electricity is also increased as the humidity levels decreased. Low humidity is more common in colder climates because cold air is less able to hold water vapor. (This is why air conditioners drip water - colder air holds less humidity.) Older and less energy-efficient homes are also more likely to suffer from low humidity.

Humidity that is too high will stain ceilings and walls, and can cause paint and wallpaper to peel. It is also a breeding ground for mold, rot and insects such as termites and cockroaches. Homes that are more energy-efficient are also more likely to suffer from problems with higher humidity. The tighter your house is, the less air that is exchanged.

It is important to measure the humidity throughout your house. Basements are notorious for having higher humidity levels. Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms also have higher humidity levels. Bedrooms and rooms closer to these areas will have a higher humidity level than ones further away.

Humidity levels are easily increased by using a humidifier. Humidifiers must kept clean and filters should be changed according to the manufacturer's instructions. The most common type of evaporative humidifier uses a wicking filter that absorbs the water. A fan then blows through the air and evaporates some of the water. Make sure you purchase a humidifier that will cover the amount of square feet necessary and that holds plenty of water. You won't want to be constantly refilling it.

The nice thing about humidifiers is that they are self-regulating - not through technology, but through Mother Nature. The higher the humidity, the harder it is to evaporate water from the filter.

If the humidity is too high in your home or basement, there are two ways you can decrease it. Installing exhaust fans in rooms where there are higher level of humidity, like your kitchen, laundry room and bathroom, is one method. However, this can be expensive.

A less expensive method is to purchase a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier is, for all intents and purposes, an air conditioner that has both hot and cold coils. A fan blows air over the cold coil that condenses the moisture in the air, which drips down into the collection area. The air is then passed over a hot coil to restore it to its original temperature. For best results, you should empty the water from your dehumidifier regularly.

Did you know that your choice of Christmas tree could affect its flammability factor? Older, dried-out trees ignite and burn much faster than those that are freshly cut and well hydrated, so when you're shopping for a natural (live) holiday tree, keep the following things in mind:

• Before taking a Christmas tree home, make sure that its needles are fresh, green, and firmly attached to the branches. Bend the needles between your fingers - if they break, the tree is too dry. Also check that the tree trunk's cut surface is sticky to the touch. As a final precaution, pick the tree up vertically and tap the trunk against the ground; if needles fall off, move on to another tree.
• As a general rule, Christmas trees with thicker needles take longer to dry out, so a robust variety like the Noble Fir is a good choice.
• If you opt for an artificial tree instead, be sure that it's flame retardant.

The way you set up and care for your tree has a big effect on how long it will last, how beautiful it will stay, and, ultimately, how safe it will be to have in your home.

• Before putting your new Christmas tree into its stand, cut a couple of inches off the bottom of the trunk to expose fresher (and far more absorbent) wood. Taking a few minutes to do this will improve your tree's water intake, and make it harder for your tree to catch fire.
• Your tree stand should have a capacity of at least one gallon, which is the amount of water that the average 6-foot Christmas tree can consume in a day's time. As a general rule of thumb, live Christmas trees require one quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter.
• Water live Christmas trees daily.
• Position tree a minimum of 3 feet away from candles, fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, heat vents, and other heat sources.

Because nearly half of all Christmas tree fires involve electrical malfunctions, it's extremely important to check that light strands and other electrical decorations are in good condition (free from insulation cracks, fraying wires or damaged bulbs and plugs) before decorating your tree with them.

• When shopping for lights, electric decorations and extension cords, purchase only the ones that are UL-listed
• If you're planning to decorate outdoors, make sure that you use lights and decorations that are rated for outdoor use. Putting indoor-only products outside in the weather can result in electric shock and fire hazards.
• If you're in doubt as to whether light strings are rated for indoor or outdoor use, just check the color-coded UL mark on the product's package. A green holographic UL mark says, "indoors only, please," while a red one indicates that the product is safe for both indoor and outdoor use.
• Whether they're brand-new out of the box or seasoned veterans from holidays past, before you put them up, inspect all lights, electric decorations and extension cords for signs of damage to wire insulation, plugs, and bulbs. If the damage can be repaired (i.e. broken bulbs replaced), do not use the item until the repair has been made. If cords and plugs are damaged, discard and replace the decoration.
• Always unplug lights before changing bulbs, replacing fuses, or making any other repairs.
• If you need to replace a bulb in a string of Christmas lights, make sure that the wattage rating of the replacement bulb you're using matches that of the light strand. Using a bulb with too high a wattage can cause the light string to overheat, creating a fire risk.
• When hanging Christmas lights outdoors, reduce your risk of electric shock by passing up metal ladders in favor of ladders made of non-conductive materials like wood or fiberglass-reinforced plastic.
• Only use lights and decorations in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.
• Before you begin decorating, verify how many strands of lights it is safe to connect end-to-end (as a general rule, it's 3).
• Be careful not to overload extension cords. Before you start plugging in, find out the wattage rating of your extension cord, as well as the power requirements of any lights or decorations you're planning to plug into it. A wattage rating is the amount of electricity that an extension cord is built to carry, and if the combined power requirements (or "pull") of your lights and decorations exceed that rating, overheating and fire can occur.
• Every so often, check Christmas light wires to make sure that they're not warm to the touch.
• Always turn off all Christmas lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving the house.

Avoid Using Lit Candles
If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.

Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree
Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Coffee, tea and chocolate - Chocolate, coffee, and tea all contain a harmful substance called xanthine, which causes nervous system and/or urinary system damage and heart muscle stimulation.

Bones from cooked fish, meat, or poultry can be dangerous if swallowed.

Rawhide Chews or other edible items wrapped as presents and left under the tree can be very tempting to your dog. Many companies often wrap rawhide chews and other pet gifts in ribbon. Make sure to remove ribbons or ties before you give these gifts to your dog.

Be sure to place your Christmas tree in a sturdy stand, and if you have a very active dog that might knock it over, a good idea is to attach the tree securely to a window or wall with something like fish line.

Reduce stress by keeping your dog's feeding and exercise routine on a consistent schedule.

Extra holiday activity and travel may be stressful to your dog, making him extra thirsty. Dogs typically pant more when they feel stressed. Keep fresh water available for him to drink.

Holiday guests and other activity can be very stressful and even frightening to many dogs. They can also trigger illness and intestinal upset. Make sure your dog has a safe place to retreat in your house like his crate.

Also make sure your dog has on his I.D. tags in case he darts out the door when guests come and go.

1. About those carrot sticks. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnogaholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later then you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other peoples food for free. Lots of it. Hello? Remember college?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Years, You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa. Position yourself near them, and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. You can't leave them behind. You're not going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day ?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean have some standards, mate.
10. And one final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table. You haven't been paying attention. Reread tips. Start over. But hurry! Cookieless January is just around the corner.

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Our shelter animals need us at the holidays ~ Ways you can help!
Sometimes our greatest help can be someone who is willing to just spend some time with our shelter cats & dogs, to just hold them or pet them, play ball or brush them. At this time of the year we are all very busy and this is when our furry friends need our help the most. Below are some other ways you can aid our success in caring for our homeless friends.

• Donate a raffle item if your club is holding a fund raiser
• Donate a dog bed or towels
• Donate a leash or collar
• Groom a dog
• Host rescue photos with an information link on your website
• Donate your time to a shelter so their open hours can be extended
• Give your gift or donation as a gift to another (send a card to that person that you donated in their name)
• Come up with your very own unique way of helping

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