Furnace

[Carny Bill]

Good ole Illinois and my furnace is acting up.
It runs for a bit and then sputters a little, then goes out and shuts down. Have to reset the thermastate and it will go again for a couple of hours.
Checked fuel, checked for blockage or soot in the exhaust and open intake.
Anyone have any idea's?

[chevman]

We had this problem 3 years ago and it was the mother board.
chevman

[Carny Bill]

thats kinda what I expected. Thanks for the assist chevman. I'll pull board tomarrow and get a replacement.

[golf_bears]

We are having the same problem. We're on our way to AZ. Left IL yesterday and stayed overnight in Cuba, MO.

Furnace works on restart, heats up to set temp, shuts down and does not restart. Last night I went out and switched tanks and all worked well for the rest of the night.

The tank I switched from was not empty, still had 1/3 tank.

Really confused, will watch this thread very close and see what develops.

Bill, please keep me posted on your find, will do the same if I figure out the problem, thanks.

[jcasey]

We had a furnace problem with different clues than you describe. Ours would go on and then stop rather quickly after ignition. The problem was a temperature sensor in the furnace near the exit for one of the heat tubes. Our problem might not be your problem; but, it is a thought.

[golf_bears]

Just a thought,

When we had the problem, we were in IL in the low tens temperature wise.

Couldn't get the turned on tank below 1/3 full. I suspect the low temps reduced the pressure inside the tanks and therefore could not get through the regulator. I think that is why the furnace sputtered. When I looked at the gauge it indicated the cylinder was empty but the frost line on the tank was at about 1/3 full. Indicative of insufficient pressure to pop the valves.

When I switched over to the full tank the furnace ran as it should.

We’re pulled over for the night now at the Quapaw Casino in Miami, OK. We’ll see how things work tonight. It’s warmer here so should not see the low tens. Furnace is working right now, keep your fingers crossed.

I’ll report in the morning if we don’t get frozen out!!!

What do you guys think?

[Carny Bill]

Ran got a new control board today. Guess what, stil no workie.
No techs are working of course this weekend.
Tomarrow I will check out the orfice and LP line for obstructions or something. Will keep u posted.

[jdwilson3]

Rubber hoses for propane systems leach oils into the hose. Oil then flows to low point in the line. This blocks / restricts LP flow. Disconnect hose from regulator, lower the connection end of the hose lower than the low point and allow it oil to drain...give it 24 hours.

Also, regulator could be bad...cheap easy replacement.

[chevman]

JD wilson is corrrect. We had the same problem once but after the regulator was replaced it needed to be adjusted for the correct flow and not easy with out knowledge and the tools.
chevman

[Carny Bill]

I'll see what I can figure out tomarrow and advise...thanks for all the info and assist...........Bill

[BobW]

You may need to take out the furnace. Easy job. Check out the gap electrode for 1/8 inch. It may not be firing. Happened to me twice.

[Carny Bill]

Tore her apart today...not find a single thing that I could check.

All clean, switches ohm out ok...13v steady and my 5kw lp generator runs fine. I give up, off to a tech shop tomarrow.

[Carny Bill]

Now I feel dumb. Took unit to service shop. First thing tech did was pull the burner itself out. The complete end of it was blew out.

I looked at everything but that. I looked at it installed and could see more than 1/2 of the top which looked fine so did not bother to unbolt and remove it. Of course part not in stock. 2 days to ship, just in time to install and get out of dodge. Hopefully this will be end of this problem

[Carny Bill]

All is well. Picked up my unit today with the new burner, installed and working like a champ. Even not as noisy as it has been in the past.

Now I am ready to head south, just gotta get xmas over and on our way.

[Motor31]

Glad you got it fixed.

[ponch]

Glad things got worked out Bill.

Golf Bears go into your cabinet and turn on the propane switch for the water heater. Is the DSI light right above it lit? I'm told if thaqt is lit it may indicate a bad regulator.

I stand to be corrected for that is just what I was told.

[golf_bears]

Bill,

Glad you got your heater working. Sorry was not able to help you. We got into some warmer weather and my heater now works just fine, not sure what the problem was other than what I was guessing at in my first response above.

Ponch, the DSI light goes on when I toggle the switch over and the water heater kicks in.