Furnace Problem

[Yerf Dog]

Stopped working this morning. :ohnoes: I pulled the cover and saw some buildup on the flame sensor. I hit it with some steel wool and we're back in business. :seasix:

http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/media/img/coleman/025-30788-700.jpg

I just found a video of the same problem/fix. Looks like the same furnace as well. :funny:

Troubleshooting a Furnace - Flame Sensor - Furnace Repair - YouTube

[onedef92]

Sounds like a lot of dust/mold buildup in the combustion chamber. Vac around the igniters with a Shop-Vac with a brush attachment.

Check your blower fan motor resistance, too, with a multimeter. A new fan motor can cost upwards of $300 bones or more. The capacitor? Less than $15.

[bsmith]

Had the exact same problem at our old house on a holiday evening.

Called a place and the guy really didn't want to come out.
"are you even remotely mechanically inclined? ...search for this in the internet"

[Bingo Fuel]

About 3 weeks ago at about 7pm on a Sunday evening, our 20 yr old Trane XE 90 furnace started blowing cold air.

The flashing LED code indicated it was the Limit switch that had failed.
My wife had that nasty cold that was going around, so I called several HVAC companies that had emergency dispatch on weekends.

The only one that was Trane authorized service and was available, charged $175 to come out.

I gave him the model of the furnace and the code and what it indicated.
He showed up in about 40 minutes, pulled out the high limit switch and tested it. It had definitely failed.
He went out to his van and when he returned, he said he didn't have anything close that would work.

As a temporary fix, he jumper'd the 2 sensor wires together and said
he'd return the next day after he ordered the part. I wrote him a check
for the $175.

The next morning, I got a call from his company saying they could order
and replace the sensor for an additional $175. :mad:

I called a wholesale parts company, who in turn shipped the sensor to
a different HVAC service company (retail). They sold me the sensor for $40.
It took me less than 2 minutes to replace it.

[onedef92]

About 3 weeks ago at about 7pm on a Sunday evening, our 20 yr old Trane XE 90 furnace started blowing cold air.

The flashing LED code indicated it was the Limit switch that had failed.
My wife had that nasty cold that was going around, so I called several HVAC companies that had emergency dispatch on weekends.

The only one that was Trane authorized service and was available, charged $175 to come out.

I gave him the model of the furnace and the code and what it indicated.
He showed up in about 40 minutes, pulled out the high limit switch and tested it. It had definitely failed.
He went out to his van and when he returned, he said he didn't have anything close that would work.

As a temporary fix, he jumper'd the 2 sensor wires together and said
he'd return the next day after he ordered the part. I wrote him a check
for the $175.

The next morning, I got a call from his company saying they could order
and replace the sensor for an additional $175. :mad:

I called a wholesale parts company, who in turn shipped the sensor to
a different HVAC service company (retail). They sold me the sensor for $40.
It took me less than 2 minutes to replace it.

I almost got gaffled like that last Fall during an annual cleaning/system check by a local HVAC tech.

Dude came out, cleaned the unit with a Shop Vac and checked everything with a multimeter. He also cleaned the flame sensor with a piece of sandpaper.

Found out I had a weak fan capacitor. The capacitor was marginally working and replacement delay would put my blower fan motor at risk. He wanted $150 plus $75 labor to replace it.

While he went back to his van to check, I jotted down the make/model for a reality check. He didn't have one in stock, but offered to come back the next day with one.

I balked and paid him $59.95 for the inspection fee. Went on line, found the part for $10 (with free shipping). Ordered it, and it came two days later. Installed it myself.

Parts house link is below. :seasix:

Budget HVAC Parts (http://budgethvacparts.com/)

[Burro (He/Haw)]

Mind did this too this winter. 10 minute fix.

[mrvette]

I almost got gaffled like that last Fall during an annual cleaning/system check by a local HVAC tech.

Dude came out, cleaned the unit with a Shop Vac and checked everything with a multimeter. He also cleaned the flame sensor with a piece of sandpaper.

Found out I had a weak fan capacitor. The capacitor was marginally working and replacement delay would put my blower fan motor at risk. He wanted $150 plus $75 labor to replace it.

While he went back to his van to check, I jotted down the make/model for a reality check. He didn't have one in stock, but offered to come back the next day with one.

I balked and paid him $59.95 for the inspection fee. Went on line, found the part for $10 (with free shipping). Ordered it, and it came two days later. Installed it myself.

Parts house link is below. :seasix:

Budget HVAC Parts (http://budgethvacparts.com/)

THERE you go, FAR smarter than the average bear......:seasix:

[CP]

Don't these people know how to focus a camera, for Christ's sake?

[Stangkiller]

:hurray: for the cheap fix!

[Bingo Fuel]

I almost got gaffled like that last Fall during an annual cleaning/system check by a local HVAC tech.

Dude came out, cleaned the unit with a Shop Vac and checked everything with a multimeter. He also cleaned the flame sensor with a piece of sandpaper.

Found out I had a weak fan capacitor. The capacitor was marginally working and replacement delay would put my blower fan motor at risk. He wanted $150 plus $75 labor to replace it.

While he went back to his van to check, I jotted down the make/model for a reality check. He didn't have one in stock, but offered to come back the next day with one.

I balked and paid him $59.95 for the inspection fee. Went on line, found the part for $10 (with free shipping). Ordered it, and it came two days later. Installed it myself.

Parts house link is below. :seasix:

Budget HVAC Parts (http://budgethvacparts.com/)

Thanks for the link OD! :cert:
The service guys definitely have you over a barrel after hours in the winter and on a weekend.

I needed the part as quick as possible the next day (Monday).
Got a quick education after making calls to the local service/parts companies to locate the part.
Most here, won't sell the part to Joe homeowner without them doing the
install as well (liability issue).
I'm used to fixing most of the major appliances myself but had never had
an issue with the furnace before.

[Yerf Dog]

Don't these people know how to focus a camera, for Christ's sake?

:lol: :iagree: :shrug:

[onedef92]

Thanks for the link OD! :cert:
The service guys definitely have you over a barrel after hours in the winter and on a weekend.

I needed the part as quick as possible the next day (Monday).
Got a quick education after making calls to the local service/parts companies to locate the part.
Most here, won't sell the part to Joe homeowner without them doing the
install as well (liability issue).
I'm used to fixing most of the major appliances myself but had never had
an issue with the furnace before.

Oh, I totally understand. The company we went with was KLM Mechanical in Shepherdsville, KY. (Christian owned and operated) and the tech was up-front enough to present us with a brochure that explained the parts/labor markup hustle.

By the time you factor in the logistics of fuel costs, warehouse overhead, distribution and other supply chain factors, it's no wonder a $10 part winds up costing the consumer $150!

All he could do was recommend I replace the capacitor. He couldn't commit me to purchase from him. OTOH, they aren't obligated to honor the warranty since they didn't supply or install the part, either.

But, time was on my side in this case. I had a working furnace. You did not. You had to do what you had to do at that time.

[Cybercowboy]

Sometimes living in the same smallish-town for years pays off, and furnace issues is an example. I have two different people I can call, both experts, who can come over to fix whatever is wrong and for a very fair price (if they even charge me.)

Fortunately I shouldn't have to worry about anything for awhile since I had my old system replaced with a brand new furnace and AC unit. It's so much quieter than the old one, plus a bunch more efficient. Love the variable-speed fan too.

[xXBUDXx]

About 3 weeks ago at about 7pm on a Sunday evening, our 20 yr old Trane XE 90 furnace started blowing cold air.

The flashing LED code indicated it was the Limit switch that had failed.
My wife had that nasty cold that was going around, so I called several HVAC companies that had emergency dispatch on weekends.

The only one that was Trane authorized service and was available, charged $175 to come out.

I gave him the model of the furnace and the code and what it indicated.
He showed up in about 40 minutes, pulled out the high limit switch and tested it. It had definitely failed.
He went out to his van and when he returned, he said he didn't have anything close that would work.

As a temporary fix, he jumper'd the 2 sensor wires together and said
he'd return the next day after he ordered the part. I wrote him a check
for the $175.

The next morning, I got a call from his company saying they could order
and replace the sensor for an additional $175. :mad:

I called a wholesale parts company, who in turn shipped the sensor to
a different HVAC service company (retail). They sold me the sensor for $40.
It took me less than 2 minutes to replace it.


This is a double edged sword. Something cause that limit switch to open. In 20 years I have seen one that failed because of an issue with the switch.

Verify that your filter is clean and airflow is not restricted. I'm not even going to comment on the tech bypassing a thermal safety device. :slap:

There is a temp rating on the sensor. Usually in the 180 to 220 degree range. If that sensor opens again, DO NOT replace it until you find out why.

Sorry for the rant, but I've had to investigate fires and found this exact scenario as the cause. :cert:

[onedef92]

Verify that your filter is clean and airflow is not restricted. I'm not even going to comment on the tech bypassing a thermal safety device.

Reminds me of the time a local plumber failed to properly seal a natural gas line on our replacement water heater. My wife was six months pregnant with my daughter, Chynna, at the time when the house began to smell from the odorant in natural gas about 30 minutes after he left.

We evacuated the house over safety concerns and called the plumbing company back. My wife also escalated the call to our utility company who sent an inspector out to oversee the job.

Suffice it to say the apprentice plumber got sternly rebuked for failing to install an O-ring on the connector. :cuss: