Furnace not working

[khoenig]

We turned on the heat pump this morning and nothing. Then I turn on the furnace and it blows cold air for a minute or two and then shuts off. There is propane in the tanks. I cold the dealer and the tech said maybe there were some loose wires, we have only moved the unit twice, I wouldn't think the furnace would come on at all if there was a loose wire, but maybe. I will check that out tomorrow when we aren't getting massive amounts of rainfall.
Any suggestions is appreciated.

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by khoenig We turned on the heat pump this morning and nothing. Then I turn on the furnace and it blows cold air for a minute or two and then shuts off. There is propane in the tanks. I cold the dealer and the tech said maybe there were some loose wires, we have only moved the unit twice, I wouldn't think the furnace would come on at all if there was a loose wire, but maybe. I will check that out tomorrow when we aren't getting massive amounts of rainfall. Any suggestions is appreciated.

Hey khoenig,

We need a bit more info to help you. First, what year is your rig? Which brand of furnace do you have, Atwood or Suburban? If you comfirmed you have propane in your tanks, try turning the wall switch OFF for a few seconds and then turn back on. Try to light the furnace again. Did it light? If not, and you have an Atwood you may could pull the furnace cover and check for diagnostic trouble codes (little flashing lite). Surbuban doesn't offer that feature.

The Atwood website has some pretty good diagnoistics to help you. Sounds like you may be failing the blower sail test, flame test or the like. Regardless of what brand, the system has to pass several tests on start up to allow gas to the burner and allow for ignition as a safety feature. The hint that you're failing a test is the fact that the blower will run for 15-30 seconds and stops running.

I have a Suburban furnance that did the same thing as yours and it ended being a "high limit switch" that was open. This switch is located in the rear of the furnace. It can be viewed by removing the hoses outlet cover. This temp switch will shut the flame off if the plunum reaches a predetermined temperature (to prevent overheating). Replaced the switch and all was well. HTH rockin'

[MakinSmoke]

Without knowing if you have what I have but...
If you have a "modes" button, set the thermostat to heat and run through all the modes. Someone told me to do that when our furnace would not fire and it worked first time.

Secondly, my other experience is that when the temperature drops over 20 degrees overnight, my furnace will only run when the curb side propane tank is being used. If my street side tank is the only full tank, I actually have to move it to the curb side to get the furnace to fire. May work for you too!

[BookIIRoadtrash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakinSmoke Secondly, my other experience is that when the temperature drops over 20 degrees overnight, my furnace will only run when the curb side propane tank is being used. If my street side tank is the only full tank, I actually have to move it to the curb side to get the furnace to fire. May work for you too!

khoenig, I am sorry to hear you are still in a region that you need heat. I am listening to my air conditioner run as I write this.......The way I trouble shoot the gas, to find out if it is in the lines, is go and see if you stove will fire up. If you have gas at the stove you have it at all your gas appliances. I don't have a heat pump so I am sorry I can not help you trouble shoot it better...good luck and get to a warmer climate soon!!!!

[RickO]

I feel your pain. I'm going through the same thing, except my electric heat works... it's just my front Suburban gas furnace which is doing what yours sounds like it's doing. Maybe the feedback I've gotten could help you:
How Do I light My Gas Furnace?

rick

[Still Working "NOT"]

After fighting mine last winter several times like Virgil, I think I finally found the problem. The hose fittingfrom the crossover pipe going into the switch regulator had a real small leak. The only way I found it was using by soaping the hose and fittings. Looks like it's going to get in the forties tonight so I'll be testing my findings tonight.

[Workshop]

Quote:

Originally Posted by khoenig We turned on the heat pump this morning and nothing. Then I turn on the furnace and it blows cold air for a minute or two and then shuts off. There is propane in the tanks.

Having a 2001 model...I'm starting to think I'm getting a generation away from the current models and how everything works.....

When you mentioned that....."turned on the heat pump this morning and nothing". Does that mean the Coleman hp2 Heat Pump didn't operate and generate any heat or didn't work...? What was your outside air temp at the time. From what I've read, These units have less effect as the temps get lower.

From a thread earlier, his Coleman hp2 and furnace appeared to work together where the gas furnance would come on if the heat pump wasn't enough.

Is your system also this way, or do you have to operate yours as a separate unit/operation?

It does sound that, as others have said, the system is trying to fire and light the furnace but the flame isn't there...thus the shut down. As I don't have split tanks...MakinSmoke commented on a problem that others have experenced. I agree that trying the tank near the furnace would be a good thing to try.

Another thing that might have been mentioned would be to turn the TSTAT off for a few seconds to reset the system and then back on.

[khoenig]

Everyone, thank you for your input. My one consolation is it only got down to 50 last night and the rig only to 62, so not to bad. We have a small electric heater that gets the temp back to comfortable level. In addition to the furnace and heat pump the fireplace also does not put out heat as it is suppose too, we have an appointment to fix that in Smith Center.
I have a 2010 Excel Limited 36 GKE with a Suburban furnace model SJD-2542. I have the brochure and have found the "sail switch". I will check this but may get side tracked we have to be out of town today and we are waiting for a new grandchild, suppose to be today, so we’ll see what happens.

This is a picture of the thermostats;



The top unit has (left to right) first button is Auto and On, second button is Cool, Off, Gas Heat, Electric Heat, third button is Lo, Hi.
The bottom unit has first button is Auto and On, second button is Cool, Off, Heat, third button is Lo, Hi.
When I set the top button to Electric Heat the heat pump runs for a few seconds and quits. When I put the switch on Gas Heat and the bottom unit’s switch to Heat the furnace blows cold air for a few seconds and then turns off. If I put the top unit to Electric Heat and the bottom one to Heat the furnace comes on for a few seconds. Both units will click when the switch is set but no results.
We have used both of the systems in March and April and they performed well. I will get into the furnace area later today or tomorrow, it is suppose to get warmer so we can be thankful for that.
I am open to all suggestions and will try them as soon as I can, it’s good that it isn’t real cold yet. BookII I am jealous but we will be in Louisiana the middle of November and Sarasota in Jan & Feb so even with these little detours life is good. I am digging this retirement thing.
Thanks again for all your help, I will let you all know what we find out on all of this.

[khoenig]

Update, I checked what wires I could see and get to, none of them were loose. I pulled the covers off the thermostats and there was a fuse in each but both were good. Right now we are running the A/C so that works, it just doesn't heat.

[Still Working "NOT"]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Still Working "NOT" After fighting mine last winter several times like Virgil, I think I finally found the problem. The hose fittingfrom the crossover pipe going into the switch regulator had a real small leak. The only way I found it was using by soaping the hose and fittings. Looks like it's going to get in the forties tonight so I'll be testing my findings tonight.

My furnace worked fine Sat. night. Temp was 46*. As small as that leak was I am still amazed that that small of leak would not let the propane through to let the furnace work.