DIY Furnace Maintenance Advice Please

RJM62

RJM62

Touchdown! Greaser!
Gone West
Joined
Jun 15, 2007
Messages
13,157
Location
Upstate New York
Display Name
Geek on the Hill
The draft inducer on my furnace (Goodman some-model-or-other) was starting to make some noise a few weeks ago, so I replaced it.

I also knew that the flame sensor was on its last leg (I'd already cleaned it, but it was still hit-or-miss whether the furnace would sense the flame before the third failed attempt shut it down for an hour), so I replaced that, too.

In addition, I knew that the burners hadn't been cleaned since... well, ever, as far as I know, so I cleaned them. I used some spray stuff and stiff bristle brushes, plus some compressed air to blow the little bits of stuff out of them. They were rusty on the end with the little holes. Now they are not.

In the process of cleaning the burners I broke the ignitor, so I replaced that, too. I think it was the one Noah used on the ark, so probably it needed to be replaced anyway.

I also peered inside the firebox, which looked remarkably clean, so I did nothing to it.

The propane guy also replaced the low-pressure regulator and put some isopropanol in the tanks because he suspected there was some water in there and that the regulator was freezing. He made a second trip after inspecting the system and didn't charge me for that work, so I'm assuming it was necessary.

The furnace is working fine now, the flames are nice and blue, and it's nice and quiet. I change the air filter once a month. Is there anything else I might want to do or have done to be winter ready?

The above (other than the ignitor, which I broke) were all the propane guy suggested I do after looking over the furnace. But second opinions are always nice.

Thanks.

Rich
 
Did the propane guy run his gadget to test for CO? If he did and it was okay then it sounds like you are good to go. If he didn't then you want to be sure the vent is clear and the firebox is drafting properly...and then test for CO 'cause that is what will kill you.

Otherwise it sounds like you've done well although I am just an amature HVAC guy with some industrial experience.

Edit to add a couple things: some (ancient) air handlers have bearings that require lube. I think you're sharp enough to see them but it doesn't hurt to mention; high efficiency furnances have fuel trim that has to be set using a gas sensor...they shouldn't go out of whack but maybe a good idea to check every few years. I've got a gas detector and haven't notice any drift over the years.
 
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Clark1961 said:
Did the propane guy run his gadget to test for CO? If he did and it was okay then it sounds like you are good to go. If he didn't then you want to be sure the vent is clear and the firebox is drafting properly...and then test for CO 'cause that is what will kill you.

Otherwise it sounds like you've done well although I am an amature HVAC guy with some industrial experience.
Click to expand...

I think he did because he had some sort of gizmo he was looking at. I also have CO, fire, and smoke detectors in that room, along with a fire extinguisher. I was in a house fire when I was 5 years old. Since then I have a fetish for fire extinguishers.

Thanks.

Rich

EDIT: Roger your edit.
 
Fire extinguisher placement is always a good question. If the extinguisher is in the room with the appliance, will you be able to get to the extinguisher? I've got extinguishers in the kitchen and in the garage which places them at opposite ends of the house. If both ends of the house are burning, I'm just gonna say that it wasn't my day...
 
You are good for another 10 years, Goodman makes good stuff.
 
Clark1961 said:
Fire extinguisher placement is always a good question. If the extinguisher is in the room with the appliance, will you be able to get to the extinguisher? I've got extinguishers in the kitchen and in the garage which places them at opposite ends of the house. If both ends of the house are burning, I'm just gonna say that it wasn't my day...
Click to expand...

I find that the entrance to the room that's farthest from the thing that might catch fire is usually a good place to hang a fire extinguisher. But I have them all over the place. They're kind of like computer backups: You really can't have too many of them.

Rich
 
People are using their furnace already?!
kidding.

my air handler has a belt; might look at it for wear and cracks.

I like to ensure the filters are doing their thing and the squirrel cage blades are clean (I once had a floor fan that was not blowing hardly any air - once I cleaned the blades the difference was nothing less than amazing)

This is more for summer and your evaporator, but while you are working on the hvac, I have had, a friend has had a drain line plug with dust and such, the pan overflowed and into the wall or ceiling tile, so I'd flush the drains, make sure they are clear.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
People are using their furnace already?!
kidding.

my air handler has a belt; might look at it for wear and cracks.

I like to ensure the filters are doing their thing and the squirrel cage blades are clean (I once had a floor fan that was not blowing hardly any air - once I cleaned the blades the difference was nothing less than amazing)

This is more for summer and your evaporator, but while you are working on the hvac, I have had, a friend has had a drain line plug with dust and such, the pan overflowed and into the wall or ceiling tile, so I'd flush the drains, make sure they are clear.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Rich
 
Be sure to pull the dipstick and vent it after shutdown.
 
Clark1961 said:
Fire extinguisher placement is always a good question. If the extinguisher is in the room with the appliance, will you be able to get to the extinguisher? I've got extinguishers in the kitchen and in the garage which places them at opposite ends of the house. If both ends of the house are burning, I'm just gonna say that it wasn't my day...
Click to expand...

Since fall is when the furnace 'season' starts, it's also a good time to check the fire extinguishers and make sure they are properly charged.

You do have a couple, don't you?

I have four 5 lb dry chemical units. One is under the bathroom sink, one under the kitchen sink, one hanging in the garage next to the entry door into the house, and one hanging on the garage wall next to the roll up door.

A CO monitor and alarm is also a good thing to have.

Don't let a tragedy happen because you didn't spend $50.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B007MBCYR2/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new
 
Only thing I see here that I have no idea how you check, other than taking a good look, is that I had a friend with a cracked heat exchanger try to kill him and his family once.

Apparently his was pretty obvious once someone looked inside, but i assume there's some smarter way to make sure other than just looking.

Otherwise all the rest sounds good.
 
denverpilot said:
Only thing I see here that I have no idea how you check, other than taking a good look, is that I had a friend with a cracked heat exchanger try to kill him and his family once.

Apparently his was pretty obvious once someone looked inside, but i assume there's some smarter way to make sure other than just looking.

Otherwise all the rest sounds good.
Click to expand...

That's what the CO testing is about. Is the exhaust going up the flue or is it going somewhere else?

It's also a good idea to have a CO alarm in/near bedrooms 'cause a furnace can start spewing CO just about any time. A cracked heat exchanger is one possible problem. A plugged or partially plugged vent is another possibie problem. Unstable combustion by itself can spew CO into a home.
 
Getting one of those plug-in CO monitors and plugging it in close to a register might not be a bad idea, actually. It doesn't even need to be in a bedroom, just in an outlet close to a register. I already have them in the bedrooms, but they're combo detectors and are mounted on the ceilings.

Rich
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
People are using their furnace already?!
kidding.

my air handler has a belt; might look at it for wear and cracks.

I like to ensure the filters are doing their thing and the squirrel cage blades are clean (I once had a floor fan that was not blowing hardly any air - once I cleaned the blades the difference was nothing less than amazing)

This is more for summer and your evaporator, but while you are working on the hvac, I have had, a friend has had a drain line plug with dust and such, the pan overflowed and into the wall or ceiling tile, so I'd flush the drains, make sure they are clear.
Click to expand...

Reminds me;
I should really get into mine so that I can get it ready after I put the swamp cooler into hibernation this weekend.

Yeah, the only other things that I can think of is to check the belt and keep your gas bill paid
 
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