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Easy fix for the furnace, and a $100 lesson.
dheffley
Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
The heater would only run for a few minutes, then kick off and stay off for a while. It would fire back up and run a minute, then shut off again.
The thermostat was set at 72, but it read 66 as the actual temperature. It just wouldn't run long enough to get the house warmed up before it would cut off.
I thought it had been working fine until today, and the temp outside was in the low 40's, but Sandy said it did the same thing in the cold snap a few weeks ago.
I reached up to the outlet to see if the air was warm when it was running, and it was, but I noticed the volume was low.
A few months ago, I put in one of those super-duper air filters because I noticed a little dust on the vents and decided the filters I was using were not doing a good job. This thing is a three stage filter and I have to clean it every 30 days or less, so I thought it was doing a good job.
On a hunch, I replaced it with one of the regular filters, and suddenly the heater runs fine and stays on until the house is warm before it shuts off. It also allows the air to flow like it always did.
I'm convinced that this filter was reducing the flow through the heat exchanger causing the furnace to overheat and shut off before it had the house warmed up.
Well, that was $100 down the drain, but at least the house is warm.[^]
The thermostat was set at 72, but it read 66 as the actual temperature. It just wouldn't run long enough to get the house warmed up before it would cut off.
I thought it had been working fine until today, and the temp outside was in the low 40's, but Sandy said it did the same thing in the cold snap a few weeks ago.
I reached up to the outlet to see if the air was warm when it was running, and it was, but I noticed the volume was low.
A few months ago, I put in one of those super-duper air filters because I noticed a little dust on the vents and decided the filters I was using were not doing a good job. This thing is a three stage filter and I have to clean it every 30 days or less, so I thought it was doing a good job.
On a hunch, I replaced it with one of the regular filters, and suddenly the heater runs fine and stays on until the house is warm before it shuts off. It also allows the air to flow like it always did.
I'm convinced that this filter was reducing the flow through the heat exchanger causing the furnace to overheat and shut off before it had the house warmed up.
Well, that was $100 down the drain, but at least the house is warm.[^]
Comments
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Fiberglass filters do little to remove particles smaller than a tennis ball. They are a waste of money, & your fan motor life will be shortened.
Neal
I tell all of my customers not to buy those filters. They DO reduce the air flow of the blower and cause all kinds of problems. The cheapo filters still stop 99.9 % of all dust particals and allow the air to flow like it should.
So just buy the cheap fiberglass (usually blue I think) filter instead of the ones that supposedly reduce all the bad stuff in the air?
How often do you replace them in a no pet nonsmoking 3000sq ft house? Is there a set period, or just replace it when it starts looking dirty?
Hey I Blow them Out with Compressor And Put em Back in
Works For Me [:D][:D]
I Just use the Fiberglass Cheapies
Hey I Blow them Out with Compressor And Put em Back in
Works For Me [:D][:D]
Me too but, on the A/c.Ain't no "heaters" round'here!!![^][^][:D][:)]
quote:Originally posted by Oakie
I tell all of my customers not to buy those filters. They DO reduce the air flow of the blower and cause all kinds of problems. The cheapo filters still stop 99.9 % of all dust particals and allow the air to flow like it should.
So just buy the cheap fiberglass (usually blue I think) filter instead of the ones that supposedly reduce all the bad stuff in the air?
How often do you replace them in a no pet nonsmoking 3000sq ft house? Is there a set period, or just replace it when it starts looking dirty?
In your case sounds like about every 3 months would do it.
I use PSF media in custom made frames myself, and that's about the time frame I use.
Don
I tell all of my customers not to buy those filters. They DO reduce the air flow of the blower and cause all kinds of problems. The cheapo filters still stop 99.9 % of all dust particals and allow the air to flow like it should.
That is exactly what my HVAC guy told me. I now only use the cheap ones.
I change hundreds of filters a month doing industrial HVAC work.I have access to most any filter I need.I would never use a fiberglass filter in my unit at home because while it does have good air flow,it does almost nothing as a filter.The pleated filters do a much better job of filtering,but I think they may have too much restriction for a average home system.I use a polyester filter at home because it filters well and has little restriction.I use a metal frame with replaceable media.
Same thing I use, and posted up above.
Also I am quite familiar with changing hundreds of filters a month doing PM's.[:D]
I had frames made from PrecisionAire to fit my 3 returns, and simply remove the old PSF pad when needed,.....drop a new one in. I cut a couple years worth of pads at a time and store them in my garage.
About as cheap as it gets, plus is slightly better at filtration than the spun fiberglass ones.
quote:Originally posted by woodshed87
I Just use the Fiberglass Cheapies
Hey I Blow them Out with Compressor And Put em Back in
Works For Me [:D][:D]
Me too but, on the A/c.Ain't no "heaters" round'here!!![^][^][:D][:)]
I see you didn't have your bare feet on that tile about daylight this morning.
[B)]
Allen