Furnace problem...anyone Handy?

[Fozzie_DeBear]

I'm hoping that the collective braintrust of CP can help with a problem. I have a furnace (Armstrong Ultra 60) that intermittently fails. The symptoms are:

-Not starting when the thermostat sends the signal
-Starting but stopping before the correct temperature is reached
-The air starts (but not the fire)...this is a rare problem

I have had two components replaced (the flame sensor and another sensor that I don't remember) and both fixes have done little except make me poorer.

To 'fix' the problem I have to keep pressing a switch that turns the unit off if a panel is removed. I press that switch between 5-100 times and the furnace will fire up...for a bit.



I'd like to know if anyone has any ideas because replacing this mid-efficiency furnace would be spendy (I'd have to get a high efficiency one and get new venting)

[CalgaryFan1988]

After you replaced the sensor did it work for a while and stop again?

I had a very similar problem and all it was, was the sensor. A little light sand paper on the sensor and it was mint. Needs to be maintained every year.

[Delthefunky]

Sounds dumb, but I had a similar problem where we were renting, and the problem was one of the vents on the side of the house was blocked, so the furnace would be trying to suck in air, couldn't, and then just kind of put itself into shut down mode. Try to start all day every 5 minutes, failed, then would retry.... over and over.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

After you replaced the sensor did it work for a while and stop again?

I had a very similar problem and all it was, was the sensor. A little light sand paper on the sensor and it was mint. Needs to be maintained every year.

Had the same problem and it was this sensor as well. Happened every year and the sandpaper did the trick every time.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Just call EVERLAST...see the power ring.

[Regulator75]

^^^ What he said.

[Flamesoholic]

I'll give another plug for EVERLAST. He was great when he came to look at our furnace.

[ken0042]

The other thing- you can call Atco gas and they will come take a look. The initial call and anything minor is free. They do have some online troubleshooting that applies to older furnaces; you have to tell them you tried all the steps that applied to you.

However I did find I often also need to use the sandpaper trick in the past for what sounds like the same problem. That trick was shown to me by Atco on one of their free calls.