The Home Improvement Thread

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I had this happen last year and it was because vent outside was blocked with snow.

Mine vents up the original chimney so I can't tell if it is blocked. I guess no fire for me this weekend.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I thought it might be nice to turn on the fireplace today while I sit around and watch football. The pilot light has always been on so I hit the switch and the fire comes on for a minute and goes out. I wait for the fireplace to reset and I lit the pilot light and turned on the fire and it goes out again. I've got the pilot light on again but I'm not going to bother with the fire. Does anyone know what might be going on with this thing?

There should be a flame sensor or thermopile near the pilot light flame and these can get dirty over time. Try closing the manual gas valve, finding the thermopile and cleaning it with some scotch brite or other gently abrasive material and give it a wipe. That may fix the issue.

Next step would be to check for a clogged burner port. Barring that unless you’re pretty handy it’s probably time to call the pros. If you’re handy you may be able to replace the solenoid on your own, it’s not terribly difficult but it’s a very important piece of your fireplace.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Mine vents up the original chimney so I can't tell if it is blocked. I guess no fire for me this weekend.

Ah, I guess that's tricky then. Ours was just a direct vent to the outside wall. Same symptoms though.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

There should be a flame sensor or thermopile near the pilot light flame and these can get dirty over time. Try closing the manual gas valve, finding the thermopile and cleaning it with some scotch brite or other gently abrasive material and give it a wipe. That may fix the issue.

Next step would be to check for a clogged burner port. Barring that unless you’re pretty handy it’s probably time to call the pros. If you’re handy you may be able to replace the solenoid on your own, it’s not terribly difficult but it’s a very important piece of your fireplace.

Wouldn't a non-working thermopile have shut off the gas and the pilot light before he tried to turn the fireplace on?

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Wouldn't a non-working thermopile have shut off the gas and the pilot light before he tried to turn the fireplace on?

That is the function of the thermopile / solenoid but from the first post it sounds like something is causing the solenoid to drop out (CG said he had to re light the pilot). That’s why I’d be looking at the thermopile, I’m no HVAC guy though.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

That is the function of the thermopile / solenoid but from the first post it sounds like something is causing the solenoid to drop out (CG said he had to re light the pilot). That’s why I’d be looking at the thermopile, I’m no HVAC guy though.

I tried it one last time and the fireplace comes on for 30 seconds to a minute and then the flame goes out and I need to re-light the pilot. Pilot light has no issue staying on. I guess I'll have to get someone to service this again although we had it serviced just over a year ago but we never actually use the fireplace.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I tried it one last time and the fireplace comes on for 30 seconds to a minute and then the flame goes out and I need to re-light the pilot. Pilot light has no issue staying on. I guess I'll have to get someone to service this again although we had it serviced just over a year ago but we never actually use the fireplace.

Check my post a few posts back, that may give you some quick and easy troubleshooting steps to look at.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Check my post a few posts back, that may give you some quick and easy troubleshooting steps to look at.

Yeah, unfortunately that stuff is more work than I want to get into at this point. I'm looking at an easy weekend of doing nothing so that will have to wait until another time when I am more motivated to screw around with things.

I was hoping maybe this was an easy solution.

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Yeah, unfortunately that stuff is more work than I want to get into at this point. I'm looking at an easy weekend of doing nothing so that will have to wait until another time when I am more motivated to screw around with things.

I was hoping maybe this was an easy solution.

Call up Chestermere Heating... they took care of our furnace issue promptly this week. It was a fellow CP'er (Everlast) who everyone recommended and in turn put me onto Chestermere a few years back.

[InglewoodFan]

I've had a leaky outside hose bib that was getting a lot worse in the cold snap. It's 1960s vintage and our basement is finished so not frost free and it would be a pain to change it. The glacier under it was getting concerning so I shut off my water, drained the system back and cut in a Sharkbite ball valve into the line back in the mechanical room. Went surprisingly smoothly, I watched a couple videos and voila - no leaks. Had heard mixed reviews on Sharkbite but on copper it seems pretty solid.

[kevman]

Has anyone worked with a structural engineer to assess their foundation for a potential addition? Would you recommend them?

We're thinking about getting the ball rolling on some reno's and want to start by answering the question "is it feasible"?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by kevman

Has anyone worked with a structural engineer to assess their foundation for a potential addition? Would you recommend them?

We're thinking about getting the ball rolling on some reno's and want to start by answering the question "is it feasible"?

I’ve worked with dozens of Structural Engineers and I hate them all with the power of a thousand suns.

[CarlLester]

Originally Posted by kevman

Has anyone worked with a structural engineer to assess their foundation for a potential addition? Would you recommend them?

We're thinking about getting the ball rolling on some reno's and want to start by answering the question "is it feasible"?

We used Concise Engineering during our reno. Tomas was good to deal with.

[Torture]

Any recommendation for low voltage switch for a gas fireplace?
When we moved in, home inspector said to swap the switch because sometimes they stop working since it's low voltage....that did the trick as a bandaid for awhile but seems we're back to working about 50% of the time.

[Fuzz]

Can't vouch for it, but is this what you are looknig for?


https://www.amazon.ca/ATX-LED-AL-WS-...-0895323?psc=1

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Can't vouch for it, but is this what you are looknig for?


https://www.amazon.ca/ATX-LED-AL-WS-...-0895323?psc=1

Probably? For whatever reason when I was searching Home Depot and the like I wasn't finding anything specific to low voltage. Thanks!

[Shazam]

I've had that thing in my cart for a while now, the shipper changed to someone that doesn't have import fees, so I bought one.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Torture

Probably? For whatever reason when I was searching Home Depot and the like I wasn't finding anything specific to low voltage.

They won't. Millivolt switches are a very new thing. I'm not even sure they're code. I'll tell you when my house burns down from it.

[keratosis]

I was told by my fireplace guy not to buy the switch for it from the dollar store. Lol.
Told me that a high quality switch will do the trick, now 2 years and counting.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by keratosis

I was told by my fireplace guy not to buy the switch for it from the dollar store. Lol.
Told me that a high quality switch will do the trick, now 2 years and counting.

The switch will eventually oxidize. It can't be helped. You're battling the laws of physics. There's not enough current to stop the oxidation.