Furnace question? Major problem or not??
Question:Hi,
I've recently completed a home inspection. The furnace in the home was not working properly. I'm wondering what could be wrong with it, and how much it would cost to fix such a problem(s)??
Here are the details:
*The thermostat was turned to the auto position, the temp raised, but the burner would NOT ignite.
*The pilot light was out at the time. (There were several burnt matches on the bottom of the furnace, so maybe the pilot does not work automatically, and only manually.
Any idea with what's wrong and the co$t to fix would be helpful!!
Thanks!
-George
P.S: Do you think this is a major problem??
Answers:
Years ago I had one of those through the wall gas furnaces. It exhausted through the outside wall, it was a round exhaust and the cap had fins all around it ( circular).
It ran off of a pilot, and had an electric ignition to light the pilot. The idea was good to sell but in the real world it did not work. The wind coming through prevented the pilot from lighting off of that small spark, I had to take the front off and light it with a lighter / match. it would go out easily ...the wind.and in the deep of the winter this was a real pain... waking up at 3:00 Am cause the entire house is freezing.
If the pilot lights with a match there is nothing wrong with the fuel going to the pilot. The problem is one of two:
1.) the ignition system don't work to light the pilot.
2.) Something is putting out the pilot and preventing the spark from lighting it - you need more than just a spark to get it to light.
Did you confirm that the gas is turned on?. Did you try and light the pilot? To broad a question to answer on the net. We don`t know the model or age of your furnace, or where you live. We also can`t see any problems over the computer. If you are buying the house, you may want to have a furnace tech come out and inspect and clean your furnace anyway.
is it gas or electric?
who inspected it? sounds like it wasn't a professional inspector or he would have relit the pilot light to see if the rest of it worked ok.
I would guess you are looking at a few hundred dollars if there is a problem with the ignition system.
Be careful with older furnaces, if there is any evidence of rust inside them. that can compromise the shield that keeps the carbon monoxide going out the vent or up the chimney.
If there is no evidence of rust, and its only that the pilot light blew out, I wouldn't be too worried.
Buy a home warranty as part of the purchase of the house and then have the furnace inspected by an HVAC company after you close on the deal. It will be covered at that point.
Home warranties cost about 400 to 500 dollars and can be included in the price of the house and therefore part of your financing package.
good BATTERIES in thermostat? what about the gas valve on the furnace? on? circuit breaker checked? if all these are good,then it must be the thermocouple. a rather inexpensive part.
you have to light the pilot light
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