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Tuesday, 20 February 2018 14:07

How To Inspect a Gas Furnace Pilot Light

How To Inspect a Gas Furnace Pilot Light

While electronic ignition furnaces have been around for a while now, you may still have a gas furnace with a standing pilot light that remains lit all the time. The standing pilot light works in conjunction with a thermocouple to control the ignition of the burners and the flow of gas. The thermocouple senses if the pilot flame is hot enough to ignite the fuel to the burner.

If you have an old furnace that uses a pilot light, it needs to be kept clean burning and properly adjusted to ensure that the furnace operates safely and efficiently.

Inspecting a Gas Furnace Pilot Light Flame

Remove the furnace cover panel to expose the burner assembly and pilot. You should be able to clearly see the flame of the pilot light.

The first thing to check is the color of the flame. A natural gas flame should be a bright blue color with a small amount of yellow at the very tip. A propane flame will have more of a bluish-green flame with a tinge of yellow at the tip. The flame should strong enough to cover about 1/2 inch at the end of the thermocouple tip.

If the flame is too strong and not adjusted correctly, it will be blue and may make a hissing sound as the flame crosses the thermocouple. The pilot should be adjusted to reduce the intensity of the flame.
  • A yellow flame is caused by lack of oxygen and incomplete combustion. If the pilot light is a weak yellow flame it will not get hot enough to heat the thermocouple to the temperature needed to enable the gas valve to open. This is often caused by a dirty pilot tube tip.
  • A split flame is usually caused by debris inside the pilot tube.
  • A flickering or wavering flame is usually caused by a draft. Check to see if there are sources of drafts in the room and take steps to reduce the effects on the furnace.
Have questions about your gas furnace or boiler? Call Grand Lake Plumbing and Heating, we can help answer all your home heating questions.
Published in Heating Tips
Wednesday, 23 August 2017 00:20

Furnace Won't Turn On? Here's What To Check

It's the first freezing cold night of the year in Colorado and you go to switch on the furnace... and nothing happens. What should you do? It may be an simple fix, so here's what to check:
  1. Check That the Power Is On - Even though it's gas powered, a furnace requires electricity to run, so check the power to the unit at the circuit breaker panel. If a circuit is tripped, switch it back to the ON position. Note, if the circuit trips again, DO NOT RESET IT MORE THAN ONCE, this is a safety measure to prevent an electrical fire in the event of a malfunction. Have an electrician inspect the system.
  2. Check the Thermostat Is Turned To the HEAT Position, then try turning the temperature up a couple degrees for testing purposes.
  3. Check the Furnace Condensate Pan (Drain Pan)- During normal operation water will drain from the air conditioner or furnace into a pan. If the drain for the pan is clogged the pan will fill up and trigger a float switch, preventing the operation of the furnace. If the float switch is up (activated), you will need to clear the obstruction to allow water to empty and then reset the switch.
  4. Check the Furnace Filter. An extremely dirty and clogged filter will make the furnace overheat, which will cause it to shut down as a safety precaution. Install a new filter to allow it to breathe easier.
  5. Check the Pilot Light. This only applies to older gas furnaces. Most newer units have electric ignition. If your pilot light is out consult your owner's manual for the correct way to light the pilot.
  6. Check the Fuel Supply. If there are other gas appliances in the home, such a gas range or fireplace, check that they are functioning.
If none of the above steps works and the furnace still won't turn on, call Grand Lake Plumbing & Heating. We'll get your heat back on FAST.
Published in Heating Tips
One of the most important advances in home heating and cooling over the last decade is the introduction of variable speed blower technology.

"Variable speed" simply refers to the operation of the blower motor, which operates at varying speeds to more precisely control the flow of conditioned air throughout the home.
Traditional central heating and cooling systems operated at one or two speeds.

Variable speed systems offer several advantages.

1. Improved Comfort and Air Quality
Regulated airflow provides improved control of temperature, humidity, and air distribution throughout the home. By allowing for continual airflow even when the system is not heating or cooling, air can be circulated and cleaned more effectively.

2. Quieter operation
When a single stage furnace turns on, you'll know it! There is a burst or air that blows out of heat registers at full force. A variable speed motor comes on gradually and operates very quietly.

3. Better Efficiency
Variable speed motors consume about 75 watts of energy per hour, while a conventional blower will consume around 400 watts per hour. This adds up to significant savings over the course of a year.

Have questions about upgrading to a variable speed furnace? Give Grand Lake Plumbing and Heating a Call, we can help.
Published in Heating Tips
Over the last decade or so gas furnace technology has advanced considerably, with AFUE efficiency ratings now exceeding 95 percent. Many furnaces manufactured in the 1990s had efficiency ratings in the 60 percent range. One of the main reasons for this dramatic increase in efficiency is modulating gas furnace technology.

Traditional single or two-stage furnaces operate at fixed rates and will often exceed the preset temperature before shutting off, resulting in wide temperature swings. A modulating furnace is able to adjust it's gas input, inducer speed, and blower airflow to operate at 1 percent increments from 35 to 100 percent, providing more accurate control over temperature. While it may run more often, it can do so at a lower rate than a two-stage furnace.

The advantages of modulating furnaces include increased comfort, reduced operating costs and quieter operation. With a two-stage furnace you may notice a change in temperature right before your furnace turns on and right after the furnaces shuts off. With a modulating gas furnace, the temperature change will be imperceptible.

Have questions about choosing the right gas furnace for your home? Call Grand Lake Plumbing. We offer a full line of high efficiency furnaces for every home.



Published in Heating Tips
Thursday, 20 October 2022 03:04

Fall Heating Maintenance Tips

Fall Heating Maintenance Tips

Heating Tips

Before the cold weather sets in and the snow begins to fall, early October is a good time to ensure your home's heating system is ready for the long Colorado winter ahead. The experts at Grand Lake Plumbing and Heating recommend that homeowners perform some simple fall heating maintenance tasks to ensure that heating systems operate reliably and safely all winter long.

1. Replace Furnace Air Filters
One of the simplest ways to keep your furnace running at peak efficiency is to ensure that you change your air filter regularly. Your furnace will breathe easier, and so will you!

2. Check Your Thermostat Settings
If you have a programmable thermostat, check the timer function to ensure it's set to turn on and off at the proper time. A properly set thermostat will keep you comfortable and

3. Cleaning Your Furnace
Clean around your furnace and check that there is nothing obstructing the vents around the blower compartment. Have Grand Lake Plumbing and Heating perform a comprehensive heating system tune-up. We will perform a check for carbon monoxide and ensure your furnace is in good working order.

4. Air Vents
Check your home's supply and return air vents to ensure there are no obstructions and that the air is flowing freely.

5. Insulation
Consider adding more insulation to your attic in order to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Weather stripping is another relatively inexpensive way to keep the cold weather at bay this winter.

Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

 By law all homes in Colorado must have working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Test your alarms monthly and ensure that fresh batteries are installed regularly.

 

Published in Heating Tips

It inevitably happens with every old furnace, you wake up on a freezing Colorado winter morning and your bedroom is ice cold. You turn the thermostat up, but there's nothing but silence. Your furnace has stopped working. If you're lucky, it's a simple, inexpensive fix. But if the furnace is getting up in years and needs extensive repairs, how do you decide if the advantages of installing a new furnace is a better solution than repairing the old unit and hoping it lasts through another long winter?


Grand Lake Furnace Replacement

How long will a gas furnace last?

A recent study by the National Association of Home Builders found that gas furnaces last an average of 15 to 20 years. So consider the age of the unit when deciding whether to repair or replace. When a furnace is installed most technicians will write the year the equipment was installed right on the unit. You can also look for a metal identification plate, usually on the inside of chamber door (be sure the unit is off and cool before checking inside). Record the model and serial number, then call the manufacturer’s customer service number to obtain the date of manufacture

How Much Is Your Old Furnace Costing You?

If the furnace is beyond three-quarters of its life expectancy and repairing it would cost a 1/3 or more of the amount of a new furnace, it may be more economical to replace the unit.

Comparing Energy Savings With A New Furnace

In these days of high fuel costs, it's important to consider is the efficiency of the old furnace versus a newer unit. A standard measure of fuel efficiency is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency number (AFUE). AFUE measures the percentage of the fuel that’s converted to heat rather than being lost through inefficiency.

If the furnace is 20 or more years old, its AFUE is probably about 70. New furnaces will have an AFUE of at least 80%, which means you’ll burn 10% less fuel, that's 10% savings of your heating bill. High efficiency furnaces go as high a 95% AFUE , which could save you 25% on your heating bill.
Published in Heating Tips
  • "Thank you for the service. I want to let you know the technician Sawyer was professional, thorough and fixed our problem in less than 1 hour. I will recommend GL Plumbing to others."
    – L.M. 10/25/16
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