Thank you, everyone, for your concerns about the furnace.
I called the furnace company a few minutes after 8:00 a.m. and told them that the furnace was still malfunctioning. They promised to have a technician out between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The same technician who was here yesterday arrived a little after 12:00 p.m. My daughter, who was between online meetings (she has four meetings scheduled for today) was able to show the video she took of the furnace to him.
He tried to tell us that that is how it is supposed to be! What? With a flame shooting out due to delayed ignition? He said the pilot light flame was set at normal, right now (or, maybe it was set too low and he didn't want to admit it!), but, it takes a little time for the flame to ignite the gas and that's what is causing the flame. Yes, we know; delayed ignition. That was the reason why the gas company technician red tagged the old furnace in the first place!
He then said we had two options - we could either increase the pilot light flame or leave it as it is! According to him, a lot of customers complain if the flame is increased because of the noise (and, probably, more gas consumed by the pilot light?), but, it speeds up the process of lighting the furnace burners.
My daughter and I chose the 'increase the pilot light flame' option! We prefer increased noise and higher gas bills to flames shooting out when the furnace is turned on! My goodness! I'll find another way to toast those marshmallows, not that anyone had any to share with me, anyway! LOL!
So, he increased the pilot light flame and we tried turning the furnace on a couple of times and it worked well, each time. I suppose the real test will come tonight, when we turn the furnace on! I can hear the pilot light if I am standing right next to the furnace and listening for it, but, it's not that loud!
Now, the task will be to let the gas company technician, who is scheduled to come out to check it, tomorrow, know that the pilot light is set on a higher setting on purpose and ask him not to turn it down!
Hopefully, that is the end of this furnace saga!
Be sure to show the video to the gas company rep when they come, just to make sure things are working properly now.
ReplyDeleteYes, I shall show him the still picture and the video. He is scheduled to come on Thursday, not tomorrow, as I said earlier. Got my days mixed up!
DeleteWHAT?? So does this mean that you could have turned up the pilot light on the original boiler and spared yourself this whole saga? Unbelievable. I wonder what the gas company technician will have to say about it... Can hardly stand the suspense 😜
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Lady Ella. It probably could have been resolved by turning up the pilot light in the old furnace, too. Except, then, the furnace company wouldn't have made a sale, would they? I'll consider getting the new furnace as doing my part to keep the economy going! Anyway, I now have a new furnace that should be good for at least another 10 years (according to the parts warranty; labor warranty is only 5 years); provided it works properly!
DeleteThe gas company technician will be here on Thursday (not tomorrow as I said in the post - I got the days mixed up). He will probably think that I was stupid to get a new furnace when all the old one needed was a tune up! I'll let you know what he has to say! :)
Fingers are crossed that it works properly from now on! Was he trying to fob you off by saying that the flames shooting out like that was normal?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen; probably he was. Lately, I've had cause to wonder how people would react to me if I wasn't middle aged, a woman, and an immigrant.
DeleteI hope this means everything is working as it should now and that you have no more reason to call furnace company.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I forgot to mention that I did have some marshmallows to share! We toasted some over the chiminea at the weekend :)
It seems to be working, so far, Jules. :) Although, I was too nervous to keep it on all night - instead, I turned it off before I went to bed (after the house had warmed up) and turned it back on early this morning. I'm waiting until the gas company technician looks at it, tomorrow, before I keep the furnace on all night.
DeleteGlad to know that you were able to enjoy some toasted marshmallows! I bet Lily liked that! :)
I'd have more faith in what the gas company have to say when you show them the video and photo. I have my gas boiler serviced every year, not sure what they do exactly but I look on it as an annual safety check and money well spent for peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteI, too, will feel better once the gas company has checked it. But, it worked well enough, last night and, again, this morning (I didn't keep it on during the night, though). Those annual safety checks are very important, aren't they?
DeleteThe furnace flaming like that is scary! Yes, have the gas company check it and show them the picture. I'd consider getting another company out to check it as well, or the inspector. You can't be too cautious. Good luck with this! Celie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie. The gas company will come out, tomorrow, to check and I'll see what they have to say. :)
DeleteI was wondering if there was a delay ignition on purpose, but whatever the setting there should not be flames shooting out of the bottom. What is something was next to the furnace? If you haven't already, you will get used to the extra noise and not even hear it any more. This has been quite the saga.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, June, but, whatever it was, it can't be normal to have flames shooting out the side! The tech was trying to tell us that it won't harm anything because everything inside the heater is metal - well, yes, that maybe so, but, the floor is wood, the walls are wood inside (not brick), and, as you say, there is a side chair near the furnace (although I keep it about 3 feet away from the furnace). I honestly can't even hear the extra noise unless I am standing right next to the furnace and actively listening for it! Anyway, it seems to work OK, now. :)
DeleteI hope that when the technician told you that it was normal for the flame to shoot out like that, you replied, "pull the other leg, it's got bells on!" I hope you can see an end to this and have a properly functioning furnace from now on.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I was so flabbergasted that I couldn't think of anything witty like that to say! I could only shake my head and insist that it was not normal! It worked well last night and this morning (I didn't keep it on, all night). I'm waiting to see what the gas company tech will have to say and then, take it from there!
DeleteYikes! Not sure I'd be happy with a flame coming out. I hope it is fixed to your satisfaction. Sounds like quite the saga!
ReplyDeleteI could have done without the drama, to be quite honest! But, it seems to be OK, now. :)
DeleteWow, that's a bit scary. Glad the gas company is coming back by to check on it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susanne; the gas company checked it this morning, raised the pilot light a bit more, and said it was fine, now. He agreed with me that there should not be any flames spurting out!
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