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November 3, 2009
Furnace 'False Starts'
just wanted to throw this out there before i call someone to look at this.
our 3 yr old furnace (weil-mclain) seems to make that click 'on' sound and ignite then goes no further and just stops. this is happening when there actually isn't a call for heat from the thermostat.
it's working fine when the thermostat requests heat. this is just happening in it's 'down time'.
any ideas or suggestions?
Comments
I use Weiss Plumbing (on Atlantic) to service my burner, it is the kind of thing I don't want to touch myself and I think it's worth it to pay a professional (considering how costly it is if I break it...).
They are great, and definitely worth having standard/regular service set up with them.
Posted by: christopher at November 3, 2009 11:50 AM
On a gas burner there are two "clicks" to listen for befor the burner fires.
One is the damper opening in the flue, when it is fully open it will click, then and only then will the burner be allowed to light off.
Second and most noticeable is the ignitor which clicks as it sparks to light the gas or oil.
If the damper is the click you are hearing, then the question is why the burner is not lighting off if there is a call for heat. I realize you said there is a no call for heat. That would then cause me to ask if you are sure there is no call, why is the damper opening?
If the ignitor is the click you are hearing, then the question is why it is clicking when there is no call for heat.
I have a hard time believing there is no call for heat. Neither of these scenarios make any sense if there is no call for heat as the control circuit is open unless the thermostat contacts are made.
Check it out and let's here back from you.
Good luck.
-SteamMan
Posted by: SteamMan at November 3, 2009 2:13 PM
thanks steamman...i'll look into it better and check back. really appreciate your explanantion!
Posted by: CGmodern at November 3, 2009 2:34 PM
my furnace built in 1910. It turns itself on when water temperature goes bellow 150F. Thermostat controls the water circulator not the burner.
Posted by: bobjohn at November 3, 2009 2:47 PM
Bobjohn, that is a terribly inefficient and costly way to operate your boiler. For SHAME!
Steam Man, maybe CGmodern is hearing a circulator relay pull in while the boiler is already up to temperature?
Is this steam or hot water? Standing pilot ignition or intermittent? We need to know these things!
Posted by: Master Plvmber at November 3, 2009 6:06 PM
what is the zone configuration...zoned by pumps or zoned by zone valves?...is it a primary pump setup or a primary/ secondary setup?...what is the zone controller?
Posted by: eman1234 at November 3, 2009 8:06 PM
I guess that makes three clicks!
Too true MP.
Hey, OP do you have a circulator pump?
Bobjohn, I respectfully submit that it is time for a new boiler.... LOL
-SteamMan
Posted by: SteamMan at November 3, 2009 9:42 PM
chaps. I completely agree. We got the house a year ago and will replace boiler coming spring. We would do it past summer but in light of continued recession, we wanted to keep more cash on hands in case of employment difficulties, etc.
Posted by: bobjohn at November 3, 2009 10:02 PM
oh and it was converted from gravity-fed hot water wood/coal burning furnace into circulator-forced furnace burning oil. So efficiency in not the name of this game.
I try to convince myself that if time will get tough and I will have no money to pay for oil. I will burn furneture for heat :)... And I can dispose corpses in it for fee :)
Posted by: bobjohn at November 3, 2009 10:08 PM
sorry for the lack of info...i'll try though: this is a hot water system with 2 zones/2 separate thermostats. One thermostat seems to work fine and fires the furnace/works when there's the call for heat...the other produces the mis-starts ( i thought it was doing this without a call for heat). sorry that's all i know about this...also it's a williamson, not weilmclain.
also as far as clicks go i think our our plumber disconnected the vent dampener so it's always open since it was malfunctioning. so there is the one click and what sounds like an ignite, then off.
maybe a wiring problem?
Posted by: CGmodern at November 4, 2009 10:34 AM
No one is going to be able to diagnose this definitively via computer. Sounds like a vent damper thing, but it can be several other things.
I'm not encouraged by your vent damper being disconnected, though. You need to fix or replace that quickly.
Posted by: Master Plvmber at November 4, 2009 3:59 PM
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