looking for some advice - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

zackery · 01-01-2007, 05:17 PM

Anyone familiar with propane furnace Comfortmaker RPJ2, We cannot get heat just cool air from the furnace. The furnace kicks on continuously and blows plenty of air through the vents but it is only cool air. I had a serviceman call who replaced a gas valve, then a limit switch then finally the computor board. He had us replace the plenum, the result was the same.The furnace is still acting the same. The flame is extremely high and I have been told this is hazzard.
Frustration is set in, cost is rising. can anyone give me some advice. It would be so appreciated.... This furnace is only heating a small area, the one vent is only approximately 5ft from the furnace and the air flow is as cool as air cond. air.

troubleseeker · 01-01-2007, 07:40 PM

Sorry, I don't have an answer, just comments.

I am not an ac/heat guy, but that is really strange. How can the flame be too high and not heating the air as it flows through the heat exchanger. When you say changed the "plenum" do you mean the heat exchanger inside the heater or the air plenum downstream of the unit. If the air is flowing through the heat exchanger which is engulfed in a flame, I don't know how it cannot get heated, unless it is moving way too fast for any heat transfer. If a new installation, ask the service guy if this unit has a two speed fan motor thay can be set to the slower speed. This occurred once on an ac installation in a remodel job, where there was no duct runs to cause any resistance to the air, and the velocity was so fast coming out of the registers(located in a plenum directly coupled to the air handler) that they whistled and the air was not very cool. After the installer slowed the fan to the lower speed, it worked ok. The too big flame sounds like some sort of pressure problem. Be sure the unit has been fitted with jets for LP gas and not natural gas.

PIPES · 01-02-2007, 08:36 AM

zach, find a real serviceman. This guy is a parts changer and has no clue how a furnace works.

trollmaster · 01-03-2007, 08:38 PM

You should verifiey that a lp conversion kit was used. On the inside of your furnace there should be a tag that will tell you your tempature rise. Should be on with your model and serial number. Most likely it will be between 45 and 65 degres. You can take a thermomoter and measure the differnce between the air going into the furnace and the air comming out.Check this first

#CARRIERMAN · 01-03-2007, 10:11 PM

Hi zackery

Trollmaster is right, I would definately start there. The next thing that you will need to do is put a manometer on it and find out if it is in the manufactrers specs. LP is not something to play with, look for burner lift and this is a good indicator of excess gas pressure.

Good luck
Rusty

zackery · 01-08-2007, 08:35 PM

All of your advise is greatly appreciated and I will try to get a serviceman in that will try to rectify this issue, the problem is that there is just not many in this area to work on Gas Furnaces.
Would I need a new plenum and venting or was that a waste of cash too. why did he istall a limit switch, gas valve and what would a control board do when I was not getting hot air through the vents, there was plenty of airflow originally (it was just cool)
The flame was orange and higher than we thought it should be.
Your help is great, Keep it coming, I need answers.

trollmaster · 01-08-2007, 08:38 PM

Does the blower ever shut off or does it always run? Do you have a thermomater to check tempatures?

NCSteve · 02-02-2007, 11:22 PM

I am not an expert on gas furnaces, I have been working on them for a year. Before he changed all those parts did the furnace ignite?
If I were you I would ask your friends or relative in the area who they use for service and have them look at it and give you a quote on a new furnace. I dont know how much you have spent with your service person, but if it is a lot of money, you can write the board in your state and take him to small claims court.

FemaleAstarCO · 02-05-2007, 01:23 PM

It could very well be that it has not been converted to LP. The orphices need to be changed to be converted. It also could be that you have not jumped the twin kit on the tstat. Is it a new tstat? Another problem could be altitude. It depends on where you live. In Colorado they have to be set for high alt. In any case I would have not thought it would be a GV. Frankly these are just a few things but it could be several things. Sorry I couldnt help much without seeing it. Good luck.

maguire · 03-07-2007, 09:53 PM

Can any one give me their thoughts on york vs. american standard ac condensors thanks in advance

mdshunk · 03-07-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maguire

Can any one give me their thoughts on york vs. american standard ac condensors thanks in advance

Yes, they all make popular ac condensing units. You'll get good service from any of them.

maguire · 03-07-2007, 10:34 PM

hey thanks Md which one would you prefer by the ocean

hf05 · 03-08-2007, 04:18 PM

f#$@k the temp. rise lp 10" natural 3.5" how come i'm the 10th guy b4 this is mentioned???

FemaleAstarCO · 03-10-2007, 09:27 PM

Another thing to check would be your tstat. I had one furnace do that when the r & rh (twin setting) was not jumped across. I can not remember if it was a comfortmaker or Goodman.

FemaleAstarCO · 03-10-2007, 09:33 PM

Yes your right Hf but I doubt he has a monometer to check his gas pressure

mdshunk · 03-10-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hf05

f#$@k the temp. rise lp 10" natural 3.5" how come i'm the 10th guy b4 this is mentioned???

We were saving that for you.

Hurley · 03-11-2007, 09:56 PM

Is there a vent fan on the furnace, could it be screwed. Extremly high flame but no heat through the ducts and the blower is running. sounds like the hot gas ain't being pulled through the heat exchanger.