We have an 11 year old Carrier Model 58GFA funace with problems. When the furnace turns on, only the inducer motor runs. We connected a wire to bypass the pressure switch (bad idea) and the gas valve opens and the burners light; however, they are noisier and the touch the top of the hole leading into the heat exchanger. When the blower fan turns on, the flames turn orange like dust is blowing on them. If you open the blower door slightly, the flames go into the heat exchanger as they should. Also, if you remove the filter, the flames turn orange. Also, the fusible link had to be replaced and the draft safeguard switch trips occasionally. Finally, the flue pipe is not as hot as usual and sometimes the pilot light goes out. We recently replaced the inducer motor. I don't know how much (if any) of this is related. Any help would be appriciated. Thanks.
Carrier 58GFA furnace problems
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Stop!!!
What it appears you have is a breach in the integurity of you heat exchanger!
What that means is that the component that seperates your breathable air with the toxic products of combustion (carbon monoxide) is leaking. The tell tale sign is when your blower comes on and pressurizes the system, the leak is allowing the air the blow over the flames. Hence the flame dancing about, and all the soot and ash, and the pilot going out. If your flue was blocked it would over heat, it sounds like the heat is escaping through this crack, and you are expieriencing a cooler flue pipe. Now, your pressure switch is not making; either because it is malfuctioning, or most likely it does not sense the negative pressure drawn thru the combustion chamber because this crack or leak is stealing it, (so to speak).
Carbon monoxide is a killer. Shut the system down, have it tested and replace it!!
:Thumbs:
What it appears you have is a breach in the integurity of you heat exchanger!
What that means is that the component that seperates your breathable air with the toxic products of combustion (carbon monoxide) is leaking. The tell tale sign is when your blower comes on and pressurizes the system, the leak is allowing the air the blow over the flames. Hence the flame dancing about, and all the soot and ash, and the pilot going out. If your flue was blocked it would over heat, it sounds like the heat is escaping through this crack, and you are expieriencing a cooler flue pipe. Now, your pressure switch is not making; either because it is malfuctioning, or most likely it does not sense the negative pressure drawn thru the combustion chamber because this crack or leak is stealing it, (so to speak).
Carbon monoxide is a killer. Shut the system down, have it tested and replace it!!
:Thumbs:
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rakes9720 said:
the 58gfa was the lowest cost model of its kind with a carrier name on it
they are nothing BUT problems
its next to impossible to keep the inducer motor from sucking the pilot out
ive seen many where the pilot orifice was improperly enlarged just to end the nightmare of callbacks
do yourself a favor and replace it
i also agree with the above post that you may have a cracked heat exchanger
its just not worth it...they have come a long way in 11 years
Thanks for the help. I've heard that Goodman furnaces are not reliable, and I also heard that Amana furnaces are high quality, and this year, an advertisement says that Goodman now uses Amana technologies. Would Goodman be a good choice now or not?
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ill give you three guesses who makes amana equipment and the first two dont count
the amana is however their higher end line and fewer corners are cut
the amana is however their higher end line and fewer corners are cut
On Wednesday, the furnace exploded, waking people up, splitting all four heat exchangers, blowing the chimney cap off, and throwing ash in the basement and on the roof. Definatly time for a new one!! Not sure on what caused it, but it will not light without holding a torch in front of the burners, and the fan blows the flame completely out of the furnace because of the cracks. We have been running the heat pump (furnace blower running), is this okay, or should we not use the furnace at all? Thanks
shame on you techs[?] for bashing a furnace manufacturer. I have installed Goodman for years without problems. Look at the components on a lot of differant furnacesv and you will be surprised at the similar parts or manufactures. All furnace manufacturers have there share of bad models. Dont bash guys, unless you have logitimate reasons. JMO Victor
I guess this was dredged up from 2005 to boost something. The question as to whether to use the Carrier furnace that blew the heat exchanger apart for the blower only for the heat pump was amusing - and not answered. Guess many thought the guy was joking around. I wonder what he has now - or if he's alive.
There were Goodman problems in the distant past that made a rep; but the newer tube exchangers don't seem to have complaints. Furnace manufacturers have no plans to continue failure - it just doesn't make money.
http://johnmills.net/hvacshots/pages/gmpheatex.html
This popular 80% furnace has been sold since the early 90s. The first few years of production have been suffering from failed crimp rings on the heat exchager. The cells are held together by the rings punched as you can see. But in the circled case, the ring failed allowing the metal to separate as it heats up. First symptom is tripped rollout switch because the draft is reduced and the flames aren't pulled in. Goodman was offering some labor allowances so check with your supplier if you find a bad one.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01189.html
There were Goodman problems in the distant past that made a rep; but the newer tube exchangers don't seem to have complaints. Furnace manufacturers have no plans to continue failure - it just doesn't make money.
http://johnmills.net/hvacshots/pages/gmpheatex.html
This popular 80% furnace has been sold since the early 90s. The first few years of production have been suffering from failed crimp rings on the heat exchager. The cells are held together by the rings punched as you can see. But in the circled case, the ring failed allowing the metal to separate as it heats up. First symptom is tripped rollout switch because the draft is reduced and the flames aren't pulled in. Goodman was offering some labor allowances so check with your supplier if you find a bad one.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01189.html
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Sounds like this guy is pulling everyones leg here, i.e. still trying to light it after all four heat exchangers have blown apart.:no:
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