If you dont know how to fix it, you say its bad and replace. Our gas supplier red tags and shuts off gas until a tech certifies its ok. Thanks for the comment. GFM
Great video !! Brings back a lot of memories. Things have changed and progressed a lot over the years. Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas !!! Take care, Brett
d00d! I love you man!!! I have a furnace very similar to that one, except 4 burner. A Ruud(Rheem?) UGDA-10EC-ER. I was having problems with roll-out. I had to clean each and every burn jet hole, which helped some. But still getting roll out. Then I found this video.. Well sure as shit, the heat exchanger was full of the rusty crap - blocking the airflow to the draft hood. After cleaning that out(and recleaning the burners and chamber I have (4) full burners of blue flame, no roll outs, and LOTS of heat! Note for all - a .22 or .30 caliber bronze bore brush and cleaning rod works great in that narrow passage downwards. If you're ever in central PA - I owe you a beer or two!
Sorry about making you mad. That was not my intent. My problem is with your gas supplier. I have, as you have, seen condemnations of equipment that could be easily repaired. Sometimes decisions are made at higher levels that make no sense in the field. GFM
same thing is true with "dead" refrigerators on the curb... only need a 50¢ starter that purposely got aged prematurely. Great systems are engineered with weaknesses for service opportunities.
Excellent advice! Thank you so much for your post. My pool heater needs servicing from being outside, even under a cover, pine needles are able to find themselves in the strangest places.
Take the burners out and the top of the heat exchanger completely off, use various sizes of flue brushes and a shop vac as required. Clean and replace the burners as required. G1
I installed a number of Lennox pulse furnaces when they first came out. Our the shop I once worked at was a Lennox dealer. We had a booth at the county fair, and we’re demonstrating the furnace. Weren’t those all supposed to be changed out for safety reasons? I know the heat exchangers went bad prematurely. I thought their was a recall due to some legal issues. I believe they stated a 20 year heat exchanger warranty. Make sure you bring the right spark plug.
@@rodgraff1782 There was a recall for heat exchanger problems. Lennox has been trying to get rid of them for 30 years, but there are still some out there. GFM
I have an intertherm mghb furnace, I got a bird's nest in the vent and took off the roof cap removed the nest and shop vacuumed from the roof down, but I know some fell down, and want to make sure that nothing else is down at the heat exchanger. What is the best way to accomplish this, thanks for your advice. Mike
Take the burners out and the draft hood, use a flue brush and vacuum . Clean the burners and adjust the primary air to ensure the heat ex does not become plugged again. G1
Gfm if the furnace was manufacturer with spark ignition and that modulator and gas valve is obsolete. Would you install a standing piolot and new gas valve? Thank you Ron white
Do you have any resources on where to find parts for old (30 years and up) furnaces ?... ...I have a "Johnson Corp" 100,000 BTU unit that dates back to the mid 1970s thats gonna need burners before too much longer here...I can't afford a new furnace at this time !
The Johnson brand was out of business by at least 1980. I tried finding parts for one in the 1980s and could not find them then. You are out of luck. GFM
Do I see a black rubber gas line connecting to the gas valve? I hope not. It’s not legal to pass a flexible connector of any kind thru the cabinet. Speaking of laundry rooms if bleach or chlorine gets into the combustion air it will rot out the heat exchanger.
That one has been going around for many years. If anything, the pilot would add moisture from the combustion of the gas. When furnaces went to high efficiency, the old thick metal heat exchangers were replaced by thinner more energy efficient ones. Couple that with lower vent temperatures that sometimes allowed condensation upon startup, and you have more rust and sometimes they did not have as long a life as the older ones. GFM
Awesome video very thankful. Say have you ever cleaned the heat exchanger on a mueller furnace? The furnace business here in town refuses to clean it and says they will only replace the furnace for $3800! That's too expensive.
Melted ignition control box, melted wires, etc. you’d think that these components would be mounted where roll out wouldn’t affect them. I seriously scratch my head with the design of some equipment, it’s as if no thought went into the design in regard to servicing the equipment, absolutely drives me crazy, that’s not even mentioning the contractor who installed the equipment and now you’re screwed two times.
Thanks. That was a big help. What about the primary heat exchanger? Do you find that they need annual cleaning. Does it depend on if it uses outdoor air for combustion? I've seen them without piping to bring in outside air where they take air from inside the house directly. The other question I have is do you have to use any special sealant when replacing the cover from the front of the burner in a sealed burner set up? Thanks for your help.
You should really pull the burners out, or at the very minimum....cover the burners while youre ramming your brush down the heat exchanger . A proper thorough job calls for pulling the Burners even if you have to disconnect the gas valve and slide the gas valve and manifold with it out. We don't want to half-ass the job because it will only come back to get you .
Yep pull burners then brush all up through the exchanger passages. Vac or brush all the soot, scale, etc. out of there. Clean and reinstall burners. Needs to be addressed at the first sign of floating flames. That is incomplete combustion and high CO production.
That all depends on the equipment you are replacing. Also, when a major failure occurs, you must decide if the money is better spent on new equipment that will come with all new parts or take the chance on the old equipment not having more major repairs. GFM
@@AnhYeuEmMaiMai69 My 2013 furnace just needed a repair, new mainboard, 900EUR with labour cost. My 1988 furnace from the other house works perfect without issues to this day. Unfortunately no more spart parts for it.. will have to replace it because of that, so my boiler doesn't leak.
I am a Tech in Arkansas. I watch you everyday. Thanks. Merry Christmas!
If you dont know how to fix it, you say its bad and replace. Our gas supplier red tags and shuts off gas until a tech certifies its ok. Thanks for the comment.
GFM
Great video !! Brings back a lot of memories. Things have changed and progressed a lot over the years. Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas !!! Take care, Brett
Excellent and informative as always grey. Keep them coming!
d00d! I love you man!!!
I have a furnace very similar to that one, except 4 burner. A Ruud(Rheem?) UGDA-10EC-ER. I was having problems with roll-out. I had to clean each and every burn jet hole, which helped some. But still getting roll out. Then I found this video.. Well sure as shit, the heat exchanger was full of the rusty crap - blocking the airflow to the draft hood.
After cleaning that out(and recleaning the burners and chamber I have (4) full burners of blue flame, no roll outs, and LOTS of heat!
Note for all - a .22 or .30 caliber bronze bore brush and cleaning rod works great in that narrow passage downwards.
If you're ever in central PA - I owe you a beer or two!
+knight0334 It could happen.
GFM
Sorry about making you mad. That was not my intent. My problem is with your gas supplier. I have, as you have, seen condemnations of equipment that could be easily repaired. Sometimes decisions are made at higher levels that make no sense in the field.
GFM
same thing is true with "dead" refrigerators on the curb... only need a 50¢ starter that purposely got aged prematurely.
Great systems are engineered with weaknesses for service opportunities.
Excellent advice! Thank you so much for your post. My pool heater needs servicing from being outside, even under a cover, pine needles are able to find themselves in the strangest places.
Pool heaters are the worst. Animals get inside and they are usually around pool chemicals that will rust the heat exchanger.
GFM
Take the burners out and the top of the heat exchanger completely off, use various sizes of flue brushes and a shop vac as required. Clean and replace the burners as required. G1
I’m going to do this today in my 1975 furnace. Thank you.
Mines too....It's a "Johnson Corp" furnace....Things like 40+Years old !
Thanks. I have Lennox pulse coming up soon. That should be interesting. Merry Christmas
GDFM
I installed a number of Lennox pulse furnaces when they first came out. Our the shop I once worked at was a Lennox dealer. We had a booth at the county fair, and we’re demonstrating the furnace. Weren’t those all supposed to be changed out for safety reasons? I know the heat exchangers went bad prematurely. I thought their was a recall due to some legal issues. I believe they stated a 20 year heat exchanger warranty. Make sure you bring the right spark plug.
@@rodgraff1782 There was a recall for heat exchanger problems. Lennox has been trying to get rid of them for 30 years, but there are still some out there.
GFM
I guess if the clog was up in the flue pipe it wouldn't necessarily roll out, but the gases would come out of the draft hood.
What do you think?
That would happen. In fact that is what the draft hood is for. If it were not there the flame would roll out.
I have an intertherm mghb furnace, I got a bird's nest in the vent and took off the roof cap removed the nest and shop vacuumed from the roof down, but I know some fell down, and want to make sure that nothing else is down at the heat exchanger. What is the best way to accomplish this, thanks for your advice. Mike
I have a 1987 york Stellar plus furnace is it possible to clean the heat exchanger
Take the burners out and the draft hood, use a flue brush and vacuum . Clean the burners and adjust the primary air to ensure the heat ex does not become plugged again. G1
very educative. thank you regards
My home was built in 1994. Would it have this type of furnace? When did they stop making them?
No. These furnaces were replaced in the early 1990s.
GFM
Gfm if the furnace was manufacturer with spark ignition and that modulator and gas valve is obsolete. Would you install a standing piolot and new gas valve? Thank you Ron white
No. Both Honeywell and White Rodgers supply replacement controls that can be matched with obsolete controls.
GFM
Do you have any resources on where to find parts for old (30 years and up) furnaces ?...
...I have a "Johnson Corp" 100,000 BTU unit that dates back to the mid 1970s thats gonna need burners before too much longer here...I can't afford a new furnace at this time !
The Johnson brand was out of business by at least 1980. I tried finding parts for one in the 1980s and could not find them then. You are out of luck.
GFM
@@grayfurnaceman That's what I kinda figured !
Thank you for your response and sharing your expertise....Most educational vids ever on RUclips !👍👍👍👍👍
Do I see a black rubber gas line connecting to the gas valve? I hope not. It’s not legal to pass a flexible connector of any kind thru the cabinet. Speaking of laundry rooms if bleach or chlorine gets into the combustion air it will rot out the heat exchanger.
The furnace is a test mule, not a heating appliance.
GFM
i have a question were standing pilot furnaces able to last longer because of pilot keeping moisture out of the heat exchanger or is that not true
That one has been going around for many years. If anything, the pilot would add moisture from the combustion of the gas. When furnaces went to high efficiency, the old thick metal heat exchangers were replaced by thinner more energy efficient ones. Couple that with lower vent temperatures that sometimes allowed condensation upon startup, and you have more rust and sometimes they did not have as long a life as the older ones.
GFM
Fire!!! Fire!!!! in my best Beavis voice.
Awesome video very thankful. Say have you ever cleaned the heat exchanger on a mueller furnace? The furnace business here in town refuses to clean it and says they will only replace the furnace for $3800! That's too expensive.
+Cody Farmer Oil or gas?
GFM
good maintenance video, thanks...
You didn't show us how you got inside the furnace,how your plugged the heat exchanger..etc.
can I take the top of a mobile home to clean heat exchamber
need serious help
Most mobile home furnaces are accessed from the front. Any cleaning can be done from there.
GFM
Melted ignition control box, melted wires, etc. you’d think that these components would be mounted where roll out wouldn’t affect them. I seriously scratch my head with the design of some equipment, it’s as if no thought went into the design in regard to servicing the equipment, absolutely drives me crazy, that’s not even mentioning the contractor who installed the equipment and now you’re screwed two times.
It's intentional. They know exactly how long it will last in ideal circumstances, then prorated warranty
Likely gonna make it another year before it plugs up again. Good video though
I'd like to see a video on cleaning a 90% gas hot air furnace. Is that something that you've done a video on?
johnmiller102 This one covers blower wheel and secondary heat exchanger cleaning. Hope it helps. ruclips.net/video/jjHR9GLvQ7g/видео.html
GFM
Thanks. That was a big help. What about the primary heat exchanger? Do you find that they need annual cleaning. Does it depend on if it uses outdoor air for combustion? I've seen them without piping to bring in outside air where they take air from inside the house directly. The other question I have is do you have to use any special sealant when replacing the cover from the front of the burner in a sealed burner set up? Thanks for your help.
You should really pull the burners out, or at the very minimum....cover the burners while youre ramming your brush down the heat exchanger . A proper thorough job calls for pulling the Burners even if you have to disconnect the gas valve and slide the gas valve and manifold with it out. We don't want to half-ass the job because it will only come back to get you .
Good thoughts. I was more involved with heat exchanger cleaning and missed the burners. Thanks for pointing that out.
GFM
Yep pull burners then brush all up through the exchanger passages. Vac or brush all the soot, scale, etc. out of there. Clean and reinstall burners. Needs to be addressed at the first sign of floating flames. That is incomplete combustion and high CO production.
You always look for rust spots ? This is one gigantic rust spot
you will NEVER recoup your cost by replacing your equipment with a more efficient one
That all depends on the equipment you are replacing. Also, when a major failure occurs, you must decide if the money is better spent on new equipment that will come with all new parts or take the chance on the old equipment not having more major repairs.
GFM
@@grayfurnaceman negative, new furnace $10k...at my gas bill of 65 a month,I would save about 9. So 1111 months or 93 years...lol
@@AnhYeuEmMaiMai69 Then your choice is made.
GFM
@@grayfurnaceman that was the point, replacing something that still works fine because it is old is never cost effective...
@@AnhYeuEmMaiMai69 My 2013 furnace just needed a repair, new mainboard, 900EUR with labour cost. My 1988 furnace from the other house works perfect without issues to this day. Unfortunately no more spart parts for it.. will have to replace it because of that, so my boiler doesn't leak.
scary looking.
Oh hell I sell them a new one get that old crap out of there
I will never do that.
GFM
@@grayfurnaceman would waste my time doing doing that rip it out sell them a new one
It a has a um has a um it a
B.S. 23 years of making bad decisions does not make you a qualified Tech. Neither does having a certificate on your wall.
I totally agree but are you referring to grayfurnaceman ?