How To Replace a Thermocouple
The thermocouple is a gas furnace component located near the pilot light burner. It is a safety device that shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out or the electric igniter fails.
If the pilot light won't stay lit, the thermocouple may be faulty and should be adjusted or replaced. To adjust the thermocouple, you must tighten the thermocouple nut with a wrench. Take care not to apply too much pressure to the nut -- just tighten it slightly. Then try lighting the pilot. If the pilot won't stay lit, replace the thermocouple with a new one of the same type. Here's how to replace a thermocouple:
Step 1: Unscrew copper lead and connection nut inside threaded connection to gas line. Under mounting bracket at thermocouple tube, unscrew bracket nut that holds tube in place.
Step 2: Insert new thermocouple into hole in bracket. Be sure steel tube is up and copper lead is down. Under bracket, screw bracket nut over tube. Push connection nut to threaded connection where copper lead connects to gas line. Make sure connection is clean and dry.
Step 3: Tightly screw nut into place, but do not over-tighten. Both bracket nut and connection nut should be only a little tighter than if hand-tightened.
Limit Switch
The limit switch is a safety control switch located on the furnace just below the plenum. If the plenum gets too hot, the limit switch shuts off the burner. It also shuts off the blower when the temperature drops to a certain level after the burner has shut off. If the blower runs continuously, either the blower control on the thermostat has been set to the ON position or the limit control switch needs adjustment. Check the thermostat first. If the blower control has been set to ON, change it to AUTO; if the blower control is already on AUTO, the limit switch needs adjusting.
To adjust the switch, remove the control's cover. Under it is a toothed dial with one side marked LIMIT; don't touch this side. The other side of the control is marked FAN. There are two pointers on the fan side; the blower goes on at the upper pointer setting and turns off at the lower pointer setting. The pointers should be set about 25 degrees apart. Set the upper pointer at about 115 degrees Fahrenheit and the lower one at about 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you smell gas while performing these repairs, you'll want to get that leak taken care of right away. Learn how to find gas leaks on the next page.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
If the pilot light won't stay lit, the thermocouple may be faulty and should be adjusted or replaced. To adjust the thermocouple, you must tighten the thermocouple nut with a wrench. Take care not to apply too much pressure to the nut -- just tighten it slightly. Then try lighting the pilot. If the pilot won't stay lit, replace the thermocouple with a new one of the same type. Here's how to replace a thermocouple:
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Step 2: Insert new thermocouple into hole in bracket. Be sure steel tube is up and copper lead is down. Under bracket, screw bracket nut over tube. Push connection nut to threaded connection where copper lead connects to gas line. Make sure connection is clean and dry.
Step 3: Tightly screw nut into place, but do not over-tighten. Both bracket nut and connection nut should be only a little tighter than if hand-tightened.
 © 2006 Publications International, Ltd. The thermocouple is installed next to the pilot light. A bracket holds it in place, steel tube up and copper lead down. |
The limit switch is a safety control switch located on the furnace just below the plenum. If the plenum gets too hot, the limit switch shuts off the burner. It also shuts off the blower when the temperature drops to a certain level after the burner has shut off. If the blower runs continuously, either the blower control on the thermostat has been set to the ON position or the limit control switch needs adjustment. Check the thermostat first. If the blower control has been set to ON, change it to AUTO; if the blower control is already on AUTO, the limit switch needs adjusting.
If you smell gas while performing these repairs, you'll want to get that leak taken care of right away. Learn how to find gas leaks on the next page.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
- Furnace Maintenance: Save yourself time and money by learning the steps to keep your furnace in prime condition.
- Major Appliance Repair: If the furnace isn't the only thing in your house on the fritz, you can learn how to fix other machines in this article.
- Small Appliance Repair: Once you've tackled the furnace, a toaster or blender seems like child's play. Find out how to fix them here.
- Thermostat Maintenance: To make sure there's actually a problem with your heating system, you may want to check the thermostat, too. Learn how to calibrate a thermostat.
Troubleshooting Gas Furnaces and Gas Heaters
There are many potential reasons that a furnace might not be working, but fortunately, many of the solutions are as easy as pressing a button. Use this chart to fix a wide range of conditions that prevent your furnace from working.
The pilot light is crucial to the operation of the furnace. Learn how to light a pilot light on the next pae.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
Step 2: Turn valve to off and wait three minutes.
Step 3: Switch valve to pilot setting. Hold lighted match to pilot opening while you push reset button on pilot control panel. Keep this button depressed until pilot flame burns brightly, then set valve to on position.
Step 4: If pilot flame won't stay lit, opening may be clogged. Turn gas valve off, and clean opening with piece of fine wire. If it won't stay lit after several attempts, you may have faulty thermocouple. If pilot flame still won't stay lit, call professional service person.
Some furnaces have an electrical system to ignite the gas; in these systems there is no pilot light. Instead, an electric element heats up and ignites the burners. If this electric ignition system malfunctions, call a professional service person.
If the pilot light won't stay lit, the thermocouple -- a safety device -- might be malfunctioning. Learn how to replace this component on the next page.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
GAS AND FURNACE HEATER TROUBLESHOOTING CHART
| Problem | Possible cause | Solution | ||
| Furnace won't run | 1. No power. |
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| 2. Switch off. | 2. Turn on separate power switch on or near furnace | |||
| 3. Motor overload. | 3. Wait 30 minutes; press reset button. Repeat if necessary. | |||
| 4. Pilot light out. | 4. Relight pilot. | |||
| 5. No gas. | 5. Make sure gas valve to furnace is fully open | |||
| Not enough heat | 1. Thermostat set too low. | 1. Raise thermostat setting 5°. | ||
| 2. Filter dirty. | 2. Clean or replace filter. | |||
| 3. Blower clogged. | 3. Clean blower assembly. | |||
| 4. Registers closed or blocked. | 4. Make sure all registers are open; make sure they are not blocked by tugs, drapes or furniture. | |||
| 5. System out of balance. | 5. Balance system. | |||
| 6. Blower belt loose or broken. | 6. Adjust or replace belt. | |||
| 7. Burner dirty. | 7. Call a professional. | |||
| Pilot won't light | 1. Pilot opening blocked. | 1. Clean pilot opening. | ||
| 2. No gas. | 2. Make sure pilot light button is fully depressed; make sure gas valve to furnace is fully open. | |||
| Pilot won't stay lit | 1. Loose or faulty thermocouple. | 1. Tighten thermocouple nut slightly, if no results, replace thermocouple. | ||
| 2. Pilot flame set too low. | 2. Adjust pilot so flame is about 2 inches long. | |||
| 3. Electric pilot faulty. | 3. Call a professional. | |||
| Furnace turns on and off repeatedly | 1. Filter dirty.2. Motor and/or blower needs lubrication. | 1. Clean or replace filter. 2. If motor and blower have oil ports, lubricate. | ||
| Blower won't stop running | 1. Blower control set wrong. | 1. Reset thermostat from ON to AUTO. | ||
| 2. Limit switch set wrong. | 2. Reset limit switch for stop-start cycling. | |||
| 3. Limit control needs adjustment. | 3. Call a professional. | |||
| Furnace noisy | 1. Access panels loose. | 1. Mount and fasten access panels correctly. | ||
| 2. Belts sticking, worn, or damaged. | 2. Spray squeaking drive belts with belt dressing; replace worn or damaged belts. | |||
| 3. Blower belts too loose or too tight. | 3. Adjust belt. | |||
| 4. Motor and/or blower needs lubrication. | 4. If motor and blower have oil ports, lubricate. | |||
| 5. Call a professional. |
The pilot light is crucial to the operation of the furnace. Learn how to light a pilot light on the next pae.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
- Furnace Maintenance: Save yourself time and money by learning the steps to keep your furnace in prime condition.
- Major Appliance Repair: If the furnace isn't the only thing in your house on the fritz, you can learn how to fix other machines in this article.
- Small Appliance Repair: Once you've tackled the furnace, a toaster or blender seems like child's play. Find out how to fix them here.
- Thermostat Maintenance: To make sure there's actually a problem with your heating system, you may want to check the thermostat, too. Learn how to calibrate a thermostat.
How To Light a Furnace Pilot Light
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The pilot light on a gas furnace can go out because of drafts. To relight the pilot, follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly; they are usually fastened to the furnace. If instructions for relighting the pilot are not provided, follow this general procedure:
Step 1: Find pilot light assembly. It typically has a gas valve with on, off, and pilot settings.Step 2: Turn valve to off and wait three minutes.
Step 3: Switch valve to pilot setting. Hold lighted match to pilot opening while you push reset button on pilot control panel. Keep this button depressed until pilot flame burns brightly, then set valve to on position.
Step 4: If pilot flame won't stay lit, opening may be clogged. Turn gas valve off, and clean opening with piece of fine wire. If it won't stay lit after several attempts, you may have faulty thermocouple. If pilot flame still won't stay lit, call professional service person.
Some furnaces have an electrical system to ignite the gas; in these systems there is no pilot light. Instead, an electric element heats up and ignites the burners. If this electric ignition system malfunctions, call a professional service person.
If the pilot light won't stay lit, the thermocouple -- a safety device -- might be malfunctioning. Learn how to replace this component on the next page.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
- Furnace Maintenance: Save yourself time and money by learning the steps to keep your furnace in prime condition.
- Major Appliance Repair: If the furnace isn't the only thing in your house on the fritz, you can learn how to fix other machines in this article.
- Small Appliance Repair: Once you've tackled the furnace, a toaster or blender seems like child's play. Find out how to fix them here.
- Thermostat Maintenance: To make sure there's actually a problem with your heating system, you may want to check the thermostat, too. Learn how to calibrate a thermostat.
How To Replace a Thermocouple
The thermocouple is a gas furnace component located near the pilot light burner. It is a safety device that shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out or the electric igniter fails.
If the pilot light won't stay lit, the thermocouple may be faulty and should be adjusted or replaced. To adjust the thermocouple, you must tighten the thermocouple nut with a wrench. Take care not to apply too much pressure to the nut -- just tighten it slightly. Then try lighting the pilot. If the pilot won't stay lit, replace the thermocouple with a new one of the same type. Here's how to replace a thermocouple:
Step 1: Unscrew copper lead and connection nut inside threaded connection to gas line. Under mounting bracket at thermocouple tube, unscrew bracket nut that holds tube in place.
Step 2: Insert new thermocouple into hole in bracket. Be sure steel tube is up and copper lead is down. Under bracket, screw bracket nut over tube. Push connection nut to threaded connection where copper lead connects to gas line. Make sure connection is clean and dry.
Step 3: Tightly screw nut into place, but do not over-tighten. Both bracket nut and connection nut should be only a little tighter than if hand-tightened.
Limit Switch
The limit switch is a safety control switch located on the furnace just below the plenum. If the plenum gets too hot, the limit switch shuts off the burner. It also shuts off the blower when the temperature drops to a certain level after the burner has shut off. If the blower runs continuously, either the blower control on the thermostat has been set to the ON position or the limit control switch needs adjustment. Check the thermostat first. If the blower control has been set to ON, change it to AUTO; if the blower control is already on AUTO, the limit switch needs adjusting.
To adjust the switch, remove the control's cover. Under it is a toothed dial with one side marked LIMIT; don't touch this side. The other side of the control is marked FAN. There are two pointers on the fan side; the blower goes on at the upper pointer setting and turns off at the lower pointer setting. The pointers should be set about 25 degrees apart. Set the upper pointer at about 115 degrees Fahrenheit and the lower one at about 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you smell gas while performing these repairs, you'll want to get that leak taken care of right away. Learn how to find gas leaks on the next page.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
If the pilot light won't stay lit, the thermocouple may be faulty and should be adjusted or replaced. To adjust the thermocouple, you must tighten the thermocouple nut with a wrench. Take care not to apply too much pressure to the nut -- just tighten it slightly. Then try lighting the pilot. If the pilot won't stay lit, replace the thermocouple with a new one of the same type. Here's how to replace a thermocouple:
|
Step 2: Insert new thermocouple into hole in bracket. Be sure steel tube is up and copper lead is down. Under bracket, screw bracket nut over tube. Push connection nut to threaded connection where copper lead connects to gas line. Make sure connection is clean and dry.
Step 3: Tightly screw nut into place, but do not over-tighten. Both bracket nut and connection nut should be only a little tighter than if hand-tightened.
© 2006 Publications International, Ltd. The thermocouple is installed next to the pilot light. A bracket holds it in place, steel tube up and copper lead down. |
The limit switch is a safety control switch located on the furnace just below the plenum. If the plenum gets too hot, the limit switch shuts off the burner. It also shuts off the blower when the temperature drops to a certain level after the burner has shut off. If the blower runs continuously, either the blower control on the thermostat has been set to the ON position or the limit control switch needs adjustment. Check the thermostat first. If the blower control has been set to ON, change it to AUTO; if the blower control is already on AUTO, the limit switch needs adjusting.
If you smell gas while performing these repairs, you'll want to get that leak taken care of right away. Learn how to find gas leaks on the next page.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
- Furnace Maintenance: Save yourself time and money by learning the steps to keep your furnace in prime condition.
- Major Appliance Repair: If the furnace isn't the only thing in your house on the fritz, you can learn how to fix other machines in this article.
- Small Appliance Repair: Once you've tackled the furnace, a toaster or blender seems like child's play. Find out how to fix them here.
- Thermostat Maintenance: To make sure there's actually a problem with your heating system, you may want to check the thermostat, too. Learn how to calibrate a thermostat.
How To Control the Burner and Find Gas Leaks
The safe use of a gas furnace depends upon a steady flow of fuel and a strong, continuous flame. These instructions will help you determine that your furnace is getting the proper amount of gas, and that it's all going where it should.
Burner Adjustment
The flames on the gas burner should be full and steady, with no sputtering and no trace of yellow. To adjust the flame height on the main burners, call a professional service person. To adjust the height of the pilot flame, turn the flame adjustment screw until the flame is from 11/2 to 2 inches high. The adjustment screw is located near the gas valve on the pilot assembly, if the control has this adjustment feature.
Gas Leaks
If you suspect leaks around the furnace unit, stir up a mixture of liquid detergent and water. Paint this mixture on the gas supply line along its connections and valves; the soapy water will bubble at any point where there's a leak. If you find a leak, try tightening the leaking connection with a pipe wrench, but be careful not to overtighten the connection. If the pipe connections or valves still leak, call a professional service person.
Now that you know how to fix your gas furnace, you'll be able to stay warm and quite possibly save a few dollars on professional repairs.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
Burner Adjustment
The flames on the gas burner should be full and steady, with no sputtering and no trace of yellow. To adjust the flame height on the main burners, call a professional service person. To adjust the height of the pilot flame, turn the flame adjustment screw until the flame is from 11/2 to 2 inches high. The adjustment screw is located near the gas valve on the pilot assembly, if the control has this adjustment feature.
Gas Leaks
If you suspect leaks around the furnace unit, stir up a mixture of liquid detergent and water. Paint this mixture on the gas supply line along its connections and valves; the soapy water will bubble at any point where there's a leak. If you find a leak, try tightening the leaking connection with a pipe wrench, but be careful not to overtighten the connection. If the pipe connections or valves still leak, call a professional service person.
Now that you know how to fix your gas furnace, you'll be able to stay warm and quite possibly save a few dollars on professional repairs.
For more articles on home repair, check out the following links.
- Furnace Maintenance: Save yourself time and money by learning the steps to keep your furnace in prime condition.
- Major Appliance Repair: If the furnace isn't the only thing in your house on the fritz, you can learn how to fix other machines in this article.
- Small Appliance Repair: Once you've tackled the furnace, a toaster or blender seems like child's play. Find out how to fix them here.
- Thermostat Maintenance: To make sure there's actually a problem with your heating system, you may want to check the thermostat, too. Learn how to calibrate a thermostat.
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