We tried to crank up the heater this morning to warm up the chill a little. I could hear it crank up in the attic, but it never fully came on and started blowing air. Instead, it just powered back down after about a minute. This is the first time we've tried to turn it on this season. Any ideas?
I've lived in this house for 7 years (bought it new) and have never had to light it, so I'm guessing automatic.
If no air is coming out, turn on just the fan and see if that works. If it doesn't work you either have a bad fan motor or a bad capacitor. The capcitor will cost you around $100. The fan motor closer to $500. If you click it on and you can hear the motor trying to turn but it won't and shuts down, don't turn it back on. You could burn out the motor without realizing it. I had the exact same problem recently in TWO different a/c units.
When it "kicks on", does it only last about 10 seconds, stops, then tries again? Do you hear a clicking noise (pilot light trying to light)? If you pilot light is not lighting, that would cause it (assuming it's an autolight). It could be your pilot light thermocouple - that tells the unit that the light is on. Do you feel comfortable enough to take the panel off and watch what it's doing when it's trying to kick on? Thermocouples are pretty easy to replace.
If the pilot light is lighting and then going out shortly thereafter, make sure there is nothing blocking the outside vent.
Per usual, make sure you check your circuit breakers to make sure one isn't tripped for your gas heater. I had a situation like this a few years ago where the blower would kick on but the automatic/electric pilot wasn't kicking on so no heat. It turned out that, in my case, there was a faulty gas control valve that had to be replaced. There were also a couple of tubes running to it that the technician took off and blew through to make sure they weren't clogged with debris...which can also happen and prevent the automatic pilot from kicking on. I always go up there and start looking around like I can fix it but, thus far, I am unsuccessful because...like a lot of us...I don't know what the hell I'm doing up there. Sometimes, I even bang on it like a caveman while making noises and hope that works. lol
I would be careful with anything that uses gas and make sure to get it checked out by a professional after the basic things have been checked (gas on, breaker not kicked, etc.).
"I will come for you! Do you understand? I will come for you!" "Don't leave the house or you will freeze to death! Burn anything you can to stay warm! Especially don't try to go find Penicillin for your dumb girlfriend with the hacking cough who only wants to sleep with you because I'm coming to rescue you. Do you understand? Oh gawd...the line is dead." (shreeking wails in the background) Sincerely, Dennis Quaid
In all seriousness, Surfguy brings up a good point. Unless you get this heater thing resolved soon, you're going to insta-freeze.
I'm having the same issues. Been cold as crap all last week in my house. I have two heaters (upstairs/downstairs) and I can see the process on the one that works. Blower starts up, I see an orange (I assume pilot) light, and then the 4 big burners kick in (blue flame). In the one that doesn't work, I hear the blower but then nothing else and then after a while it stops. I assume it has something to do with the Igniter or gas valve or whatever. Does anyone know a good reputable service company for this?
