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ASI's More Common Gas Heating Troubleshooting Tips

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More Common Gas Heating Troubleshooting Tips

Find more FAQ's in the menu on the left and at the bottom of this page
High Efficiency Gas Furnace Tries to Start - Clogged PVC Pipe Condensate Drain

* If you have a high efficient gas furnace (usually indicated by having 2 to 3 inch white plastic PVC pipe running from the furnace all the way up to the roof or through an outside wall from a crawl space) and it is real cold outside a common issue is having a frozen condensate drain. In this case look outside your home for where the condensate drain is located, many times there is an ice build up around it and this blocks the water from draining properly. You can use a hair dryer or hot water and melt the ice from both outside and inside the pipe and the furnace should start working once the water drains out.

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High Efficiency Gas Furnace Tries to Start - Clogged PVC Pipe Gas Flue

Condensate Drain Line Outside House
* In Southern Idaho we usually do not get much for snow but in the event that we do get a lot of snow and you have a high efficiency unit located in the crawl space with the PVC pipe going out a side wall of the house then check to be sure the pipe is clear from ice and snow, it is common for these pipes to get blocked up by the snow. Just clear away the snow from the pipe. These same types of equipment installed in attics can run into the same issue with frozen condensate drain lines in the attic, this can usually be solved by installing plumbing heat tape.
 





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My Furnace only Heats the House for a Short Period of Time and Shuts Back Off

* If your heating system runs the fan, lights the main flame but only heats the house for a short period of time and shuts back off only to restart a few minutes later or it restarts after you turn the power off and back on then the
first thing you need to check is your air filter. If the filter is very dirty this Dirty Air Filterprevents the system from flowing the proper amounts of air through the heat exchanger and this results in overheating of the furnace. There are safety devices to prevent this and they shut off the furnace until it cools back down.









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What does the Blinking LED Light Mean on my Gas Furnace

* On newer systems you can usually find an LED light, usually green, on the units control circuit board that is either steady on or blinks. This LED light will indicate the status of your unit based upon if it is steady on or the based on the number of the fast blinks. You can try to de-code these blinks by reading the equipment instructions at the unit or in the manual. Sometimes it will just simply have a steady blink which usually means that the system is trying to start. Usually if it is blinking several times this indicates some sort of fault or failure. What you can try is to reset the control board by turning off the power for a few seconds and then turn it back on, sometimes the system will start working again but most times the system will simply repeat the blinking fault after trying to run.  Either way you should have it checked as soon as possible by a qualified service company. 


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These easy to understand troubleshooting tips are for common issues that any homeowner can check before making an appointment for service or repairs and to help understand what may be wrong. Please do not perform these tips if you are not comfortable performing them. Electricity is dangerous and can cause serious injury or death, always assume electrical power is on unless you have checked it with an appropriate electrical meter. Ameri-Serv, Inc. assumes no liability for the use of the information provided on this website.
Before beginning please read the following article. Understanding Electrical Circuits and Standard Household Voltages


More Common Heating Troubleshooting Questions




High Efficiency Gas Furnace Tries to Start - Clogged PVC Pipe Condensate Drain

My Furnace only Heats the House for a Short Period of Time and Shuts Back Off

What does the Blinking LED Light Mean on my Gas Furnace

Checking Your Gas Furnace Heating Control Thermostat

Checking Your Gas Furnace Electrical Power

Checking Your Gas Furnace Ignition

What is that smell every year when I start up my furnace?

Should I replace my indoor AC coil at the same time as my furnace?

Why is the LED light flashing on my furnace?

How do I light the pilot on my furnace?

How do I know if my furnace is leaking carbon monoxide?


How often should I change my air filters?

Will a programmable thermostat really save me money?

How does a maintenance service save me money?

Will fixing leaks and insulating my duct work save me money?

How do I really know if I should fix it or replace it?

How much money will a high efficiency furnace save me?

How much money will a high efficiency air conditioner save me?


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 ASI's HVAC and Home Improvement Articles

Your money is literally flowing right out of your roof and crawl space! I can easily say that everyone has this problem, if you have an attic space and we all do, then you are wasting countless dollars every minute of every day. Easy Do It Yourself Energy Savings!

Great Energy Savings from Hybrid or Dual Fuel Systems
With the threat of energy prices increasing every year the idea of high efficiency and energy savings becomes more and more real to residents of the hydroelectric charged northwest. One approach that is very popular today is called a “dual fuel” heating system. First let’s define what a dual fuel system...

The Geo-Thermal System Explained in a Nut Shell
Geothermal is by far the highest efficiency heating and cooling system available today. While the systems require up to three times more investment upfront than a conventional heating and cooling system...

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