Is your furnace not firing? Try this.

If anyone runs into the problem of their furnace not firing, try this simple "cleaning" before you go to the grief of taking the trailer in or pulling out the furnace. On two separate occasions now (two years apart) my furnace has done the dreaded blowing but not firing problem. Of course there are several things that could cause this, but before you give up and spend money trying to fix the problem try blowing compressed air into the outside vent of the furnace. This has worked twice for me now, the last time just 10 minutes ago. We just returned from a 3000 mile trip where the furnace worked when I tested it before we left but did not work the whole trip after that. Even bouncing down the dreaded California roads didn't shake it up enough to make it work. Well, I was just out at the trailer and put an air hose into the furnace vents holes (both) on the outside of trailer and wham! Fired first time. I just fed the air hose in about a foot or so and move it in circles for about ten seconds in each hole and the first time I tried it after that it worked! Cheapest fix ever. I did the same thing about two years ago with the same result. I thought I was just lucky the first time. There must be a switch that just gets a little sticky or dusty. Just thought I would pass this on.

Great tip! I could'a used it last year when mine wouldn't fire.

Thanks for sharing.

TC

I had a similar problem a while back. Turned out that my "stainless steel" gas jet was RUSTED on the inside. Debris would build and block gas and travel would shake it out and allow it to fire. Finally found the culprit, rusted stainless, and replaced. No problem since.

It's been many years since I had one apart. Is there still a sail switch inside? If so, maybe the blast of air is freeing it up?

John

maxum1989 wrote: If anyone runs into the problem of their furnace not firing, try this simple "cleaning" before you go to the grief of taking the trailer in or pulling out the furnace. On two separate occasions now (two years apart) my furnace has done the dreaded blowing but not firing problem. Of course there are several things that could cause this, but before you give up and spend money trying to fix the problem try blowing compressed air into the outside vent of the furnace. This has worked twice for me now, the last time just 10 minutes ago. We just returned from a 3000 mile trip where the furnace worked when I tested it before we left but did not work the whole trip after that. Even bouncing down the dreaded California roads didn't shake it up enough to make it work. Well, I was just out at the trailer and put an air hose into the furnace vents holes (both) on the outside of trailer and wham! Fired first time. I just fed the air hose in about a foot or so and move it in circles for about ten seconds in each hole and the first time I tried it after that it worked! Cheapest fix ever. I did the same thing about two years ago with the same result. I thought I was just lucky the first time. There must be a switch that just gets a little sticky or dusty. Just thought I would pass this on.

Easy on the CA roads. Bay area is the worst. Head back east even worser.

A couple years back My buddy and I spent about two hours trying to figure out why his hot water heater wouldn't light. Turned out to be a spider had gone in and made a nest in the tube. Once it was cleared, the thing fired right up

I had this exact thing happen last fall, furnace would sound like it was firing and then would blow cold air. Dealer could not find anything wrong but documented it in case any further issues. Will try the air process if it happens again. Thanks for the tip.

Any idea why a furnace would work fine, they the fan would howl, then it work fine again.