Hi! This is a little long, please bear with me...

Two days ago we woke up to a very cold house, and upon investigation found that the pilot light on the furnace had gone out. Searched around, didn't smell much gas - so we tried to re-light it. Well, it lit and stayed lit (and we got the furnace and blower both running) but only for about 15 - 20 minutes. Then we couldn't get it re-lit. Every time we'd put the match in, the draft would snuff out the match. Even when we managed to get the match all the way to the pilot light, we STILL couldn't get it to light.

SO - after making a couple quick calls, we were advised to replace the thermocouple - a $7 part, sounds great! Well, we have since installed the new thermocouple and tried to light it. Absolutely NOTHING. It did not even ATTEMPT to light.

Our next plan of attack is to remove everything AGAIN and try to clean out the gas line orifice at the pilot light again (we're thinking that maybe it is fouled and therefore blocked? ). My question is this - what is the next most logical explanation after the thermocouple? Where should we be looking next (before I call someone out and spend hundreds of dollars on something we can do ourselves?

Our system is:

Intertherm (forced air propane furnace in a modular home)
Model # MGHA - 090AAPQ - 01


The house is a 1991 model, so I assume the furnace is of the same vintage.

When replying to me - please note that we have only had this place for 6 months and have NO prior experience with propane furnaces! ;)

THANKS!!

IF no flame is present the pilot assembly may need cleaning, you might also check to see if the lp tank has fuel, without being there that's all I feel safe saying at this time

Yes try cleaning all those parts as you mentioned. Don't do anything to the pilot orifice that could damage it or make it bigger, compressed air works good. While you have that burner pulled out look all around that big can (the heat exchanger) be certain there are no cracks in the metal walls or bottom and top. There are many things that can happen to a mobile home furnace to cause poor drafting, in which case the burner will snuff itself out. A long butane grill lighter is great for lighting the pilot, since draft from the small hole is so strong. If this is a common problem on windy days, they make a wind shield for those roof jacks. Good luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by juggallojed

IF no flame is present the pilot assembly may need cleaning, you might also check to see if the lp tank has fuel,

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Lol... yes, we have about a 50% full tank...

Thanks for the suggestions! But... we still need help. :(

I should also say, before we changed the thermocouple, but had managed to get it to relight once or twice (briefly) - the flame was rather yellow-orange...

So, we have cleaned everything off, checked the heat exchanger for cracks and put it all back together. Still nothing. We can hold a flame to the pilot FOREVER and it acts as if there is simply no gas...

Also, now when we turn the gas back on ( at the furnace shutoff) to try to light the pilot, it now makes a high pitched humming like noise (this is new!).

Soo... does this give anyone further ideas? There is a blizzard forecast to hit in the next few days... did I mention we're freezing up here in Canada? :rolleyes:

At this point I would almost have to be there to know.

This is going to sound like a stupid question, but have you verified that your propane tank is full?

This is going to sound stupid but have you verified that your propane tank is full? Sometimes in cold weather the gauge can get stuck thereby apearing to be full but actually be empty.

The sysptoms you describe sound like a lack of fuel.:)

I have a cottage in Quebec with a Waite heater and an 80lbs. Propane tank so I am well aware of your frustration having gone though the same problem many times.
Sometimes there seems to be gas flowing but won't light but I think that may be air being pushed through the pipe before the propane reaches the heater which is about 6 feet away. I use a BBQ lighter rather than matches which I used to use as these were often blown out by the ?air? Before the propane arrived at the heater. Now I just hold the pilot light valve down and wait, sometimes several minutes before it eventually lights. Hope this helps. By the way, I also have 50lbs back-up tank in case the big one empties.