Goodman GDH8 lockout, Service Nightmare
Hi all,
Had a Goodman GDH8 installed not quite 2 years ago, last winter just 2 months out of warranty, it started acting up. From what I've read, a somewhat typical issue where the ignition system starts, glows all nice and red, then with a click and a hiss, attempts to light the burner, and it it fails to light, will try 2 more times before going into a system lockout with a single flashing light. I turn the furnace off, wait several minutes, turn it back on, and hope it lights this time. Sometimes, it actually does light on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd attempt and we have heat.
Called the company that installed it and they sent a tech out. (Who much preferred standing in my living room talking to fixing the furnace.) He checked all kinds of things over a period of ~3~ visits, and found nothing. On his third visit, my husband had gone online and did some research and told the guy to check the ground. He did, and found that the guy that had installed the furnace ran the ground incorrectly. He corrected the problem. So, several hours and a $330.00 bill later on an almost new furnace, we thought we had finally had a furnace that worked. It ran fine for about a month then right before Spring arrived and we stopped using it, it started all over again. I was so mad I just shut the dang thing off.
Same thing now, turn it on, it cycles through 3 ignition attempts, then locks out with a single flashing light. But only sometimes. (Except for tonight, where I can't get it to light.) Called a different company altogether and the tech, (recommended by a couple friends), came out today and said it sounded like it wasn't getting gas. He checked all that, and apparently, gas flow is fine. So after a time, he came and said he had found a small dark spot on the back of the circuit board. He said "it isn't burned all the way through". (Yikes?) He is bringing a new circuit board back tomorrow to try. (Ka-ching.)
Frankly, we do not have the money to spend on another 2 or 3 or 4 visits. If the circuit board isn't the issue, what should I do? My dad was in HVAC for many years; I know these guys are highly trained and work hard. But obviously, they don't know these Goodman furnaces and all the little quirks I've read about. (The main problem being that Goodman doesn't train their techs enough, from what I've read after hours and hours of researching these furnaces online.)
Can I ask the tech to re-check the ground, or check the igniter for tiny cracks, or the limiter switch on the blower, or the high limit switches? (This is if the board isn't the issue.) Or should I just keep my mouth shut? I have to tell you, I'm really cold because I still cannot get the furnace to light tonight and I'm very very frustrated with this on-going situation.
