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    Iam1gg's Avatar
    Iam1gg Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Oct 24, 2008, 08:00 PM
    Floor Furnace pilot won't lit
    I have an Empire natural gas floor furnace. Last year replaced the thermostat and it worked great. Tried to lit it tonight and I can't get the pilot to lit. How can I tell if it is getting gas? Help!!
    wmproop's Avatar
    wmproop Posts: 3,749, Reputation: 91
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #2

    Oct 24, 2008, 11:21 PM

    When you hold the button down to lite, you should be able to hear the gas hissing sound
    hvac1000's Avatar
    hvac1000 Posts: 14,540, Reputation: 435
    Heating & Air Conditioning Expert
    		  
    #3

    Oct 24, 2008, 11:24 PM
    You probably will not hear a pilot since the gas flow is so low. Usually if you activate the pilot lever/push button a small flame will develop at the pilot. If not then you could have a plugged pilot orifice. It will need to be taken apart in that case and carefully cleaned. If the pilot lites but will not stay lit after releasing the lever/push button then the thermocouple is probably defective.
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #4

    Oct 25, 2008, 04:54 AM
    Iam1gg...

    All empire floor heaters I've worked on have a THERMOPILE GENERATOR.

    Here, you hold button down and try to light the pilot as usual... if pilot lights, but won't stay lit then you probably need to replace the thermopile itself.

    If no gas getting to the pilot assembly then you may have gas valve issue or plugged orifice as stated by HVAC1000.

    Let us know what you think here...

    MARK
    hvac1000's Avatar
    hvac1000 Posts: 14,540, Reputation: 435
    Heating & Air Conditioning Expert
    		  
    #5

    Oct 25, 2008, 08:07 AM
    Here is a copy of your install manual complete with lighting instructions. Some of the newer units had what is called a snap lgnitor/piezo Ignitor so you do not have to use a match to light the pilot.

    The instructions show a just about everything you need to know about your floor heater.

    http://dev.obatadesign.com/clients/E...88-37088-3.pdf

    Massplumber2088 is probably correct on the thermocouple/thermopile subject in regards to the Empire furnace. The ones that were popular in our area were called Glow King floor furnaces and were built locally in Indiana many years ago. Those had thermocouples and White Rodgers gas valves.

    Good luck getting it going and save the file for future reference.
    spunky02's Avatar
    spunky02 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #6

    Oct 25, 2008, 09:53 AM

    I have an older floor furance which has to be lit from under the house. The unit had been on and the blaze was an orange sort of blaze but it was nevertheless heating and warming the entire house well. Okay, I adjusted the themostat on the wall to turn it down, the unit then went off. So, how do I re-lit the unit and what steps, should I follow, to get some heat?
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