Darko, like MANY, my furnace hasn't been able to keep up with the brutally cold conditions. To combat this, I started a controlled fire in my basement inside of a couple of charcoal grills and a smoker. I understand there is an issue with ventilation, so I also poked some holes through the 2nd floor ceiling into the attic and then through the roof. It has definitely been getting warmer, but I'm having a problem with soot collecting on some of the interior walls. I was thinking of spraying them down with some WD-40 -- do you think that would work? Also if you have tips on how to get rid of the hot ash, I'd like to know that too -- for now, I will probably just replace the carpeting downstairs.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Our upstairs is hot as fuck and our downstairs couldn't get above 66. I brought a space heater down to the lower level and got it up to 71 so I'm good. I need to get that plastic stuff for the windows.

I have the dog covered in a blanket downstairs but when we go up to bed, no blanket even needed.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Not sure if serious...


Have trickled water since Tuesday afternoon, no frozen pipe issues. Our "parlor" has been pretty chilly, but the the rest of the house has been fine. Thermostat has been set at has held firm at 68-69 during this whole stretch. We've been very lucky. A buddy of mine lost power at some point Tues nite/Weds morning, and his house got down to 40 degrees!

I am not looking forward to opening up the next Nicor bill though.

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Something is wrong with ours. Making noises like it will start then dies. My house is at 50.

I will defer to an expert but I had that last year. It was the igniter thermocouple. If you are able to open the panel up and have a look there is a spark plug looking thing that has a contact. I hit that with an emery board a little and it was back to normal.

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Elections have consequences.

If that doesn't work, call this guy.

David Planz
Planz heating
630.935.6785

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I had a similar issue last year and Darko walked me thru a "repair" like Mike is describing. Hopefully its something simple like that for you too, Spaulding.

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Drop a Hershey Kiss in the coals every so often.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Spaulding etc, if you want to know why what I suggested might be wrong happens it is to save you from blowing up. So the furnace begins its start up process and turns on the gas and sparks up the flame. Before the blower goes full bore and shuts down so quickly is that sensor does not acknowledge there is a flame in the furnace.

If it didn't shut down it would fill your house with gas potentially blowing you up. So it sucks but it is good.

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Elections have consequences.

I had the same problem and it was just a Furnace Flame Sensor. It is a simple fix that you can do in minutes.

You don't need to take it out, just slip the sandpaper around the sensor and clean it.


Why Does My Furnace Keep Shutting Off?


Does you furnace begin to start up, but then shut down just as it gets going? Does it do this a couple times and then shut down for good? If so, you're likely having the same problem that many homeowners do every year...a dirty flame sensor.

Most service work on furnaces is complicated, and needs to be done by an HVAC professional, but cleaning your flame sensor is a simple process. It's also easy to troubleshoot and see if it's the cause of your problem.

Though we will be using a standard gas-fired furnace for our example, boilers and other gas-burning appliances often also use flame sensors. The following steps could be used for these types of appliances too.



https://dengarden.com/appliances/Save-Money-Fix-Your-Own-Furnace

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i don't have anything that looks like that. I have something that looks like a knob/stopper and plastic parts with wires coming out of them.

Two-three years ago I had the sensor problem. It's an extruded piece of "wire"/metal on the opposite side of the photos posted above. It really only took a couple of gentle swipes with fine sandpaper. The furnace gave the code & youtube.com gave a clear example.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Also check that your exterior vent pipe isn't blocked with snow/ice.

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4cxcb036cc3cuba model#
American standard gold series

I think I've watched every video except for mine. I have no idea what I'm looking at.

Should I shut off the water?

Try turning it off, then on again.

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Just moved into our house end of October. Furnace is 3 yrs and seller's had it serviced.
Yesterday everything worked ok.
This morning, the PBC pipe serving as the vent out the house came detached from the furnace.

WTF. Easy to solve, but still.....

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Search your model number + flame sensor and see what comes up. Or post your model number here and I will look it up for you.

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https://shortyshvac.com/index.php?main_ ... id=1&pid=1






This might be it. Nothing is labeled on mine. Do I takeout that knob thing labeled igniter or do I take out that two prong looking thing ?

Don't take out anything. Reach in and sand or file a bit on the grey tip part at the end of the white thing.

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Elections have consequences.

Ours stopped heating about 0700- I found the outside plastic pipe that serves as the suction for the purge blower blocked by ice/snow. Seems a few drips of condensation from the nearby exhaust pipe were being blown into the suction by the high winds. Cleared the blockage and it fired while I was still out there.

You should see a flashing red LED on your control board- number of rapid flashes tells you the issue- a list of faults may be posted inside the furnace or is online. Also, check the drain from the purge blower- if it fills with water, it cannot spin fast enough to prove the airflow switch, and it will not fire.

All else, hobo fire in a barrel in the basement, like newer uses.

There is nothing like that exposed. The board looks like that. I have no idea where those 2 pieces on the side are.


Outside isn't frozen. Pipe is clear,I looked

I would be calling a professional and hoping they can fit you in.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Okay yeah it might look like a plug then and the grey part is on other side inserting into a sealed area. If it were me I would look for a white knob like plastic to unscrew and pull out. If you are getting uncomfortable might want to make that call.

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Elections have consequences.

When I was doing my research on my condensate collection tank / pump problem I learned that some have a safety cut-off that shuts the furnace off if the collection tank doesn't empty. Is this a possibility?

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"I honestly don't see a good bet on the board here."

Flip the switch on the side and kill the power, then turn back on. Look in the sight glass and count how many blinks the red light flashes.. take off the Access panel and it will tell you how many blinks and what the problem is.

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True but probably would not start at all maybe?

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Elections have consequences.

Does your furnace look like this?

https://www.americanstandardair.com/products/heating-and-cooling/furnaces/gold-95v-furnace.html

The PN you gave is for the evaporator coil.

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Ha I suck. Yes that's it. I kinda think it's the motor. I hate this thing. I wanted to keep our old furnace my husband picked out a piece of shit. American standard gold

What is the sound? Is it a fan kicking on and off & then nothing? Or do you hear the burner start to ignite and then nothing?

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“How do you get to be president and you’re stupid?” Donald J Trump - 4/10/25
When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus. - Turkish Proverb