let the insanity begin
- Thread starter rick rottet
- Start date
Carl_in_Florida
Active member
I bet he fixes furnaces better than he types in forums
rick rottet
reefkeeper// propagator
keto- the furnace was ordered from Atlas as an LP unit. Modine makes them that way at the factory and Atlas will sell you the furnace either way you want it, LP or NG.
The company that set my LP tank put a regulator on the tank. I made them check it to make sure it matched what the furnace manual said the pressure was supposed to be. Between 10" and 14" wc (1/2 psi).
Roberts is about 45 miles north from Champaign and I think Decatur is about another 40 miles west from Champaign. It would be a long trip for you, but if you want to make the trip, I would gladly accept the offer to come and measure the pressure.
I guess there is always the possibility that the tank LP regulator has gotten out of adjustment or gone bad and the limit switch is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Other than those two things, there's not much left to check that hasn't been checked.
The company that set my LP tank put a regulator on the tank. I made them check it to make sure it matched what the furnace manual said the pressure was supposed to be. Between 10" and 14" wc (1/2 psi).
Roberts is about 45 miles north from Champaign and I think Decatur is about another 40 miles west from Champaign. It would be a long trip for you, but if you want to make the trip, I would gladly accept the offer to come and measure the pressure.
I guess there is always the possibility that the tank LP regulator has gotten out of adjustment or gone bad and the limit switch is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. Other than those two things, there's not much left to check that hasn't been checked.
rick rottet
reefkeeper// propagator
jnarowe- moving to a warmer state helps only in winter. The sun is overbearing in summer.
rick rottet
reefkeeper// propagator
LMAO. Calfo says his town in PA was #2 on the list of rainy cities, right behind Seattle.
I spoke on the phone with keto (thanks for the info man). He basically confirmed that it was most likely the limit switch and that the regulator on the LP was not likely to have malfunctioned. He said especially with as hard as these units have to run in a gh environment, those thin metal diaphragms weaken and react to heat much more easily. I asked him about bypassing it, but he said those switches are the only safety device these types of units have, so probably not a good idea.
When I went out to the gh tonight, outside temp was 9 F. The inside thermometer was reading right at 70 and was in the same place, on the north end away from the framing and behind the furnace where it was reading 76 last night. I got a little worried because I know that would most likely drop the tank temps some overnight. I got a flash of brilliance and loosened the screws that hold the switch into the casing of the furnace enough to create about a 1/4" air gap between the switch and the casing, hoping that maybe that would allow some air to circulate around the switch and prolong it's activation. The burner stayed lit for about 6 minutes but the thermometer hadn't moved yet. I walked to the opposite end of the gh and it was distinctly warm so I plugged the one HAF fan back in. The burner continued to stay fired and then I could sit there and literally watch the thermometer start climbing. It ran with the burner lit for about another 12 minutes and I figured it was going to stay lit, reached over to turn the thermostat down from 95 to it's normal 86 and the furnace shut off!!! The inside temp had satisfied the thermostat. I sat there and watched it run through another cycle just to make sure and it stayed lit through the whole cycle and shut off like it is supposed to. At least that blower fan is going to get a break tonight.
YIPEEEE.
It never did do any good the past few days to turn the thermostat up because no matter how high it was set, the switch was shutting down the burner before the temp could be reached.
Hopefully, now I can take the plastic off of the tanks and resume some "normal" operation.
Peace of mind is a good thing.
I am still going to check on getting those replacement parts just to have stuff on hand for any case that might come up that would be more emergent than this was. Even same day delivery would be too slow if the whole furnace stopped working.
I spoke on the phone with keto (thanks for the info man). He basically confirmed that it was most likely the limit switch and that the regulator on the LP was not likely to have malfunctioned. He said especially with as hard as these units have to run in a gh environment, those thin metal diaphragms weaken and react to heat much more easily. I asked him about bypassing it, but he said those switches are the only safety device these types of units have, so probably not a good idea.
When I went out to the gh tonight, outside temp was 9 F. The inside thermometer was reading right at 70 and was in the same place, on the north end away from the framing and behind the furnace where it was reading 76 last night. I got a little worried because I know that would most likely drop the tank temps some overnight. I got a flash of brilliance and loosened the screws that hold the switch into the casing of the furnace enough to create about a 1/4" air gap between the switch and the casing, hoping that maybe that would allow some air to circulate around the switch and prolong it's activation. The burner stayed lit for about 6 minutes but the thermometer hadn't moved yet. I walked to the opposite end of the gh and it was distinctly warm so I plugged the one HAF fan back in. The burner continued to stay fired and then I could sit there and literally watch the thermometer start climbing. It ran with the burner lit for about another 12 minutes and I figured it was going to stay lit, reached over to turn the thermostat down from 95 to it's normal 86 and the furnace shut off!!! The inside temp had satisfied the thermostat. I sat there and watched it run through another cycle just to make sure and it stayed lit through the whole cycle and shut off like it is supposed to. At least that blower fan is going to get a break tonight.
YIPEEEE.
It never did do any good the past few days to turn the thermostat up because no matter how high it was set, the switch was shutting down the burner before the temp could be reached.
Hopefully, now I can take the plastic off of the tanks and resume some "normal" operation.
Peace of mind is a good thing.
I am still going to check on getting those replacement parts just to have stuff on hand for any case that might come up that would be more emergent than this was. Even same day delivery would be too slow if the whole furnace stopped working.
rick rottet
reefkeeper// propagator
heh...you know the old saying, "jack of all trades...master of none". Most of that was born out of necessity. When I was younger, I could never afford to hire people to install ceiling fans, take the car to the shop when it was broke, fix the washing machine, etc.
This AM outside temp was 1 F. Coolest tank was 75. Furnace is still staying lit through the whole cycle and reaching the thermostat setting. Now this is what it ran like last year.
Sweet relief...just for today.
This AM outside temp was 1 F. Coolest tank was 75. Furnace is still staying lit through the whole cycle and reaching the thermostat setting. Now this is what it ran like last year.
Sweet relief...just for today.
Carl_in_Florida
Active member
congrats rick
rick rottet
reefkeeper// propagator
Thanks Carl, I guess this was a narrow escape that could have been much worse.
rick rottet
reefkeeper// propagator
So I called Atlas and talked to my sales guy (Marlin McClellan), he recommended for me to call Modine direct and gave me the number of his sales guy (Mike Ragsdale). They are going to send me the limit switch today for no charge, plus the Modine guy said he thought it could possibly be the time delay for the fan (but I don't think so since it is running normally with the switch being kept cooler), so he is going to send that for no charge as well. For the extra stuff I want to order, (gas valve, fan motor, transformer, etc.), the Modine guy is going to get with my Atlas guy to work up a PO # and I'll have it by the end of the week.
Service like that is just one of the reasons why I never miss an opportunity to say how pleased I have been with Atlas and how nice and polite everybody who works there is. Those folks just bend over backwards to help their customers. (Plus I love that Georgia accent.)
Service like that is just one of the reasons why I never miss an opportunity to say how pleased I have been with Atlas and how nice and polite everybody who works there is. Those folks just bend over backwards to help their customers. (Plus I love that Georgia accent.)
rick rottet
reefkeeper// propagator
heehee...I love abuse...prefer it physically though. 
I'm just glad that the "eye opening experience" wasn't a full shut down of the furnace. I had been planning on ordering the extra parts ever since I have had the LR out there, just seemed to be one of those things that I kept telling myself..."it's still a new unit, should be alright for a while yet", and I never seemed to think of it whenever I was on the phone with Atlas because I was usually seeking a solution to some other issue. Kind of like never checking the air in the spare tire.
I'm just glad that the "eye opening experience" wasn't a full shut down of the furnace. I had been planning on ordering the extra parts ever since I have had the LR out there, just seemed to be one of those things that I kept telling myself..."it's still a new unit, should be alright for a while yet", and I never seemed to think of it whenever I was on the phone with Atlas because I was usually seeking a solution to some other issue. Kind of like never checking the air in the spare tire.
LegoZ81
New member
Rick what about picking up a couple of L.P. jet heaters?
you could theoretically grab 2 100k BTU units and have them on hand for such an emergency
Reddy HeaterÃ"šÃ‚®
100,000 Btu Liquid Propane Forced Air Heater
$199.00
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=220641-234-RLP100&lpage=none
you could theoretically grab 2 100k BTU units and have them on hand for such an emergency
Reddy HeaterÃ"šÃ‚®
100,000 Btu Liquid Propane Forced Air Heater
$199.00
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=220641-234-RLP100&lpage=none
rick rottet
reefkeeper// propagator
Sounds like a good idea to me. We used to use those in winter when I was plumbing...but kerosene powered. LP would be much better for this application.
I could put in a tap on the furnace gas line just to have it ready. I ordered all of what they called the "commonly replaced parts", but one never knows when maybe something will go wrong with the furnace and require a part that I don't have. Back up plan for the back up plan.
I could put in a tap on the furnace gas line just to have it ready. I ordered all of what they called the "commonly replaced parts", but one never knows when maybe something will go wrong with the furnace and require a part that I don't have. Back up plan for the back up plan.
NuclearReefs
Active member
I have a friend in Seattle that has gas powered heaters in the corners of his greenhouse for his orchids. He said this was the best solution he could come up with. I'll send him an email and find out what particular ones he used,,, instead of ordering another greenhouse..
nathan
nathan
