Ok, so I've been having some issues with my furnace, and this is one of them. I'm assuming on my photos, that is the PCV vent pipe, and the melted piece is the flange. Is it a bad furnace burning the flange, or a bad flange/wrong type of flange to be installed on the furnace? I want to know if it's a quick easy replaceable part or I need a new furnace etc. Because furnaces ain't cheap and calling a service tech to take a look at it ain't cheap either. Any clue people?
can you take the front panel off of your furnace and take pictures? it looks like the wrong sort of material installed on the flue, but it is hard to tell, how long has it been like this?
Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm/sensor, if not I would get one. Also you might keep in mind that a service call or new furnace would be less expensive than loss of life or fire
I'm not an expert with PVC piping, but I would be concerned about the printing on the pipe that says for water at 73* F. Get an expert to take a look at that very soon. Not only concerns about the carbon monoxide from the furnace, but the fumes from the melting pvc piping. That can be just as toxic.
How often do you change your filter? if it gets clogged up or not changed often enough, this can happen. When was the last service done on this furnace?
Well turns out I'll have to replace a new furnace for next year's winter. Was told the heat exchanger might have a crack and air is leaking in and rolling the flames out causing it to melt the plastic flange. I just moved into this house a year ago so I haven't had it service yet, and don't know nothin about the previous owners either. But thanks guys!
I have a high efficiency Trane (maybe the same model number as the one pictured - I'm not home right now) and I believe the heat exchanger has a 20 year warranty. And I think that is from the manufacturer (a lot of parts and labor warranties are from the installer).
OP, do you don't live in a RV, camper, or fish house by chance, do you? If so, then this is your guy! http://mnsubaru.com/threads/rv-camper-fishhouse-repair.45816/ anyway, I hope that you get the furnace straightened out and that it doesn't cost a fortune.
My furnace went out this year and it was pretty much all under warranty except for some pieces and labor
My Trane is an XV90 installed in 2006. Trane's heat exchanger warranty (at that time) is lifetime to the original purchaser, and 20 years (from date of installation) to the successor purchaser. The picture you showed with the melted flange is the air INTAKE. The exhaust is the piping to the right of it, at the edge of the furnace. Schedule 40 PVC is the proper venting pipe according to the installer's guide in my hand. My last furnace repair a few days ago was done by Total Comfort. I was happy with the experience (they were not the installer). I would not toss out the whole furnace if the heat exchanger would be covered by warranty. The labor won't be cheap, but the procedure should be doable in two to three hours (I have watched it done to mine when it was new - bad heat exchanger from the factory).
Thanks to this thread, I ran out and bought a few new filters and tossed one in. Thanks for the reminder and good luck with your furnace!
Did a professional tell you this? Did they check your heat exchanger with a C.O. detector? And if it is cracked try for a warranty repair. Roll out is not usually caused by the heat exchanger being cracked. Built up combustion gas, improper ignition and a few other things. I service major mechanical for a job. I could possibly look at your furnace Friday evening depending on your location. PM me if you like.
If you can get to it, make sure the intake pipe isn't partially blocked. If it was completely blocked the furnace wouldn't light and the board would flash a code for a pressure switch fault. If you open up the front panel are all the flames a nice blue color?
Yes the flames are all blue. One if my other issue was the furnace going out on me when I set the temperature under 80°. I would hear a combustion, than no hot air coming out of the vents, only cool air and than it would start smelling like CO. and there is this red light on my furnace that is flashing. Does that indicate something is wrong?
More than likely yes. Is it just a steady blinking or does it blink a certain number of times then a pause then start blinking again. Try and count the number of blinks
Flashing slow: Normal – no call for heat Continuous on: Replace IFC (circuit board) Continuous off: Check power 2 Flashes: External lockout (retries or recycles exceeded) 3 Flashes: Pressure switch error 4 Flashes: Open limit device 5 Flashes: Flame sensed when no flame should be present 6 Flashes: 115 VAC power reversed polarity or poor grounding
IMO, if you're unfamiliar with the way HVAC systems work, you should get a professional in to evaluate the system. There are so many things that can go wrong, especially with the high-efficiency units. Alternatively, if there's a member who is qualified in HVAC you might be able to catch a break on the inspection if they're in a good mood. Good luck with fixing it!
Yup, most people can change part X, Y, or Z without much problem, its the diagnostics that is hard. Its frustrating as a tech to have it pulled on you, but understandable that repair costs can get a little out of control.
