Help support WeTheArmed.com by visiting our sponsors.

Author Topic: help with furnace  (Read 4162 times)

Bones

  • Junior Member
  • *
  • Posts: 21

  • Offline
help with furnace
« on: November 19, 2014, 10:43:02 pm »
Ok everyone...

Outbreak could tell you that I'm a warm weather person because I can't hold body heat....regardless of how bundled. Well, recently moved into a home with a natural gas furnace...it's optimistically 20 degrees outside and my furnace is not working. Just today there has been four service calls with two visits from gas company and I'm currently waiting on the service guy to get here again...every time they say " your unit is weird" (?!). So after reading the manual, my error on the Honeywell furnace is 2+5, indicating a soft lockout where the maximum number of recycles where last recycle was due to limit circuit opening or the limit remained open longer than three minutes....I've googled and haven't had much luck.
Could any of you please put that into english and maybe give ways to fix this?

WeTheArmed.com

  • Advertisement
  • ***

    ksuguy

    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 5033

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #1 on: November 19, 2014, 10:48:58 pm »
    Do you know the model number of the furnace?   That might help for searching for info.    Also, have you changed the filter?
    Kansas

    JesseL

    • Gun Mangler
    • WTA Staff
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 12451

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #2 on: November 19, 2014, 10:58:47 pm »
    Found a manual that describes the error you're seeing on the thermostat:
    http://www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com/related_links/combustion/univ_integrated_furnace/install/69_2087.pdf

    Quote
    Check: Wiring; restricted airflow through heat
    exchanger; clogged filters; slow circulator
    fan speed.
    Repair: Remove restrictions. Increase airflow
    through furnace (increase motor speed,
    open more ducts, add more returns)

    So check your furnace filter, open all the heater vents, and if that doesn't do it then tell your HVAC guy to see if there's a problem with the circulator fan being blocked, gunked up, or burnt out.

    Can you hear the fan start?

    If you had a problem with ignition or the gas supply it looks like you'd be having a 2+4 error instead.
    Arizona

    booksmart

    • Token Left Leaning Idealist Libertarian
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 6758
    • E. Pluribus Unum.

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #3 on: November 19, 2014, 11:07:40 pm »
    http://www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com/related_links/combustion/univ_integrated_furnace/install/69_2087.pdf

    Quote
    2 + 5Soft Lockout - Exceeded
    maximum number of recycles
    where the last recycle was due to
    the limit circuit opening or the
    limit remained open longer
    Check: Wiring; restricted airflow through heat
    exchanger; clogged filters; slow circulator
    fan speed.
    Repair: Remove restrictions. Increase airflow
    through furnace (increase motor speed,
    open more ducts, add more returns).

    Sound like it's in soft reset because of how long it ran last time, and thinks it's because of airflow issues, maybe with an air filter that's too full, or the fan isn't blowing fast enough.  So, the furnace shuts off to keep the heat exchanger from overheating, preventing damage to the unit/house fire.

    My first suggestion would be to check the air filter, make sure all the ducts are clear of furniture/drapes, etc.

    When the fan does run, can you feel air coming out of every duct?

    Bones

    • Junior Member
    • *
    • Posts: 21

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #4 on: November 19, 2014, 11:08:30 pm »
    Found a manual that describes the error you're seeing on the thermostat:
    http://www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com/related_links/combustion/univ_integrated_furnace/install/69_2087.pdf

    So check your furnace filter, open all the heater vents, and if that doesn't do it then tell your HVAC guy to see if there's a problem with the circulator fan being blocked, gunked up, or burnt out.

    Can you hear the fan start?

    If you had a problem with ignition or the gas supply it looks like you'd be having a 2+4 error instead.

    I replaced the filter and opened all of the ducts. No problem with ignition or gas supply. I can hear the fan turn on. The furnace will work for maybe 30 minutes before it stops working.

    JesseL

    • Gun Mangler
    • WTA Staff
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 12451

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #5 on: November 19, 2014, 11:21:45 pm »
    30 minutes is a pretty long time for it to run in a single stretch. That could result in the blower motor overheating.

    You might see if setting it lower for a while will let it operate at a more appropriate duty cycle until the house gets a bit warmer.

    Sent from my galvanically fueled binary aether modulator using Tapatalk.
    Arizona

    ksuguy

    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 5033

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #6 on: November 19, 2014, 11:33:09 pm »
    You might just have a unit that is a bit too small to handle exceptionally cold weather and it is working too hard trying to keep up.  I don't remember where you are located,  but there are parts of the country that have been getting weather way colder than they are used to this week.     
    Kansas

    Bones

    • Junior Member
    • *
    • Posts: 21

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #7 on: November 19, 2014, 11:33:35 pm »
    Thanks for the help! How low should the thermostat be?

    Bones

    • Junior Member
    • *
    • Posts: 21

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #8 on: November 19, 2014, 11:34:15 pm »
    You might just have a unit that is a bit too small to handle exceptionally cold weather and it is working too hard trying to keep up.  I don't remember where you are located,  but there are parts of the country that have been getting weather way colder than they are used to this week.     

    I'm in the keystone state :-) for now

    ksuguy

    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 5033

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #9 on: November 19, 2014, 11:38:11 pm »
    I usually set mine as low as I can tolerate.   When I lived by myself,  I usually had it set to the mid 50's and ran a small electric heater in my office since that was the only room I really spent a lot of time in when I was awake.   It was a lot cheaper than heating the whole house.   

    Now that I'm married, we usually leave it in the low to mid 60's and bundle up.  My wife is usually hot all the time,  so she doesn't mind it.  Not so good in the summer though when she wants to keep the AC way too low and I'm running around the house in a flannel shirt and jacket in July.     
    Kansas

    JesseL

    • Gun Mangler
    • WTA Staff
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 12451

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #10 on: November 19, 2014, 11:38:45 pm »
    I'd set it to about 60 to start and see how it does. That's not exactly comfortable but it will keep your pipes from freezing.

    See how much time it runs and how long it stays off before starting again. That should give you some idea how high you can go before running into trouble.

    Sent from my galvanically fueled binary aether modulator using Tapatalk.

    Arizona

    Kaso

    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 7239
    • WTA Hardline Antagonist (aka: Jerk)

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #11 on: November 19, 2014, 11:44:36 pm »
    I'm in the keystone state :-) for now
    Then I can back up what you said about being 'optimistically' 20 degrees.  The past two days have been downright insane for November - but par for the course in January.. :(



    Kaso

    seanp

    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 4977
    • Redneck Canadian

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #12 on: November 20, 2014, 12:27:42 am »
    It's about that cold here now. Most authorities suggest that 20.5C (69F) is the optimum setting for a high efficiency furnace in the winter.
    "Nobody wants to be here and nobody wants to leave."
    The Road - Cormac McCarthy

    StevenTing

    • WTA Staff
    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 4651

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #13 on: November 20, 2014, 12:37:26 am »
    On the air filter thing, when I had mine "repaired" the guy said I didn't need the really nice ones unless I had allergy problems.  He said the $1 filters will work.

    He also changed out a part.  I forget what it as called but it was either a regulator or limiter.  Pretty much it shuts off the fan once it cools down. It's a $10 part.  My heater was turning on for 30 seconds and then shutting off.
    Utah

    Bones

    • Junior Member
    • *
    • Posts: 21

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #14 on: November 20, 2014, 07:52:55 am »
    Thanks for all of the help guys! Furnace turned off in the middle of the night and I reset the breaker...hasn't turned off since!! Fingers crossed it stays that way!

    luke213(adamsholsters)

    • Senior Contributor
    • *****
    • Posts: 3580
      • Adams Holsters

    • Offline
    Re: help with furnace
    « Reply #15 on: November 20, 2014, 10:14:01 am »
    Also look around for any air leaks around the house, you can save a fair amount of heat just by blocking some small air leaks under entry doors and whatnot. Even as simple as rolling up a blanket and putting it at the bottom of the door to stop/slow down the air getting in. Of course that depends on how loose the house is for air leaks but it can make a heck of a difference if your fighting to keep temps up.

    Also a small electric heater in the room your in can help allot to keep that room more comfortable during a cold spell and while it's not cheap it's worth it sometimes.

    Take care!

    Luke
    MichiganI am the owner/proprietor of www.adamsholsters.com Custom holsters made for you. To contact me please use E-mail rather than Private Messages, luke@adamsholsters.com

    Help support WeTheArmed.com by visiting our sponsors.