Got a shop heater that gives me grief. Keeps cycling...flame stays on for only couple of min. Anybody?????

 

Check your flame sensor. There is a rod that detects the flame is there. If it is not picking up the flame it shuts the gas solenoid so you don't have a bomb.

 

i carefully cleaned it with fine steelwool, without it making any diff. i could spend 25$ and replace it, just to be sure and rule it out......but look like it's something else. i'll take the vent pipe off tomorrow to be sure it's clear

 

Usually a flame sensor would shut off the flame within 30 seconds.
Is there a high limit on that heater. Maybe you have a plugged heater exchanger and its getting hot. But then again that would trip a pursue switch if it had one.
Make sure the burner rails are allowing gas/flame all the way across to reach the flame sensor.
Is the flame sensor pitted?

 

Figured it out.....took the vent pipe off the heater to get a clear view of the inside. Found it 40-45% blocked with a hornets nest. Cleaned it up and fired the heater back up. Ran as it should, without cycling.
What also happened yesterday, my 6 year old furnace and my 9 year old water heater decided to go on strike. When it rains, it pours..
Thanks for the tips, Guys!

 

No problem. You fix your furnace?

 

Well.....didnt have time (-12) to waste time and called the installer. He replaced the blower motor controller and left, thinking it's fixed. The blower now runs at high speed at all times, instead of the usual soft start, 2 stage feature. Also heat output is lukewarm at best, but enough to keep the temp up...at least for now. Called the guy this am and he has no clue what to do, so he'll call armstrong monday for support. Never expected a 6 year old furnace to start acting like a 20 year old that soon....also shopping for a new water heater. Hard to find good info, regarding dependabilty on a WH.
Needless to say....no more armstrong furnace or GSW WH for me.

 

We sell American standard furnaces they are very good furnaces..
But heck all be furnaces now a days start having problems after five years.
Sounds to me like he wired the new board wrong. Probably just put one wire on the wrong peg. Unless its ecm then its a different story..
I believe Reliance is a good water heater. I think that's what my dad sells at his Ace hardware.

 

As far as water heaters, electric anyhow, I have had good luck with Ruud. My first lasted 20 years and my second has lasted 10 (knock on wood) so far. Only maintenance done is occasional flush and replace the anodes. That is very important whether electric or gas. If you let the anode waste totally the heater itself will go quickly.

 

there are 2 diff size plugs and they only go in one way..not likely that he hooked it up wrong., i dont think....
i read up on WH's and Reliance seems to be "ok". i suspect they are all likely to self-destruct after just a few years

 

Then ya is not the right one. Doesn't sound like it is running like its suppose to.

 

Agreed...older WH's used to last 20+ years. But the newer they are, the shorter of a dependable lifespan.
Hmmm..haven't replaced the anode, but dont think thats my problem. Mine just wont stay lit. Replaced the flame sensor...still no good. Read online someplace that WH are done after 7-9 years. Mine's 9....

 

Nope....somethings wrong....he's coming back to try his luck again once he chats with Armstrong...
and you could be right. he may have had a single speed controller with him and just installed it instead of the 2 speed, i need

 

If taken care of there is no reason that current WHs will not last 15+ years. If you are able to fix your gas burner, make sure you replace the anode and flush the tank. Sediment in the bottom of the tank can cause lots of problems, including making the burner work a lot harder to get water up to temp. Also make sure you are getting proper ventilation into and out of the WH. A plugged up ventilation pipe or one that is joined to other ventilation pipes are dangerous to say the least.

Edit - What area do you live in? Any heavy snow lately? Is the exhaust from the WH near ground level? Is it covered over with snow?

 

Could be but hey it got you heat for the weekend and sometimes you have to do what you can so the customer doesn't freeze. Hope they get it all set up right for ya.