Bad heat exchanger or bad valve?

[Johnnie]

I have a Trane XE-70 and the pilot light won't come on. I have a heater guy coming out today to look at it. I have a friend who is somewhat familiar with heaters and he thinks it might be the heat exchanger due to he flame (burn) marks right outside of the heat exchanger. He has a feeling the heat exchanger may be cracked. The gas company came out and they think it's a bad valve and that's why the pilot light won't light up.

My main concern is a bad heat exchanger because I don't want CO leaking into my house.

Are the burn marks right outside of the heat exchanger normal?

 

[Johnnie]

In this picture you can see the burn marks from the fire.

 

[rickairmedic]

Johnnie that furnace is a spark ignition unit so it is I would say at least 15-20 years old so the heat exchanger is suspect . However with that being said the heat exchanger wont keep the pilot from lighting so I agree with the fire depart that the gas valve is the issue ( that is however without being able to look at it in person) . The problem could also be with the pilot assembly so its a good idea that you have a repairman comming out to check it . Theres alot of things that could cause your current problem .

Rick

 

[Johnnie]

Thanks for your help. Assuming the heater is as old as my house, it's 22 years old. Hopefully they'll get it fixed soon cause my wife is complaining every 5 minutes about how cold she is.

 

[rickairmedic]

Johnnie I would lean towards 22 years then on the heater . I will add it is her job to remind you that she is not happy . I will also add that it is time to start putting some funds into a we need a new HVAC system fund . You may get away with a repair at this point but at 22 years old you are on borrowed time with that furnace .

Rick

 

[Johnnie]

Heater is fix. The heater man said we had some loose wires which I thought I checked. The heat exchanger isn't cracked, just flame marks from the inside not outside are normal.

 

[rickairmedic]

Good deal Johnnie that was why I said it could be any number of things . I would still purchase a good carbon monoxide detector ( one that plugs in and has a digital readout ) aaaaaaan with the age of your system start a replace the HVAC fund so you dont get a nasty surprise in the next couple of years . The Carbon monoxide detector isnt a suggestion by the way GO BUY ONE .

Rick