Starting a Reznor, 1st time in 8 years?

[snopro753]

I purchased a home with a garage that has a Reznor heater installed but it has not been started in at least 8 years. I know it has natural gas to the flex line, I removed it and there was gas. There is a thermostat hooked up to it. I tried to start it by holding down the red button and putting a flame to the hole in the bottom but got nothing.

Is there any parts that need replaced after sitting idle that long? Any ideas about starting it?

 

[Mike007]

Is the pilot lighting? You may need to remove the pilot tube and pilot assembly and clean it. Spiders often make a home there which stops the gas.

 

[fury9]

Can't really tell from the pic but the gas valve is open? should be parallel to the pipe

 

[CNGsaves]

Need MORE Pics . . . . of the gas line, pilot assembly, etc.

+1 to take stuff apart and even clean out gas line that surely has rust or other debris from sitting stagnant for 8 years. Don't see a shutoff valve, but definitely need shutoff valve nearby so you can service the heater. A little compressed air would be good to blow everything out.

 

[snopro753]

Can't really tell from the pic but the gas valve is open? should be parallel to the pipe

Valve is closed for picture. Valve has been closed before flex pipe for 8 years I think.

Need MORE Pics . . . . of the gas line, pilot assembly, etc.

+1 to take stuff apart and even clean out gas line that surely has rust or other debris from sitting stagnant for 8 years. Don't see a shutoff valve, but definitely need shutoff valve nearby so you can service the heater. A little compressed air would be good to blow everything out.

I will get more pictures tomorrow when I get home.

 

[JimL]

Fan blade turn? Power on, turn valve to pilot, push red button and light pilot. Hold button for 30 seconds after it lights. Turn valve on. Turn stat where it will come on.... Fire in the hole!

Shouldn't have hurt anything for it to sit.

 

[snopro753]

Fan blade turn? Power on, turn valve to pilot, push red button and light pilot. Hold button for 30 seconds after it lights. Turn valve on. Turn stat where it will come on.... Fire in the hole!

Shouldn't have hurt anything for it to sit.

Thanks Jim. I will buy a proper lighter and give this method a try tonight.

 

[JimL]

if it doesn't stay lit when you let off the red button you probably will need a thermal couple. Most any hardware store will have one.

 

[greenbikemike]

+ 1 on taking the lines off and blowing everything out,plus,I'd want to take a look at the heat exchanger.Also,when I turn the gas back on after sitting all summer,it takes a while before I can light it.I can hold the botton and I don't hear or smell anything for a bit,and then when I do,it lights right up.Good luck.

Greenbikemike

 

[snopro753]

Ok, I apologize for not following up on this thread. I just finished my Mechanical Engineering classes for the semester and now have free time!

I removed the thermocouple bracket to inspect it and found this:



I am assuming the long cylinder is the thermocouple. Can I just clean it up with some emory cloth or similar? I might just try to find a replacement to be on the safe side.

What is the fluted piece on the right?

 

[EdT]

The fluted piece is the flame deflector that sends the flame in the direction of the thermal sensor which is the silver cylindrical thing on the left. Compared to some I have seen, that unit is very clean. It sometimes takes a while for the pilot flame to heat the sensor up hot enough. I have used a propane torch to help things alone on a cold start as long as the pilot it lit. Don't do it if the pilot isn't lit. Sometimes you can hear a click when things get hot enough. Propane torch can also just be a handy lighter if it'll reach where it needs to.

 

[Mike007]

That thermocouple looks to have failed to me.

 

[scoob8000]

The ones we have at work sometimes take almost a full minute of holding the pilot button in to get them to stay lit..

Set knob to pilot, push and hold the button while holding a lighter by that pilot. It should light right away and stay lit after you let go of the button. (After 30-60 seconds or so)

 

[snopro753]

UPDATE: It works!

I replaced the thermocouple with a $7 one from Lowes, blew the lines out, followed the starting procedure, and I've got Heat!

Thanks for all the suggestions and input.

 

[snopro753]

Winter 2015-2016 Update

I turned off the pilot in May 2015 and today, November 23, 2015 I started the pilot for the winter.

I turned on the supply line, turned the knob on the heater to pilot, held down the red button, and tried to light it with a propane torch. I could hear gas but it wouldn't light. I let the air clear for a bit and tried again, nothing. So I waited again, held down the red button for a bit, really started to hear gas this time, held the torch close the fluted piece and success. For anyone that googles this or comes across this thread, hold down the red button until you really hear gas, wait til the air clears, then light the pilot. I just wasn't supplying enough gas initially to light the pilot.

Thanks again to those who contributed to this post last year. I referenced it this year again and it was helpful.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Cool beans. Now you're an educated homeowner that likely saved over $200 . . . . .
. . . . so in the spirit of GJ . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . use those savings to Buy MORE tools !!!