Furnace Pilot Light (fix) replace $10 thermocouple - watch this on your iphone too!

[prokopfr]

Thanks so much for the video! Obviously some contractors commenting on here. You save me alot of time and money.

[equalityforunborn]

Thank you for trying to help people, my heater is not coming on and I appreciate your help. 

[enginedoctor1]

I think you ripped yourself off .You probbaly could have bought a used thermocouple instaed of letting ACE rip you off.

[mlonganbach]

Obviously, this person is mechanically inclined and can handle small repairs. However, the average person dealing with gas fittings in their home is a bad idea. Its literally lethal.

Just wanted to put that out there for do it yourselfers..... Call a contractor when it comes to your furnace.

[353gasman]

Look at the blackening on the inside wall above the heat exchanger, I'd say your furnace is rolling out a bit. Also with such an old CH you should check the exchanger for cracks.

[hann21921]

Thanks a lot. 

[321Learn]

I got a better video camera now, was trying to hand hold it and talk at the same time it did not focus too well so next time I need to do this I will try to make it better, wanted to make this quick and dirty and get it out as it is. I used a flip but now I recommend hands free video cameras like gopro.com or contour.com.

Happy this worked for you.

hope everyone will share their experiences and we can all learn from each other.

Got my thermocouple @ 3M at Ace Hardware about $10.

[badiyan]

I did't understand from where he got the thermocouple but when I read Umut3021's comment I drove rightaway to Lowes and I got it ( 36" for 12.98+tax), we are warm now . Thank you I wish you whatever you dream comes true..

[Umut3021]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video. I had the same problem for the last three days and I have called the company to get it fixed. They told me that I was going to get charged $140. It sounded expensive and I have done some research and come a cross your video. We had exactly the same furnace and I knew that we had the same problem based on your explanation. I went to Lowes today and got exactly the same brand and part. It was so easy to replace it. My house is warm again. THANK YOU!!!!!

[matt1991000]

Is that blood

[DandDHenry]

Excellent, told me what I needed to know with down to earth info and pictures...Thank you

[stahlmaster]

For all you "PRO'S" out there who think everyone who fixes there own furnace or water heater will die of carbon monoxide (CO) can I remind you that most home owners have or should have a CO detector installed. I have one on every level of my house along with a smoke alarm on every level. The furnace I have in my home now is about 60, thats right 60 years old. I have a repair plan thru my gas company that replaces EVERY part of the furnace that might fail EXCEPT for the heat exchanger.

[321Learn]

@stahlmaster I've had other problems with my furnace, fan died, 3 people told me I needed a new system $1600+ two told me I had a crack in my heat exchanger and I'd have CO problems, told them I had a CO detector, they told me it was probably faulty. Told my girl fiend she said call George an HVAC guy in her neighborhood, he drove 30 miles to my house, replaced the fan charged me $170 and said my furnace was old but fine and safe, it should last for years! It's tough to find good guys!

[2009kansascity]

most parts on a furance you well need an epa liences to get the part at a hvac parts place i do this type a work

[stuio74]

fixed mine based on thsi vid thanks..

[cameron030362]

Whoever you had look at this furnace should have condemned it....With a tag...and have you sign a paper acknowledging that he condemned your mechanical system....That way, after you "self-installed' your thermocouple and your house burned down or you died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the Fire Chief and/or Medical Examiner would know that a CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN condemned your system, but you chose to patch it with a $10 bill...You do love your family, don't you?

[sk8coachD]

its not dishonest to suggest replacement on a 30 yro furnace, the tech may see something that homeowners are not trained to look for.

at 2:52 it looks like a small crack to the left of the pilot that could cause roll out and a cause for carbon monoxide, this is just from the picture so of course I cant be sure.

if the furnace doesnt light, call a reputable heating company and have it inspected.

guy showed my friend a crack on a 10yr furnace, new doesnt mean safe,

keep your family safe

[stuio74]

Hi, i have a warm air hot water heater (from UK) uses honeywell parts.

My problem is that i get the pilot light alight by holding down the button and physically lighting it. i hold the button in for 30 seconds and it should stay lit, but as soon as i let go of the button, the pilot goes out. Someone told me it could be the thrermocouple.

The Hot water is on running fine but my problem is the heating.

Any ideas anyone please?

[geekgirl766]

Thanks for this! I had a plumber in for another problem and he did a "free" inspection. In the furnace he found a nick in the belt and recommended the thermocouple be replaced. I wasn't going to pay $133(each!) to have him do it but I was a tiny bit learly about doing the thermocouple. I knew in theory how to do this but it's nice to get a visual (on a nearly identical furnace BTW).

For all the people in a snit about him doing his own repairs, get over yourselves, this is not brain surgery.

[wanderlimaga]

Same problem with me!! $ 595.00 out of my packet! It's really hard to trust some one!!!

[MiChAeLrIdEsBmX]

You should thread the thermo-couple in hand tight, then a qurter turn with the wrench :) Also if anyone doesnt know if theyre Natural draft furnace, w/ a thermo-couple isnt working like his did, you can check to see if the thermo-couple needs to be replaced you can un thread the part, and get a multimeter and set it to milli volts, and hold a flame to it and try to get a reading. Could be anywhere from 8-13 14 ish mv's.

[niper99]

@MiChAeLrIdEsBmx....where do u put your leads on your meter to check mv's??

[MiChAeLrIdEsBmX]

@niper99 put one on the line and one on the threads, or one on the threads and one on the base of it. kinda looks like a aa battery lol not too hard to get a reading. Its been a while since ive touched one lol

[JoDad22]

I agree with all the comments of davesd25. I think it's great that this guy can do his own work, seems like a really smart guy, but if he thinks for a second that the insurance company will pay for a new house after it burns downs when they find out he did his own repair. For less than $200, I could've solved this problem, but the furnace DEFIANTLY needs to be tested.

[creszler]

good job. this is something everybody can and should do.

[simer714]

Wow! I did not realize how sensitive hvac people can be until I read these posts, you retards really need to get a life instead of knocking this guy for changing his thermocouple.

[vrejian]

This is a piece of crap Furnace buddy you better off replacing it with high efficiency one ,,, and don't try to install it urself to save a few bills .

[behvac]

THE WATER HEATER IS IN FRONT OF THE FURNACE DOOR. WE THROW AWAY BETTER FURNACE THE THIS, ABOUT 55% OF HEAT GOES UP CHIMMEY, AND A GOOD SERVICE MAN WOULD TELL THE OWNER OF THIS JUNK HE NEEDS A NEW FURNACE. WHY, WHEN IT BURNS THE HOUSE DOWN, OR POISEN GAS MAKE THE PEOPLE SICK WHO WILL THIS GUY SUE

[chubbs20414]

Trying to save buck usually ends up costing you more!!! But you really should look into upgrading your system , if it's a money problem -there's rebates out do some research- my cost to you installed 70% furnace upflow $1,100.00...

[yolandadlt]

leave it to the pros buddy

[unixd0rk]

@yolandadlt a monkey can read a pressure gauge! "pros"? LAUGH

[therohvac]

You paid ten bucks for a thermocouple??????

You are missing the big picture if you think a tech was just getting in your pockets when they suggested a new furnace.

Even the American Gas Association endorses replacement after twenty years because of metal fatigue that causes cracks in the heat exchanger which lets poison Carbon monoxide gas in the home and kills families.

By making this video you are actually encouraged people to be less vigilant on maintenance and safety. That kills people.

[MrHooker1983]

I have the same furnace, where is the filter located?

[pij209]

Good Job helping out fellow home home owner.

[labyrinthia]

Had to do this yesterday on my old York. Took me longer; screws for pilot assembly behind a bracket (brilliant) and instructions to install thermocouple insufficient. Works now though!

[bangalous]

thanks for the advise.... my pilot kept going out , was about to call in someone to service my furnace.... save me alot of money.... 10 bucks, can't beat that.

[jibbajabba311]

I tried to do it myself after this Bozo encourages people to do this themselves to save a few bucks...guess what...i got myself into a bad situation because my thermocouple connects right to the gas line on my system wasn't long before gas was leaking into my house, creating a potentially fatal situation...

You act like you're such an expert cause you lucked out and it all went smooth...IDIOT

Thumbs up if you think working with a gas line is retarded if you don't know what you're doing...

[glowman75]

@jibbajabba311 You are the idiot! All you have to do is turn off the gas. Its funny that you call the guy who made it work an idiot. go pay $400 dollars to have somone do it for you, smart guy.

[madcyborg]

@jibbajabba311 LOL, it takes a lot of effort to screw up a thermo couple install... I mean really hard to make it go the wrong way... Like floating away due to no gravity kind of bad luck... In your case I suggest experts do all the work even change light bulbs...you will likely electricute your self.

[jibbajabba311]

@madcyborg In your case, I suggest you DIE IN A FIRE....there's lots of other people that suggesting to call a professional....fuckin' gluesniffer...

[jibbajabba311]

@madcyborg O by the way....nice retarded looking pinwheel you have on your cheap ass house...did you screw that in yourself tough guy? I bet you did! You want a cookie!?!?!?! You're bitching cause you ain't got money to hire a contractor...well, not me....I'm doing just fine...fuck a recession...eat my shit...

[jibbajabba311]

@madcyborg OH SNAP! YOU'RE A TEXAN.....HAHAHAHA...THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING...YEEHAW!!!!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY THE HATRED......I WENT TO TEXAS....PEOPLE WERE VERY FAT AND IT SMELLED LIKE POLLUTION.....

[fringemedia]

@jibbajabba311 you must be a gas repair man and dont want people to be able to do simple things without you over charging them

[ofernandez10]

us you know when you buy a house an inspection is require, some home inspectors just take a look at your furnace and order you to replace it .( i think they just see how old it is ) the only reazon (and that is the only one) I would replace my furnace is if the heat exchanger is damaged , other than that everything else is affordably replaceable but companies goal is force you to replace it not to fix it thats why they always come to you with stories and a high estimate for fixing it

[massholejeff]

Flux sux. This idiot must troll around looking for people who post about hvac solutions. I made afew comments here and he felt the need to post on my wall. Real nice comment to. Flux has 20 years in business ... screwing people over I'm sure. With that crappy attitude I assume its 20 years 15 companies within that time.

[fluxcapacitor4]

how many millivolts does it take to drop out a thermocouple?

[massholejeff]

A main reason furnaces go out is due to the thermal couple. Typically it can be due to your furnace running too high/hot, but theres many reasons. I have the oldest system known to mankind and aside from adjusting some things I've had to replace the thermo couple twice in the past four years. Just imagine if I had the two companies he had come by first to diagnose the problem. Would have went through two furnaces! Glad the guy on the vid made this to help others and very informative. Thanks!

[fluxcapacitor4]

thats why you call a service company and not do it your self this should be a lesson learned if something happens because people like you look for cheap ways to fix their furnace , that means you get what you pay for a big head ache co2 baby

[massholejeff]

I design sites for 3 hvac companies in Massachusetts one of which one of my best friend owns. He does the service on it and keeps on me to get a new one. He is also very active with his customers about getting detectors. So don't say "People like you" to me buddy. Its a shame anyone has to make a vid like this to help consumers from shady, rip off artists who call themselves a professional service company(s).

[massholejeff]

Although the consumer should have alittle knowlege they really should hire a professional to work on their system. Nothing like working with gas and smoking a cigarette while your at it :)~

[Maximara]

@fluxcapacitor4 Got to love the co2 comment.. That is carbon DIOXIDE, moron. Carbon MONOXIDE is CO (no number). Anyone who can't keep the two gases straight is worst then an idiot.

[fluxcapacitor4]

now did you check the heat exchanger for cracks with a camera or even visually you may have saved money but your still a fuck-in hack

[yyyyy785]

321Learn - Major thanx to you! I've got a similar Lennox furnace and I will now replace the thermocouple based on your instructions...

All the best to you and Thanks again!

[fluxcapacitor4]

hope ya got a crack in your heatexchanger and you get co2 posioning ya cheap dick call a service company service is not free , when you get new furnace lets see you mr wanna be service guy work on that your video sucks

[massholejeff]

I think the man is basically informing people to watch out when believing what some contractors say. I seriously doubt this mans video is going to bankrupt any hvac companies. Shame on you if thats your profession and your wishing a horrific thing like that to someone.

[Maximara]

@massholejeff It is sad that people can't trust contractors to tell them what is really wrong with their furnace and make up stuff.

[Maximara]

@fluxcapacitor4 Sheesh, co2 is carbon DIOXIDE ie the gas you breathe out. If you want people to take your comments seriously know the difference between CO (carbon monoxide) and CO2 (carbon dioxide).

[equalityforunborn]

@Maximara Why do you have to sound so uppity... he is great to try and help people. I take him real seriously.. And excuse me maybe he got one consonant wrong while he is giving instructions, holding the video, and everything else he is juggling...to make this video happen...

[Maximara]

@equalityforunborn It is not uppity to point out a major flaw that in all likelihood shows that a person has NO idea what they are talking about. By the way the difference between CO and CO2 is in the NUMBER not the consonant. This is basic high school chemistry and English and if you can't keep those things straight how are supposed take anything you say seriously?

[homebusiness444]

Hey , great video. I have the very same furnace that you have. Thanks for the tip!

[behvac]

Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and make u feel sickly

Orange or yellow gas flames. Gas flames should be blue.

Sooty stains or discolouration on or around gas appliances. This furnace has seen its life cycle, even if it works. You lose 50% of the heat it produces. Install a 95% eff furnace and get a $1500.00 tax credit this Feb 2010

cost for the furnace 5000.00 and break even in 5 years. With a safe furnace

From a Honest HVAC contractor

[geekgirl766]

@behvac

You're right, but some people don't have the cash to replace a furnace at the drop of a hat. A five year return is great, but are you going to wait those five years for payment? Most of the people being pissy on this thread are ignoring the fact that the ten dollar fix might mean heat until a person can afford to get a new furnace.