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Home Repair Attic Heater not Working? (read this)

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by Zeratul, Dec 22, 2009.

  1. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    In an attempt to help other similar souls and to save you some money... did your attic heater stop heating? Has it had this problem once or twice but start working again by itself?

    Well we woke up this past Sat morning to find the temp in our master bedroom was 56 degrees:huh:

    Well that is not right of course so I tried to reprogram the thermostat and get it running, but that did not work either. I tried all the obvious stuff but went to bed that night, raging snow storm... and used the space heaters in the kids rooms (Mom and Dad had to rough it).

    Come to find out from a neighbor that had a similar problem the past 2 years, that there is common problem like this happening with attic heaters like ours (thanks Van Metre). And there is a simple fix too, and all it takes is one lousy paperclip!!!

    Ok here is the punchline.... there is one vacuum hose, inside the top door, near the fan motor that MUST be completely clear. The brass fitting/nosel on the heater unit MUST be cleaned with this paperclip in order to remove "gunk" or grime build-up that can prevent proper airflow in the system. This will prevent the gas from firing and the furnace from heating... even though the unit compressor will start.

    On the circuit board in the bottom of the unit, the LED light will flash 3 times with this error code indicating that this could be your problem.

    This may need to be done once a winter now... oh boy! I just thought I would share that in case it can be helpful to someone else.... :happygrin:
     
  2. Mike-and-Kim

    Mike-and-Kim Member

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    We had this same problem last year and that is how the repair guy fixed it. Even though I watched him do the repair I did not catch the bit about the LED. Thanks for the post.
     
  3. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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    This tip will save you $175 - $250. Thanks Zeratul!!!
     
  4. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    What's an attic heater? Is it just an air handler for a heat pump in the attic or something? Do they make gas furnaces for the attic too (for dual-zoned houses)?

    Just wonderin'
     
  5. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    Comfort (advertises in the HOA letter) came out to fix this problem for us, the guy showed my wife how to fix it and wouldnt take a penny for it........ said for about $150 you could fix it so that it never happens again (make the hole bigger).....

    Needless to say Comfort HVAC was great, honest and helpfull (and they advertise with the HOA)
     
  6. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    Yea it is a gas heater/furnace. Our house has a dual zone system. So we have 2 of everything.... the main unit in the basement is larger. The one in the attic is the same unit just a smaller version.

    Graeme, if you want to come over and see it, we can have a beer and "accidentally" just watch the hockey game too! Bring the kids and they can play in our Lighting McQueen room...
     
  7. hells_bells

    hells_bells New Member

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    I didn't realize they put a gas furnace in the attic. I thought attics were heat pump only.
     
  8. jjenkins

    jjenkins New Member

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    This is true for your normal heater as well (i have had this problem 2 times in 3 years).
     
  9. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    let's do it! The Boy loves everything to do with Cars so he will be in heaven 8)
     

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