For some reason my gas heater isn't working properly. I can't get
the heat to go on using the thermostat unless I disconnect it and
reconnect it to the base. The problem with that is the heat will only
go on for one cycle and it won't go on again unless I do the same
thing again. My friend happened to have a spare of the same thermostat.
I connected his to my base but the same thing happened. The wires
on the base seem like they are connected and not loose.
Has anyone seen a problem like this before or have any suggestions ?
Thanks.

"Jake020" wrote in message
...
For some reason my gas heater isn't working properly. I can't get
the heat to go on using the thermostat unless I disconnect it and
reconnect it to the base. The problem with that is the heat will only
go on for one cycle and it won't go on again unless I do the same
thing again. My friend happened to have a spare of the same thermostat.
I connected his to my base but the same thing happened. The wires
on the base seem like they are connected and not loose.
Has anyone seen a problem like this before or have any suggestions ?
Thanks.

Go to the store and buy 5 or 6 more thermostats. Eventually it will work!

Don't bother picking up the phone and calling a repair company out. Just
keep asking a bunch of people on the internet who can't see your furnace
from their house.

BRILLIANT!!!!

The problem is not in the thermostat or thermostat wiring. The problem is in
the control circuit of the heater. Call a qualified HVAC contractor before
you short something out and it costs you more money than if you call him
now.

"Jake020" wrote in message
...
For some reason my gas heater isn't working properly. I can't get
the heat to go on using the thermostat unless I disconnect it and
reconnect it to the base. The problem with that is the heat will only
go on for one cycle and it won't go on again unless I do the same
thing again. My friend happened to have a spare of the same thermostat.
I connected his to my base but the same thing happened. The wires
on the base seem like they are connected and not loose.
Has anyone seen a problem like this before or have any suggestions ?
Thanks.

May I suggest:
1) if all else fails, read the instructions.
2) if that fails, seek competent local help to fix problem, and avoid
silly risk of fire/explosion. Your insuror will thank you, besides your
neighbors.

If you really want help here, you gotta fill in the blanks in your
description.

HTH,
J

Most instructions don't teach a home owner how to repair equipment, so you
can skip #1 and go directly to #2.

wrote in message
oups.com...
May I suggest:
1) if all else fails, read the instructions.
2) if that fails, seek competent local help to fix problem, and avoid
silly risk of fire/explosion. Your insuror will thank you, besides your
neighbors.

If you really want help here, you gotta fill in the blanks in your
description.

HTH,
J

if its a 2 wire thermostat for heat only, shorting them to one another
should trip on the furnace, but may damage some newer timer
thermostats.

I have shorted mine for testing and never caused a problem, although
the thermostat directions warn of it.

all these hire pro comments bug me, at least the person should try some
basic troubleshooting, its how most of us learned originally

Bubba ReMoVe wrote in
:

On 9 Jan 2006 15:04:36 -0800, wrote:

if its a 2 wire thermostat for heat only, shorting them to one another
should trip on the furnace, but may damage some newer timer
thermostats.

I have shorted mine for testing and never caused a problem, although
the thermostat directions warn of it.

all these hire pro comments bug me, at least the person should try some
basic troubleshooting, its how most of us learned originally

Freakin ding bat.
Do you do your own heart valve diagnosing and repair too?
In case you havent noticed, heating parts and the labor necessary to
complete them are NOT inexpensive anymore. Monkeying around in there
can cost lots-o-dollars. Your chance of making a magical repair are
very slim. Fix it right and fix it the first time. Call someone that
knows.
Bubba

Heating and cooling repair isn't internal medicine. The last time my
heater crapped out, I was able to do basic troubleshooting on it using
the manual that came with the unit, and was able to talk intelligently to
the technician when I did call him. As a result, he had the right part
on the truck (which he wouldn't have if I hadn't done the basic
troubleshooting), and was able to fix it that day.

With the construction boom in my area, if a homeowner can give some basic
information, it can mean the difference between getting squeezed in at
the end of a busy day, or having to wait a week for service.

Granted, the OP should have given more information, but there was no
reason to jump on him like some did.

You're right, heating is not internal medicine, but the average home owner
ends up doing more harm than good to their system. Most people don't even
know how to use a meter, let along trouble shoot a problem.
Companies who do only new construction hire unskilled mechanics, because
builders are cheap. Any truck set up for new construction will not have
ample repair parts. If you insist on hiring that type of company, then you
may have to wait a week for service and/or the proper repair part. You need
to find a company who puts the emphasis on service, but I suspect that you
wouldn't want to pay for that kind of quality.

"Pick" wrote in message
...
Bubba ReMoVe wrote in
:

On 9 Jan 2006 15:04:36 -0800, wrote:

if its a 2 wire thermostat for heat only, shorting them to one another
should trip on the furnace, but may damage some newer timer
thermostats.

I have shorted mine for testing and never caused a problem, although
the thermostat directions warn of it.

all these hire pro comments bug me, at least the person should try some
basic troubleshooting, its how most of us learned originally

Freakin ding bat.
Do you do your own heart valve diagnosing and repair too?
In case you havent noticed, heating parts and the labor necessary to
complete them are NOT inexpensive anymore. Monkeying around in there
can cost lots-o-dollars. Your chance of making a magical repair are
very slim. Fix it right and fix it the first time. Call someone that
knows.
Bubba

Heating and cooling repair isn't internal medicine. The last time my
heater crapped out, I was able to do basic troubleshooting on it using
the manual that came with the unit, and was able to talk intelligently to
the technician when I did call him. As a result, he had the right part
on the truck (which he wouldn't have if I hadn't done the basic
troubleshooting), and was able to fix it that day.

With the construction boom in my area, if a homeowner can give some basic
information, it can mean the difference between getting squeezed in at
the end of a busy day, or having to wait a week for service.

Granted, the OP should have given more information, but there was no
reason to jump on him like some did.

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 11:16:00 GMT, Pick
wrote:


Granted, the OP should have given more information, but there was no
reason to jump on him like some did.

Agreed. I just killfile that crowd. They offer no guidance, just
fatmouth.

"Bob" wrote in
:

You're right, heating is not internal medicine, but the average home
owner ends up doing more harm than good to their system. Most people
don't even know how to use a meter, let along trouble shoot a problem.

If you're an HVAC, why would you complain about that? Some homeowner
screwing up their system means more work (and money) for you.

Companies who do only new construction hire unskilled mechanics,
because builders are cheap. Any truck set up for new construction will
not have ample repair parts. If you insist on hiring that type of
company, then you may have to wait a week for service and/or the

Where I live (Atlanta), there is a lot of new construction and
remodeling, and not a lot of people to do the work. A lot of the
electricians/plumbers/HVAC guys in my local area drive 60 to 70 miles to
new construction/remodels northeast of Atlanta. They split their time
between that area and their home area because they can make twice as much
per hour up there as they can at home.

proper repair part. You need to find a company who puts the emphasis
on service, but I suspect that you wouldn't want to pay for that kind
of quality.

That's your baseless opinion. My baseless opinion is that you have no
idea what you are talking about because if you were an HVAC guy, you'd
probably be on your way to a job at 7:30 on a Tuesday morning. Everyone
has an opinion though.

For your edification, my method of selecting contractors/repairmen
normally goes like this:

Go to local hardware store and ask the old guy at the back counter who he
uses

Ask neighbors who they have used

Check Angie's List

Ask friends who they have used

Pick the guy that is recommended by all, or recommended by most.

I've found that method works pretty good. I'm not real concerned on the
price. When I do bring someone out, I value quality work. I also value
honesty and a willingness to answer questions. The person that meets
that laundry list gets my business long term.

Pick

Bubba ReMoVe wrote in
:

Anything basic and using the manual that came with it is ok.
Im not quite sure I understand how you talking to the tech made him
magically have the part on his truck? It was either there or he had to
run and go get it before he came there. Either way, the customer
always pays. The customer IS always right but the customer always pays
too. :-)
Bubba

He called me that morning to get directions and then asked what it was
doing. I told him what it was doing, what I had done to troubleshoot, and
what type of furnace it was. I had also Googled the furnace and found out
that the particular furnace had a history of problems with the flow valve
(I had inherited the furnace because I recently bought the house). When I
mentioned that problem, it clicked with the repairman, and he postponed the
appointment until the next day so he could pick up the right valve from his
shop.

When the repair was done, I was very inpressed with how quickly and
professionally the job was accomplished. As a result, I also had him
change out my thermostats that I had planned on doing myself and purchased
a service agreement from him for the annual cleaning and inpection for both
my heating and cooling systems.

Pick