[ajhjeep]

Hello,

New member here, hopefully you all can help. I'll spare all the details but essentually we had a new furnace/heat pump/ac system installed with a recent remodel. The furnace was natural gas and the propane conversion was not installed from the beginning. I was told it was OK to run propane through this unit unil the contractor could get back and install the propane conversion (the house is over 1 hour drive from town). This guy was a smooth talker, so I believed him. The propane conversion kit has now been installed but the unit still not working properly. It will not run for more than 20 minutes without the flame shutting down (but the blower will continue to run). There is 4 flashes coming from the panel, which I believe indicates a limit switch issue.

Opening up the unit, there is a lot of soot...its a brand new unit so there shouldn't be anything. What sort of damage was done? Is it just a matter of cleaning all the soot out? This contractor is obviously fired. I have a new contractor coming next week but is there something I can trouble shoot in the mean time? Thanks in advance.

-AH

 

[Seattle2k]

For the benefit of the HVAC Pros, you should provide a Make and Model information.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

I wonder if the people screwing around with this furnace , whoever "I" is and the "contractor" , have any clue at all what the liability aspects are.

I suggest not staying in the building while that furnace is used for heating.

 

[jimn]

The pros will have to answer what you do know. But for the record it is NEVER ok to run propane through a natural gas appliance and vice versa. There are multiple issues and death is one of those (both you and the appliance) . Personally I would shut that furnace down until is inspected by a pro and not the hack that installed this.

 

[joecaption]

That's just nuts to say to go ahead and use it!!!!!
Company should loose there license and have to pay any damages.

 

[beenthere]

Hopefully your area has licensing. So if that contractor doesn't do right by you , you can report him.

It was not okay to use it without the propane conversion kit being installed. The fuel air mixture was no where close to proper. So that is why you have all that soot. You may also have what will look like black mud in your secondary heat exchanger.

If the manufacturer ever finds out it was ran like that on propane, they will void all warranty on it.

May or may not be possible to clean out the secondary.

 

[ajhjeep]

Sorry, I forgot to include the model #.

ComfortMaker G9MVT
Full model # is G9MVT1202422A

Furnace is powered off and will not be turned on until the new contractor comes next week. I've had to "winterize" the house for now so that none of the pipes freeze but certainly would like to turn on sooner if there was any self fixes that might work. Thanks all.

 

[joecaption]

There is no DIY fixes.
I would have kept calling until I could get a real HVAC company to respond.
I also would have filed a complaint with the board or contractors, BBB, local building department.
No one files a complaint, no one knows about just how bad they are.

 

[roughneck]

I would request a new furnace. I would guess the secondary is clogged, which may or may not be able to be cleaned out. The warranty is void if the manufacturer finds out.

 

[oldbikes]

That is a rather large furnace, Without some details it's hard to tell but it is possibly over sized.

Also it is may damaged from having the wrong type of gas run through it with out being converted.

A picture of of the duct work and the furnace would help us to see the overall job.

 

[ben's plumbing]

should not have run furnace at all until propane kit was installed..that is why its tripping the limit switch ..clogged up not enough air flow going thru it...as mentioned could be tough to get it clean...contractor should replace unit...

 

[roughneck]

Was this an actual company that did this, or someone you found off Craig's list, or a moonlighter? This is a horrible practice that even the most inexperienced tech would know was wrong.
X2 on pictures, if they can't even get it to burn correctly what else did they do wrong?

 

[yuri]

Document everything and take pics. Sounds like you may have to go to small claims court to get the original idiot to pay for the cleaning if it is possible. If not the second one may recommend a new furnace. I personally would condemn it as there is too much liability now if it fouls up later or has problems.

If the first idiot is a bona fide Comfort Maker dealer you should contact them and let them know what happened. They may revoke his dealership and in some cases they may feel sorry for you and help with a new one.

 

[ajhjeep]

We're in the process of gathering all of our information and trying to determine our legal course of action. I'm embarrassed to say, his license has lapsed and for good reason. Thanks all for the feedback, was hoping it was a simple as a good solid cleaning. Doesn't sound like the case. Live and learn I guess.