How I Diagnose Electric Furnaces With No Heat

Рет қаралды 73,014

Күн бұрын

How I diagnose electric furnaces with no heat is a simple elimination of what works and what doesn't. Except when the problems are random like you will see in the video. Normally electric furnaces and heat-pumps are simple but this one took a little more time because of what it did, where it was located and how it was installed.
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#ElectricHeat, #ColdHouse, #ElectricMeter, #BadBreaker,

Пікірлер: 111

@jaymartin5095 4 ай бұрын

You always make things better than how the previous guy(s) left it. Fixing their stuff first and then what's actually broken. Excellent!

@HVACRSurvival 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Jay!

@user-ri1xl5el7j 8 ай бұрын

"Fast is fine, but accuracy is final, you must learn to be slow in a hurry" - Wyatt Earp. I really like that you're so thorough man, when I started as a tech I had a friend of mine that's got way more experience than me tell me "Don't worry about being the fastest tech out there, be thorough".

@HVACRSurvival 8 ай бұрын

I appreciate that! I normally don’t worry about time when it’s being billed. This one was a deal where if you go over on your time you’re not getting paid. I’ve been commission base for the last nine years and we’re just now going to hourly, which technically might be a pay cut. But after having three or four jobs that were under bid I don’t know if I care anymore

@daviddesilva4971 3 жыл бұрын

Lowest bidder wins. Great diagnosis. Thxs for the vids!

@donaldpainter956 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to make your videos and explain everything alot of it I already know but the refrigeration I don't but you are very knowledgeable and a great teacher the new technician should watch your channel it would help them alot I haven't seen a video I don't like yet

@HVACRSurvival Жыл бұрын

Thanks Donald🤜🤛👍👍

@soniayoung4505 8 ай бұрын

Nice troubleshooting job😊

@ryanmcananey6245 Жыл бұрын

I’ve seen a lot of installers wire those thermostats thinking that b means blue, so they put the common wire there, but that thermostat uses the b terminal for reversing valve energize in heat. So they hook the blue wire to the “b” terminal on the stat and then hook the other end of the blue wire to common and bam blown fuse as soon as a call for heat because the thermostat is energizing the reversing valve, and they hooked it up straight to common

@HVACRSurvival Жыл бұрын

I have seen the same thing 👍👍

@countryfriedhvac 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve got that same M18 light. It’s the best crawl space/attic light of all time

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

I have the 3000 watt one also that can be plugged in. I haven't used it near as much but both are great.

@conqueringlion420 7 ай бұрын

First time in my professional career I’ve actually heard the use of jeez louise in the course of troubleshooting wires G R W 😂 holy cow

@HVACRSurvival 7 ай бұрын

I believe you’ll hear a lot of interesting things if you watch my videos 🤣. At least that is what I hear

@publicmail2 3 жыл бұрын

I just worked on a 2 ton AC with strip heat only, no heat pump, had a 10 SEER in wall condenser with a scroll in small in wall box in a condo on outside wall. Was surprised the separate blower with evap coil and heat strip had only 2 heat activated sequencer contacts and a 24V transformer, the entire system didn't have any electronic boards incl the condenser from 2000, just old school and simple. No blower call ended up a loose wire on thermostat screws not cranked down after 20 years, left an iced up coil.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Whatever works I guess, they probably got what they paid for. Most old school units had the fan on the delay sequencer.

@crforfreedom7407 3 жыл бұрын

I've not seen a sequencer like that before. Cool! Thanks for sharing this!!!!

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

That is how all the old ones use to be before they went electronic with timers.

@Eddy63 3 жыл бұрын

Great little troubleshooting vid Slick Rick ... You always do a thorough job ... Very enjoyable and much appreciated ...

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Eddy 👍👍 your awesome man!

@businjay 3 жыл бұрын

I am trying to teach my guys how to Troubleshoot this way, They want to take the whole damn thing apart and mess with everything since they are Impatient, Unhook or mess with one thing at a time and then watch what happens with the unit!! where else in the trades can we get paid 120 bucks an hour to sit there and watch a furnace work. if my guys would just figure this out most things turn out to be pretty simple, Love your videos!!!

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

So are you saying there's a need to actually make some videos of some usual troubleshooting of simple things like this? I'm trying to balance it between people that know what they're doing and and just enjoy watching other people work versus people that watch to actually try to learn something ?

@businjay 3 жыл бұрын

@@HVACRSurvival I think some of these youngins need some guidance, I do my own thing mostly but I am on the phone all the time with a guy I work with solving his problems trying to make him go through the steps, if those guys would watch a standard troubleshooting video and go step by step instead of ripping the whole damn thing apart then i think it definitely would be beneficial. you and I are similar in age I suspect, this wasnt my chosen career i just have a knack for following mechanical stuff so i can figure it out 99% of the time so I fix furnaces, a/c's and ice machines, , I usually end up with a license to do something when I get bored, I do enjoy the phone calls and making other guys figure it out for themselves with my asking questions, guess we are all in this craziness together

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

@@businjay that's cool, I understand what you're saying . I used to be tech support for several guys where I previously worked at. I don't mind it except when you're busy trying to figure out your own issues LOL. It's kind of why I'm doing the videos, I think maybe that's a good idea I could do some basic stuff and just let everyone know that hey this may not be what you're interested in if you're experienced but here's something for the newer guys. 👍👍

@adamspears3819 3 жыл бұрын

@@HVACRSurvival Who's making $120/hr ? If you are paying your guys $120/hr, I want to work for you! When can I start?

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

@@adamspears3819 I would ask Jason? I wasn't the one that said that. ( I get paid good but not like that 😏)

@philipwall1025 3 жыл бұрын

First thing I would have done once the short was recognized,was go check that contactor coil in the condenser, I hoped that it was that!Lol, the worst call in my opinion, verifying and finding a short,intermittent s are the worst.Tatle tales are kool.Great job!

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

I have had several contactor coils cause a short, along with wire rub outs in the condenser.

@Georges3DPrinters 2 жыл бұрын

5:18 nice can o' worms you got there sir!

@dirkcanyow 3 жыл бұрын

Jacked to a whole new level. Pretty much sums it up. Great vid

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks 4 watching it Franco 👍👍

@HughesManHVAC 3 жыл бұрын

Thumbs button smacked. Great video 👌

@randydiekmann4238 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the Insight very well put together

@HVACRSurvival Жыл бұрын

🤜🤛👍👍

@nass7070 3 жыл бұрын

Never turn your wires together before wirenut theme let the wirenut do the job and it will be more solid!!! Nice video, good job.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

I had a wire inside a junction box at my previous house melt the wire nut off because of that kind of poor connection. So I am a big believer on using the wire nut as a cover not as the twisting device. I've proven this time and time again with electricians. I always twist heavy gauge wires with my linesman first then add the wire nut as a protector .

@donaldpainter956 2 жыл бұрын

I've had alot of heat pump condenser unit the contacter will go bad and blow the fuse in the furnace so when I have a problem with fuse blowing I watch it when the outdoor unit comes on if the fuse blows check it

@yellowcake1320 3 жыл бұрын

I find your videos the most engaging and I watch them all. Its nice to see there are good mechanics out there. I like how you cover a variety of equipment. Keep up the good work. If you want to move to Canada and become my business partner you could make the business thrive lol. Thanks........Joe

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much yellow cake for the engaging compliments!. I try to do my best no matter what I'm working on. I'm definatlty not the greatest at everything but I always try to be better than my best was yesterday, no matter where I'm working or if anyone may even see it. I really appreciate you saying that that is so humbling. 🤜🤛👍👍👍👍

@fuqewetoo7148 3 жыл бұрын

From Canada also. You are the only other tech I’ve seen fashion a jumper breaker. Scrap York rtu are a good source for them

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

When I worked for a Lennox dealer we had them available pretty cheap to us. Thanks for the feedback 👍👍

@yellowcake1320 3 жыл бұрын

@@fuqewetoo7148 I'm from Brockville but work in Ottawa mostly....what about you?

@fuqewetoo7148 3 жыл бұрын

@@yellowcake1320 hey how r u. I’m in Oshawa and work all over Durham region

@tyl8ter 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Owen Wilson...Movies-HVAC what can't you do

@donaldpainter956 Жыл бұрын

I went on a similar call one time with it tripping the breaker and it was an old low house alot of trash under it water everywhere but the unit was only a couple months old and some jackleg install it condenser unit was on the back of the house the breaker box on the front it called for a 30 amp breaker it was a 10/2 in the disconnect and a 10/2 in the breaker box but the run of wire under the house was a 14/2 and they Wire nut the 10/2 on both ends some people get me at the half ass work they do

@jerrylockhart3069 3 жыл бұрын

Goodman is energized in the cooling mode o

@EyeForKnowledge. 3 жыл бұрын

Where did you get that light?

@ctbt1832 Жыл бұрын

Single or stranded has nothing to do with it if you run a number six. It’s the column in the wire chart that matters and insulation. You cannot run aluminum wire inside the furnace so I was speaking about copper of course if it’s aluminum have to look at the other chart. And then do something else before you go into the unit with the wire.

@user-zu7tf9vs7t 8 ай бұрын

I have a question. I have a change, my ignitor and everything worked fine and i Waited for a few minutes the flame came up a Flame And then after a minute or two it won't back out and it started blowing out cool air what Could have been a problem after that

@HVACRSurvival 8 ай бұрын

If you reread through your question, you'll see it's a little hard to understand what you're asking but from what you're describing and it sounds like you have a flame sensor that might be dirty. That's assuming you have an independent flame sensor from the hot surface igniter.

@philipwall1025 3 жыл бұрын

I always thought the only outfit in the industry that uses B is Rheem Ruud,energizing the RV inthe heating mode.O is when u energize it in cooling and everybodydoes that but rheem ruud,lemnox,trane,york,goodman,York,,born warner,luxaire etc etc etc

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Rheem definatlty is one, I think Trane might have also energized in the heat mode but I don't think they do anymore.

@donnierobertson3088 3 жыл бұрын

Nice job and video like always

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome, thanks Donnie 👍👍

@nilborne1 3 жыл бұрын

And that is why i do not like residential service. Although have seen stuff like it commercial as well.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Neither do I, I had to cut out all my negative comments 😁

@shifter8207 3 жыл бұрын

I know its not alot but running the furnace with the blower door open wouldnt that cause the fan to overload and run the amperage higher

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

It can raise the total blower amperage, I haven't had them overheat from just testing. It wouldn't cause any of the issues I had on this call though. 👍👍

@thehvachacker 3 жыл бұрын

I don’t see many air cooled heat pumps yet have found bad sequencers, melted wires( loose connections or undersized wire). Electric heat seems too expensive an option for me.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

It's a rental cabin. So basically the equivalent to any other hotel room with electric PTAC units granted this is a little bit bigger than a hotel room though. 🤷‍♂️

@THEtechknight 3 жыл бұрын

Well at least you havent run into the run cap bandit at that place..... yet......

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

I do but I don't show it often because it might make create controversies over me filming my calls.

@harrydickson4575 3 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍

@sterlingarcher46 3 жыл бұрын

I don't understand the whole wire nuts thing , we don't have them over here . Wago terminals do a better job i think , if you close them securely and make sure it's tight , they don't move, they don't twist the wire , all good . Jealous of that Milwaukee light , mate !

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

That's interesting you guys don't have wire nuts. You guys must love spending more money them? I know they have to be used on the r290 units.

@irfp460 3 жыл бұрын

@@HVACRSurvival Expensive? They are around $0.3 each. Which, yeah I guess, is 2-3x of what a quality wire nut would cost, but electrical codes do not allow for them and realistically, how many of them are you going to install each day? A pack of 100 serves me for weeks.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

@@irfp460 when people properly install a wire nut which is where you twist them together then put the wire nut on afterwards, using it just as a protective cover. I believe it's going to have better transfer of power (amperage) than what the wago is going to have. It has less contact with wire when it's just a sharp edge touching the round wire.

@irfp460 3 жыл бұрын

@@HVACRSurvival Look at how a Wago works, there is a wide flat strip on the bottom that gets pulled onto the wire. While a wire nut might have less contact resistance at first, the Wago will keep the same contact pressure throughout its service life and lead to lower failure rates.

@albertescober2728 6 ай бұрын

What is the product number of the light?

@HVACRSurvival 6 ай бұрын

What light do you mean

@albertescober2728 6 ай бұрын

@@HVACRSurvival thanks for the reply. I meant the droplight, the red flas light.

@HVACRSurvival 6 ай бұрын

I’m going out of memory but if it’s red it’s either 12v or 18v Milwaukee. I just looked for it on Amazon and all I see is fake Milwaukee lights. It was 80-100 bucks. It’s likely changed design by now

@brandonsmith6397 10 ай бұрын

Your thumb looks like mine

@Hvacjp 3 жыл бұрын

What if you tell them about the electrical and they don't want to pay and correct it?

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Then I would have there signature proving they were told about the dangers if they didn't repair it. They had us come back out and replace the wire so It's all good. Our installers did that work the next day.

@eggman9713 3 жыл бұрын

Low voltage hackery knows no bounds. Seems like the owner would love to know they've been wasting money for who knows how long by not even running that heat pump as a heat pump. But perhaps they just don't care. And of course make sure that the W terminal on the defrost board is wired such that the electric strips will run in defrost cycles. That often gets missed.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

I don't like giving to much info in the video about where I'm at but this is just one of several rental cabins, it is likely they don't care about the heat pump savings as much as if it's a reliable, warm heat. I would guess they don't want to hear any complaints about it blowing luke warm air. 🤷‍♂️

@RoadieShow 3 жыл бұрын

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@ishkabibble-oj1oi 7 ай бұрын

LEDs suck !! Annoying glare and hard on the eyes, I couldnt even read small print with them. I went back to a clamp lamp with an incadescent bulb and life is good.

@jerrylockhart3069 3 жыл бұрын

If that’s a 30 amp heater to stage it should have a white and a brown

@jerrylockhart3069 3 жыл бұрын

I mean it’s pull in 30 that means it’s an 8KW just pull one of the legs off the heater so it pulls 15

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Our install department went back and corrected the wiring and breakers. Its been working good.

@metrotechguru5863 3 жыл бұрын

What a freakin' train wreck. Better you than me, brother.

@ctbt1832 Жыл бұрын

The 10 wire is only good for 24 amps

@KadirYildiran 3 жыл бұрын

How bad is the area where the device is like a graveyard😲😲. I wish it easy🙏🙏.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

I would guess it's busy in the summer months more than the cooler ones. It's basically a campground.

@ericpaul4575 3 жыл бұрын

I need a follow up on this.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

What does that mean?

@ericpaul4575 3 жыл бұрын

I need to know if the owners upgrade the electric and put in the correct thermostat. They are currently wasting so much using only resistive heat and not using the heat pump for as much as it can output.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

@@ericpaul4575 they had us replace the electrical I had installed do it because I had service calls to do. This was like a rental cabin so people aren't living there everyday.

@sonycrack1 3 жыл бұрын

Dang, power wrong since ‘04!

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Possibly burn the place down or damage the equipment just to save a couple bucks.

@cliveramsbotty6077 3 жыл бұрын

anything faulty in america the answer is always wire nuts. always.

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

It can appear grim at times ☹️.

@jonanderson7283 3 жыл бұрын

the thermostat will allow fan to run after no call of heat!!!

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

It's been a while since I've watched this video. What are you referring to?

@jonanderson7283 3 жыл бұрын

@@HVACRSurvival you commented that when you took the jumpers off the fan and elements shut down at the same time

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

@@jonanderson7283 if the thermostat had that option, but it didn't, this was a cheap thermostat.

@steveblake8766 3 жыл бұрын

#132 Thumbs uP

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

🤜🤛👍👍👍

@jerrylockhart3069 3 жыл бұрын

Got to lose the watch manjewelry and rings necklaces get you killed

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

That's a rubber ring, that's about as safe as you can get. The watch never comes off .

@karaors8970 3 жыл бұрын

+1👍💯😷

@HVACRSurvival 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 👍👍

@ctbt1832 Жыл бұрын

Not necessarily. He could’ve bought this unit from somebody that’s from what you call the general public.

@carlseiz1266 Жыл бұрын

Just a good old case of someone not knowing what they are doing

@HVACRSurvival Жыл бұрын

Thanks Carl👍👍

@riversong2913 Жыл бұрын

TLDR.