Soot in heat exchanger

[timbalionguy]

I recently started having problems with the Intertherm furnace in my five year old manufactured home. The main burner would come on for a short length of time and blow out, along with the pilot. To make a long story short, it was found that the heat exchanger was plugged with soot from overfiring. This had been slowly building up for a long time, and ultimately was the result of the original installer putting in the wrong orfice during a natural gas-to-propane conversion. The technician is recommending replacing the furnace, as he claims the heat exchanger cannot easily be cleaned. Does this make sense?

If I do decide to replace the furnace, I am considering replacing it with a more efficient condensing furnace. Are these furnaces readily available for manufactured homes?

[thoglow]

Well replacing the furnace is one option or replacing the heat exchanger.Replacing the heat exchanger is a pain it the butt.What happened to to installing contractor?I feel bad for you but I hope the unit is shut down.

Don't let anyone talk you into having the thing cleaned because the heatexchanger my be cracked.

[karsthuntr]

You will never get the thing clean and the soot will return.Replace the heat exchanger

[firecontrol]

Intertherm makes a condensing furnce that is approved for installation in manufactured homes. So does Bryant.

[hvaclover]

Yeah soot is a definate telltale. Sorry to say it means the end of your furnace:(

[johnnyde]

I would not stop at the heat exchanger, I Would also check the flue piping. When a system starts producing soot, it will travel all the way up the flue, depending on how long it's gone unnoticed. good luck

[harry54]

Just because the furnace sooted up does not mean it is done for. Have a reputable hvac contracator check it out befor you replace anything.

[coolwhip]

What?? you mean your not going to tell him how to fix the issue Harry?