Thermocouple / Standing Pilot

[JLT-III]

When we run into these I think we are just going to suggest equipment replacement.

My distributor hasn't even carried a standing pilot furnace for at least ten years.
The one I ran into yesterday was 21 years old.


What do you all think?

[kls-ccc]

If the equipment is bad, go for it. Just becasue it has a standing pilot is no reason to replace it, are you going to suggest replacement of every water heater you run into, they are all standing pilot.

Your distributor hasn't carried a standing pilot furnace for years because manufacturers can no longer make them they are not efficient enough, but that doesn't make it bad technology.

If you learn how to diagnose and work on them they are in many ways easier than the HSI furnaces we have now.

If the owner wants to update or if it has a major issue ie crack, by all means replace it. We are in the proccess of replacing all of them in an apt complex. The owner wants to get them updated before the 90% min. takes place next May. If they have to replace with 90% the cost would be over double because of venting issues, so it makes sense. So far none of them we have taken out (1970's model) have been bad in any way.

My two cents.

[akelesis]

if it stil works then fix it but always recommend new equipment. And also make sure the heat exchanger is till in good condition. thats all you can do. customers really hate pushy techs.

[JLT-III]

I agree. In many ways they are easier to work on than HSI. Nothing wrong with old equipment. But, seeing a standing pilot and a rusted out heat exchanger just says....change it. Haven't run into one this year that doesn't have multiple issues.

And yes, customers hate pushy techs. So do I.

[tim79]

I tell the customer they should look into getting a high efficient furnace and get many quotes and do your homework before buying. I get more sales that way.

[catmanacman]

i like the heat fom the standing pilot furnace they run hotter and they heat up the exchanger before bringing on the blower and no circuit board to crap out.

[chuckcrj]

Nothing wrong with standing pilot systems. But they are becoming a thing of the past, except for water heaters.

Those rusty heat exchangers are not due to them being in a standing pilot furnace. Rust in a furnace is a sign of a venting problem. The corrosive flue gases are not leaving the heat exchanger.

[catmanacman]

seems that on the old standing pilot units if the heat anticipator was set correctly they lasted longer.

[JLT-III]

Thanks chckcrj. That is true. I've seen rusted heat exchangers in all types of gas furnaces. It seems the staning pilot rigs are old enough to show the signs usually.

[Kevin Weaver]

Doesn't Bryant still make a 80% eff. furnace with a standing pilot? They did.

[syndicated]

Doesn't Bryant still make a 80% eff. furnace with a standing pilot? They did.

Carrier's version of that was the 58GFA. The newest one I've seen is from '95 or '96. They went to the 58pav which would have been the Bryant 310 I think.