delayed ignition on Rheem furnace

[russw58]

I have a Rheem Imperial 90+ furnace, that was installed in 1989. Model RGEB 07EC FS. Sometimes, when this furnace lights, 2 of the 3 burners do not light right away. They finally light when the circulation blower comes on. I have had 3 different service persons look at it, and it never seems to do it when they are here. Today it did, once, while the repairman was here. He could not find any problem that he could put his finger on, and he called in to his shop. They said they have run into this before, and were never able to resolve the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas???
I hate to replace the furnace if it can be repaired.

[mayguy]

I've had alot of trouble with those in the past.. Some of them had a recall on the heat exchanger, and the igniton modulor. ALso the recall had you turn the ignitor to it's side vs laying down flat. I don't recall the full model # of those recalls....

Also make sure the intake vent is letting air in (If there is one hooked up).

Also make sure the burners are lined up on the crossover bars.

[troyorr]

Have the heat exchanger cells checked. A 15 year old B model is ready to be put out to pasture. The service tech will have to pull the burners and pipinig to inspect the heat exchange so they can clean the orifices and stuff then. Of course, if the expected cracks are found, have you quiet moment with the unit and then leyt it go.

[BaldLoonie]

Crossover is welded to the burners but still likely the culprit. The crossover is fed gas by the gas valve kinda like a pilot feed. Any lint at all in the crossover and you have this problem.

Troy is right, check that heat exchanger carefully. We found 2 bad ones last week, changed out both furnaces this week with new Rheem products. Our distributor gives us the value of the heat exchanger towards a new one. Both homeowners elected to replace. Of course the one was the distributors Mom, she did what sonny said to do

[russw58]

I replaced the complete burner assembly last season, and it did the same thing right away. so the I don't think the crossover is the culprit. The burners showed some deterioration, and I suspected that there might be spider webs inside the crossover.
I don't know if the list will allow this question, but, Does anyone recommend another brand furnace?? I go to the Rheem web site, and all they seem to want to sell anymore is water heaters.

[BaldLoonie]

http://www.rheemac.com is the HVAC site. I'm a big Rheem fan, everyone had problems with furnaces of the RGEB vintage. The new RGRA, RGRK and RGFD models are excellent.

Someone else posted a RGEB delayed ignition problem recently. Ignitor wasn't proper. You need 62-22868-93 mounted sideways just above the crossover but not touching it.

[russw58]

At this point, I just have a sour taste for the Rheem/Ruud units. I have had problems with this unit since almost the beginning. Almost every electronic component has been replace. I have had the hot surface ignitor go out so many times, I keep one in stock. The last one went out during a blizzard and I lost my heat. I live in a very rural area and the roads were drifted in. BTW, The one from a Maytag dryer is the same.

[indianroadmaster]

just a thought, there might be some pipe dope or junk on the screen inside the control on the inlet . sounds strange but it does happen. check the orfices for the same. yep i work for the dreaded gas co. in cust. service but what the heck. when not in use all summer creepy crawly things can get in there and then BOOM!!

[russw58]

Been There, Done That today. This furnace is propane, and we thought we found something today with low gas pressure. Then we realized that it was a slow open gas valve. It starts at about 3.5 pressure and slowly rises to 10. We cleaned all the cob webs out of the crossover pipe, and cleaned the burners. Once it lights, it burns fine. But boy when it lights, once in a while, you know it.

[htg guy]

Originally posted by russw58
At this point, I just have a sour taste for the Rheem/Ruud units. I have had problems with this unit since almost the beginning. Almost every electronic component has been replace. I have had the hot surface ignitor go out so many times, I keep one in stock. The last one went out during a blizzard and I lost my heat. I live in a very rural area and the roads were drifted in. BTW, The one from a Maytag dryer is the same.

GET THE HEAT EXCHANGER CHECKED! A cracked heat exchanger can cause alot of parts failures and also loss of life.

[MechAcc]

Originally posted by htg guy



GET THE HEAT EXCHANGER CHECKED! A cracked heat exchanger can cause alot of parts failures and also loss of life.

Htg is right was at one customer's house and he complained that he had to have the HSI replaced every year! Found one cell cracked on the heat exchanger.

[russw58]

We have done this 3 years in a row...... The heat exchanger is fine.... I thought I stated that in the original post. I am not the average home owner, in that I am an industrial maintenance tech, and I do this kind of thing as part of my job. I only posted because I have run out of ideas.

[russw58]

It sounds to me that you "professionals" think a furnace shouldn't last over 15 years. And that my model was a POS from the start. At this point, I agree with you as to the quality of the RGEB, but Rheem should stand behind their products, and they don't. I have a Carrier heating my shop that is almost 40 years old, and it is still going strong. Just not as efficient, but it is become clear to me, that they are sacrificing quality for profit.

End of Rant


[Edited by russw58 on 11-12-2004 at 11:27 PM]