Our heater isn't working

**guest002** · 10-26-2007, 09:35 AM

And figures I figure that out after dh is at work.

I think the pilot light is out but I don't know where it is. You know how a gas furnace makes that whoosh sound when it turns on? No whoosh. No turning on even if I set the thermostat at 90.

My dh isn't the handy man type so if he can't get the pilot lit I've already got he gas company scheduled to come out tom. ($55 charge

)

**ktsmama** · 10-26-2007, 09:39 AM

Sorry about the heater!! Maybe the gas man will show you this time and you will be able to do light it, if it happens again.

Good Luck!

**frugalfarmwife** · 10-26-2007, 09:43 AM

Ohhh, sorry about that! Hopefully it's something simple!

We have a service contract on our furnace, get a yearly maintence check/clean up done on it also (Just had it done Tues) My hubby IS very handy but when it comes to gas lines coming into the house we prefer the professionals, they're covered if they screw up, if WE blow up the house we're in deep doodoo.

We learned the hard way to get the service contract, our new furnace SUCKS! It's 4 years old now, we've had a break down a year with it but can't go after the company, the reason is there are NO reciepts or people to go after, ugh! My MIL purchased it as a Christmas gift for us from the company that baby BIL then got fired from. Then my mom paid to have it installed (LOVE THE MOMS!) and the guy that put it in is out of business, grrrr. So we got a service contract with a long standing local company, the contract alone saved us $400 on a part last year (when it was 5 degrees outside!)

kj

**LexTysMommy** · 10-26-2007, 09:43 AM

That sucks that happened! I googled it and came up with these sites. Hope they help. Do not know what kind of furnace you have...gas.electric?
http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to...-furnaces2.htm
http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?...+light+furnace

**kittykatstrong** · 10-26-2007, 09:51 AM

At least it happened now instead of dec. BRR!!

Katy

**guest002** · 10-26-2007, 09:59 AM

It's gas.

I did call another place that's $60 to light it and $68 to do the routine service and inspection of it.

**LexTysMommy** · 10-26-2007, 10:10 AM

Do you feel confident enough to light it on your own? I did this when mine went out. It is not hard. Just read up on it before you do it. Or have them come out and show you how to if it happens again. Good luck!

**frugalfarmwife** · 10-26-2007, 10:18 AM

If it just needs lit this is something easy to do, $60.00 to light it? YIKES! LOL, I'll come do that if that's all it is!

Do you have the manual for it? You could use that for beginning trouble shooting.

BTW, a piece of spagetti (not cooked) is GREAT for lighting pilots and candles!

kj

**guest002** · 10-26-2007, 10:25 AM

I'll call my dad when it's a reasonable hour in AZ to walk me thru it. If not my dh can try when he gets home. If he's not successful then the gas company I guess can do it.

I did schedule the general service of the unit because no telling the last time it was inspected. We rented the house out for the last 7 years.

**geckoace** · 10-26-2007, 10:52 AM

when the service guys comes over be sure to watch him and ask lots of questions, it will save you money in the long run and i have found that they generally don't mind. the same with the hot water heater ask him where the pilot is and how to light it eventhough its not getting serviced

**fluttermuffin** · 10-26-2007, 10:55 AM

sorry to hear that....I feel for you... our septic take just caved in and need to completely replace it.... Hopefully you'll be able to get the pilot light lit and that will be the end of it... if you have to call someone out... stand over them, ask questions and have them show you how to light it yourself. good luck!!
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**Edna_E** · 10-26-2007, 10:56 AM

You might try a neighbor or ask your church - sometimes there is a handyman who needs an extra $20 and it is seriously a 5 minute task. Incidentally, if this is the first it should have come on then the fact that it didn't may mean that it was properly shut down for the summer (yay!) and if not, how did you get it lit earlier this fall? I keep one of those skinny butane lighters in the closet with mine because the wind blows it out frequently here (bad venting) and I pay someone $40 to come check it out at the beginning of the winter (or whenever I cave in and turn it on).

**guest002** · 10-26-2007, 11:45 AM

I called my dad at 8 AM Arizona time and he said whoa it's early. I told him I needed the Paw Paw.

He walked me through it step by step and I got that bad boy lit and running.

So I saved $55! I'm still gonna have the heating company come out for the routine service tune up check thing on Tuesday afternoon for $68 because I've go no clue the last time that was done.

Thanks everyone!