Coleman 7956-856
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 1:19 pm
Hi all, Found this forum a few days ago (when it got REALLY cold of course) but I can't quite find an answer to my heat problems. I hope you don't mind me getting straight to the point.... its is VERY COLD right now.
I have a Coleman 7956-856 central heat and a/c (at least a 1985 model- so it doesn't have the self diagnostics). Until last year, even with very low temperatures outside, it gave out some wicked heat. It would actually run you out of the house . Last year I noticed that it wasn't quite as much heat. This year, it really matters because of the recent arctic blast (sustained lows of 15-20 degrees when it is normally around mid 30's) and I have had to get a few electric space heaters, which I DO NOT like at all (going to be a huge power bill this month).
The air flow is fine- blower still performing well and I cleaned the A-coil back in the summer. Pilot and burner seem to be working well. There is just not enough heat coming through.
Two months ago, in an effort to increase efficiency and heating,I removed the burner/pilot assembly (thermocoupler?) and vacuumed out a good amount of material (soot, rust?) from the heat exchanger. That did not solve the problem - still very little heat making it through the vents even though the burner seems to be working well.
Today I noticed that the chute (exhaust vent?) that runs up beside the blower to the chimney/flue is not hot at all. It should be hotter than a firecracker, right? And the heat exchanger doesn't feel as warm as I think it should be. I also noticed that the manual reset button may not be functional (does not seem to move when pressed).
Any ideas on further troubleshooting?
Thanks,
Bill
I have a Coleman 7956-856 central heat and a/c (at least a 1985 model- so it doesn't have the self diagnostics). Until last year, even with very low temperatures outside, it gave out some wicked heat. It would actually run you out of the house . Last year I noticed that it wasn't quite as much heat. This year, it really matters because of the recent arctic blast (sustained lows of 15-20 degrees when it is normally around mid 30's) and I have had to get a few electric space heaters, which I DO NOT like at all (going to be a huge power bill this month).
The air flow is fine- blower still performing well and I cleaned the A-coil back in the summer. Pilot and burner seem to be working well. There is just not enough heat coming through.
Two months ago, in an effort to increase efficiency and heating,I removed the burner/pilot assembly (thermocoupler?) and vacuumed out a good amount of material (soot, rust?) from the heat exchanger. That did not solve the problem - still very little heat making it through the vents even though the burner seems to be working well.
Today I noticed that the chute (exhaust vent?) that runs up beside the blower to the chimney/flue is not hot at all. It should be hotter than a firecracker, right? And the heat exchanger doesn't feel as warm as I think it should be. I also noticed that the manual reset button may not be functional (does not seem to move when pressed).
Any ideas on further troubleshooting?
Thanks,
Bill