Armstrong gas furnace has vibrating gas valve

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Hello, We bought our 98 year-old house 2 years ago that came with an 14 year-old Armstrong gas furnace, model EG6F80DC-12. The good news is that it heats fine, the bad news is that it's developed a loud, intermittant buzzing noise during heating. It happens after the blowers start up and have been running awhile, and won't quit until the cycle stops or until I turn the t-stat down a degree or two. The repair man couldn't replicate the sound and said as far as he could tell everything was in fair condition and worked. He said it could be a failing relay switch and to open the door and tap the switch with an insulated screwdriver to see if it had been stuck and was arcing. Well, the next time the buzzing started I tapped the switch and nothing changed, however I did notice what I think is the gas valve was vibrating. The stinker is that today everything worked fine, same outside air temp as yesterday, and no noise. Is this something to worry about? Thanks for your time, Nikki Q.

-- Nicole Quiney (computerwinner@aol.com), February 25, 2004

Answers

Nic! It could be the gas valve but I don't think so. It acts like it's burnin too lean. When burners has too much air open on the ventura of the burners--they tend to make noise. Sometimes it's a "hhowlin" sound and can be corrected by closin down the air shutter at the end of the burners--just a mite. Don't close'm too much as it will make the flame YELLOW and that causes too rich of a burn cycle. Soot appears then. Just close'm enough to stop the noise.

Of course--it could be the gas valve vibrating but not very likely. If so--it shouldn't hurt anything--however they can be replaced with a new one. Price will vary from about $40- to $300. Depends where you buy it etc. oldhoot. Matt.24:44

-- oldhoot (oldhoot@shawneelink.net), February 25, 2004.


Same thing happened to me this year. No big deal...if you have 30+years experience. I listened to that gas valve and remembered past chatters...It's always the mechanical contacts arcing in an ancient thermostat creating an (other than D.C.)signal to a perfectly good valve. Any new thermostat will cure it, but spend the bucks for a modern digital. LIFE IS YOUR LEARNING CURVE.

-- R. Squires (xeroxpark@hotmail.com), May 16, 2004.

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