Restoring Heat and Optimizing System Performance

A new client in Vernon Hills, IL, contacted Legacy Heating & Cooling about their Ruud / Rheem furnace not heating their home correctly. Upon arrival, we quickly began our diagnostic process to determine the cause of the issue.

Diagnosis and Repair

The client mentioned that their furnace had not been serviced since its installation seven years ago, leading us to suspect a maintenance-related issue. We cycled the furnace using the Nest thermostat and observed its operation. The furnace attempted to ignite, but the flame was quickly extinguished.

Upon inspecting the flame sensor, we found heavy carbon deposits, which can interfere with the sensor’s ability to detect a proper flame signal. The flame sensor is a crucial safety device that ensures the gas valve remains open only when a flame is detected; if the sensor fails, the system will shut off the gas supply as a safety precaution.

• We cleaned the flame sensor and reinstalled it.
• After ignition, we checked the flame signal rating and measured 4.3 microamps—a satisfactory reading, as anything below 3.5 microamps would cause the flame to extinguish.
• The furnace continued to run correctly, and the home in Vernon Hills, IL, began warming up immediately.

Additional Furnace Tune-Up and Humidifier Service

Following the repair, we conducted a comprehensive furnace tune-up to ensure the system was operating at peak performance. During this process, we discovered that the humidifier water supply was off and the bypass was closed—which explained why the humidifier was not functioning.

• We turned the water supply on and tested the humidifier functionality.
• The humidifier pad was replaced for improved performance.
• We educated the client on properly operating the humidifier and adjusting the humidity settings based on outdoor temperature.

Ensuring Long-Term Performance

No additional issues were found, and the furnace is now running efficiently. This case highlights the importance of regular HVAC maintenance to prevent minor problems from escalating into major system failures.

If you need furnace repair or maintenance in Vernon Hills, IL, trust Legacy Heating & Cooling to provide expert service. Contact us today for a FREE estimate and keep your system running efficiently all winter!