The pilot light plays a large role in the efficiency of the entire system and clean-burning pilot saves money improves indoor air quality and extends furnace life
If your furnace has a standing pilot light, always check the flame before the start to ensure that it's burning cleanly and with the proper mix of air and fuel. Start by removing the main furnace access panel. If you can't see the pilot flame clearly, turn off the gas supply and the pilot gas shutoff switch. Wait ten minutes for the pilot to cool, ad remove the pilot cover. Relight the pilot following the instructions on the control housing or access cover. If the pilot won't stay lit, shut off the gas supply once again and inspect the thermocouple.
Inspect the flame. If the flame is too weak, it will be blow and may barely touch the thermocouple. If the flame is too strong it will also be blue, but may be noisy and lift off the pilot. A well adjusted flame will be blue with a yellow tip and cover half an inch at the end of the thermocouple. Turn the pilot adjustment screw on the control housing or gas valve to reduce the pressure. If it's weak turn the screw in the other direction to increase the pressure. If the flame appears weak and yellow even after the adjustment, remove the pilot het and clean the orifice.
If the pilot in our furnace or boiler goes out quickly, and you have made sure the gas supply is sufficient, you may need to replace the thermocouple. Turn off the das supply. Using an open-end wrench loosen the thermocouple tube fitting from the control housing or gas valve. Unscrew the thermocouple from the pilot housing and install a new one. Tighten it with a wrench just until it's snug.
Maintain the Blower Motor
Inspect the blower motor before the start of the heating season. Inspect it again before the start of the cooling season if your central air conditioning uses the same blower. Turn off the power to the furnace remove the access panel to the blower housing and inspect the motor. Some motor have oil ports and an adjustable, replaceable drive belt. Others are self lubricating and have a direct belt. Wipe the motor clean with a damp cloth and check diagram indicating their location. Remove the covers to the ports and add a few drops of light machine oil. Place the covers on the ports
With the power still off inspect the drive belt. If it is; cracked, worn, glazed, or brittle, replace it. Check the belt tension by pushing down gently midway between the pulleys. The belt should flex about one inch. To tighten to loosen the belt, locate the pulley tension adjustment nut on the blower motor. Loosen the lock nut and turn the readjust as required until the tension is correct.
If the belt is out of alignment or bearings are worn adjusting the tension will not solve the problem. With the power off, hold a straightedge so it's flush with the edge of both pulleys. To align the belt, locate the mounting bolts on the motor's sliding motor carefully until the pulleys are aligned. Tighten the bolts and check the tension and alignment again repeat until the pulley is aligned and the tension adjusted. Replace the furnace access panels Restore power and switch on the furnace.