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Hi, I have a Rheem Imperial 80 plus that has stopped working.

 
Bill P.'s Avatar
  • Answered by:Bill P.
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Customer Question

Hi, I have a Rheem Imperial 80 plus that has stopped working. Blower works but no flame, etc. I'll be honest, I should of changed the filter sooner, it was pretty gross. Any suggestions?

 

Optional Information:
Make : Rheem
Model : Imperial 80 plus

Already Tried:
I've changed the filter (day late and a dollar short!) but not much else. It's 9 degrees out and the family is freezing so I'm hoping for some suggestions!

Submitted: 858 days and 1 hours ago.
Category: HVAC
Value: $23
Status: CLOSED
Picture
Expert:  Bill P. replied858 days ago.


Bill P. :

Hi there

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Howdy.

Bill P. :

so, filter was pretty plugged then?

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Yep. Ashamed to say I've been negligent in my manly duties.

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Extremely plugged. The furnace is near the dryer. It looked like a lot of lint got in there.

Bill P. :

hey, happens all the time..

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Lol. Thanks. I know better.

Bill P. :

so the blower is running constantly then, even after it has been on for 5 minutes

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Yes, it sounds like it's running normally, just no heat.

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not sure if it'll run for more than five minutes. I came home to a family with icicles on their noses. It wasn't running then.

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

I've restarted it and it sounded normal.

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

But probably didn't let it run for five minutes.

Bill P. :

ok take the furnace doors off, im thinking there is a control board in there somewhere but i could be wrong

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Hold on, walking downstairs.

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Ok, ready

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Cover is off.

Bill P. :

when you turn the power on, the blower starts running right away correct? (you may have to press the door switch in and hold it)

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Yes

Bill P. :

do you see any control board anywhere, where the thermostat wire connect to

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

got it. Didn't notice it before, it's in a box. cover is off

Bill P. :

any lights blinking

Bill P. :

when power is on

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

no, not sure there are any lights

Bill P. :

ok, well we will do it this way then

Bill P. :

http://www.appliancedirectparts.com/image/HH12ZB250%20Limit%20Switch%20Big.jpg

Bill P. :

copy and paste that link, it is a picture of a high limit switch, im thinking it might be stuck open on your furnace

Bill P. :

it will be somwhere between the burners and the gas valve, on the wall straight in

Bill P. :

see anything that looks like that?

Bill P. :

you will not see the probe part, you will just see the rectangle box about 1 1/2 by 3 inch, with the 2 terminals (and wires connected

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

got it. Two red wires"

Bill P. :

thats it. ok, for testing we will take those 2 wires off and connect them to each other, with another wire or paperclip

Bill P. :

shut power off first

Bill P. :

when connected, turn power on and let me know what happens

Bill P. :

make sure the paperclip doesnt touch anything metal

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

wait one

Bill P. :

k

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

ok

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

nothing

Bill P. :

same thing as before?

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

no, nothing at all. No blower, etc. Maybe I have a non conductive paperclip

Bill P. :

no the blower would still run

Bill P. :

power back on, and door switch pushed in?

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Maybe I've got the wrong thing. Looks like a mini wall plate with two red wires plugged into it. One wire attaches to another part with tow red wires with a little black button thing in between them

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Black wall plate part is labeled "stemco"

Bill P. :

sounds like it

Bill P. :

but why no more blower?

Bill P. :

is the thermostat turned up?

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

yes

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Ok, Bad connection, it starts now,

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

sorry about that

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

starts just like before

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

still there?

Bill P. :

yep

Bill P. :

bad paperclip connection you mean/

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Lol. Thought I scared you off. Blower comes on just like before.

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Yes, sorry. With the paperclip connecting the two, it starts like before.

Bill P. :

im just trying to think what is going on here..

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

k

Bill P. :

in the meantime press that little button you were talking about

Bill P. :

http://www.partsguy.com/PartsGuy/images/items/L4064B.jpg

Bill P. :

you dont have one of those controls on your furnace do you?

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

It's not really a button. Two red wires connect to a black rounded disk. The button thing is on the top of it. It moves, but its not really a button

Bill P. :

http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/media/img/coleman/025-27792-001.jpg

Bill P. :

like that

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

exactly

Bill P. :

the red thing is a button, it will click when pressed (if it is popped) (but we dont want it to be popped)

Bill P. :

well this one seems like it should have been a stuck limit..but we bypassed it

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Doesn't click but it moves up and down

Bill P. :

ya thats ok

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

there doesn't seem to be any ignition of any kind.

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

What about the overtemperature switch?

Bill P. :

thats the limit that we bypassed

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

ah.

Bill P. :

which blower is running, the blower that blows out the vents, or the venter blower

Bill P. :

im not sure that i really asked that before

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

first the vent blower, then the venter blower (the little one, right?) after about 30 seconds to a minute.

Bill P. :

ok so the little one is running..i didnt know that i guess

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

when should the furnace ignite?

Bill P. :

and then how long does it run, (the little one) do you hear any clicks?

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

It keeps running. There's a click right before it starts.

Bill P. :

http://americanhvacparts.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/PRS33J89.jpg

Bill P. :

that is a pressure switch

Bill P. :

once that motor starts take the 2 wires on it and connect them (while its running), but not before its running

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

There's 3 wires on it.

Bill P. :

o perfect lol

Bill P. :

it should be labeled NO NC and C

Bill P. :

I think we will want NO and C to connect after it starts

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Should I reconnect the overtemp?

Bill P. :

yes sorry

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Little blower doesn't come on. Is there some type of gas shut off that trips when the overtemp goes? There's a box with a big red switch on what looks to be the gas line inside the furnace.

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

The little blower doesn't come on with the two wires disconnected.

Bill P. :

ok hook them back up

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

all set

Bill P. :

hook them back up and let the little motor start up, once running, take a screw driver or whatever you have to to try and touch the C and whichever wire you didnt mess with before

Bill P. :

(sorry it seems like im throwing stuff out there, its so easy when im standing right there, this is a older unit, everythings a little harder to do)

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

nothing.

Bill P. :

little motor is on, but nothing changes you mean?

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

Yes

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

No ignition.

Bill P. :

well i am sorry but there not much more i can get you to try..

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

That's ok. It's getting late anyways. Thanks for giving it a shot.

Bill P. :

usually the only thing that the filter can cause is problems with overheating sensors (limits)

Bill P. :

maybe the filter has nothing to do with the problem, it just happened to be dirty

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

right, that's what I figured. Is there any other type of reset button, etc.?

Bill P. :

not that i can think of, and even if it did, that little motor wouldnt run

JACUSTOMER-0u2ehjhs- :

I see. Hey, thanks again.

Bill P. :

no problem..sorry we could get it going

 
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