Furnace Maintenance - Propane

songkrai · 07-27-2017, 09:58 AM

Any independent furnace maintenance professionals out there?

Other then the propane provider company.

Propane whole house furnace.

fatlazyless · 07-27-2017, 11:56 AM

At the hardware store, you can buy a single 20x20x1" filter for something like $1.99, and that's the only item to be replaced on an annual basis. Maybe buy two filters, and replace it again on February 1.

If it has a v-belt connecting the motor with the fan, check the rubber belt for any cracks.

Unlike oil boilers/furnaces, propane burns very clean so a propane or natural gas boiler/furnace doesn't need a yearly clean out/tune-up.

VitaBene · 07-27-2017, 12:13 PM

https://www.facebook.com/SteveBuyHVAC/

mishman · 08-02-2017, 09:17 AM

We have a Boderus (German) high efficiency propane furnace and believe they required no maintenance (that's what we were initially told) but that is not the case. They should be cleaned annually or every other year due to the minerals in the water (the furnace heats water in a closed loop system) that can negatively impact the heat exchanger. We use Jeff Fortin at MESCO (leftplumma@gmail.com). He is very good.

SIKSUKR · 08-02-2017, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mishman

We have a Boderus (German) high efficiency propane furnace and believe they required no maintenance (that's what we were initially told) but that is not the case. They should be cleaned annually or every other year due to the minerals in the water (the furnace heats water in a closed loop system) that can negatively impact the heat exchanger. We use Jeff Fortin at MESCO (leftplumma@gmail.com). He is very good.

I could be wrong here but it sounds like you have a boiler and not a furnace as a furnace heats air and not water. Not trying to be anal but....

BroadHopper · 08-02-2017, 01:38 PM

Condensing boilers uses gas and they require annual inspections if your water is hard or full of minerals. Otherwise the boiler should be checked out every other year as the byproduct of the combustion process is caustic and can corrode the exhaust pipes, both air and water.

My installer is Don Morin in Laconia. 800.353.2366 or 603.542.6014

Merrymeeting · 08-02-2017, 04:22 PM

The replies so far demonstrate that what is needed varies as much as the different designs of each system.

In my case, we have a new (<5 yrs) forced, hot-air system, with direct vent via pvc pipes. So no corrosion of exhaust pipes, no boiler maintenance, etc.

I've still been having the furnace serviced each year. Overkill?

swnoel · 08-03-2017, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

At the hardware store, you can buy a single 20x20x1" filter for something like $1.99, and that's the only item to be replaced on an annual basis. Maybe buy two filters, and replace it again on February 1.

If it has a v-belt connecting the motor with the fan, check the rubber belt for any cracks.

Unlike oil boilers/furnaces, propane burns very clean so a propane or natural gas boiler/furnace doesn't need a yearly clean out/tune-up.

That maybe true, but gas can kill! You need to have your system inspected every year! This should include disassembling the burner and cleaning out any debris that has accumulated, testing all safeties, cleaning flame sensor, testing and inspecting ignition system, testing gas pressure, inspecting and testing heat exchanger, and combustion test. By the way... how many of you have gas and yearly test your smoke alarm, and CO detector (don't have a CO detector.. you should)?

07-27-2017, 09:58 AM	#1
songkrai Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 725 Thanks: 35 Thanked 145 Times in 98 Posts	Furnace Maintenance - Propane Any independent furnace maintenance professionals out there? Other then the propane provider company. Propane whole house furnace.

07-27-2017, 11:56 AM	#2
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	At the hardware store, you can buy a single 20x20x1" filter for something like $1.99, and that's the only item to be replaced on an annual basis. Maybe buy two filters, and replace it again on February 1. If it has a v-belt connecting the motor with the fan, check the rubber belt for any cracks. Unlike oil boilers/furnaces, propane burns very clean so a propane or natural gas boiler/furnace doesn't need a yearly clean out/tune-up. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

07-27-2017, 12:13 PM	#3
VitaBene Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 3,530 Thanks: 1,570 Thanked 1,601 Times in 821 Posts	Steve Buy https://www.facebook.com/SteveBuyHVAC/

08-02-2017, 09:17 AM	#4
mishman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 166 Thanks: 50 Thanked 81 Times in 39 Posts	Propane furnace maintenance We have a Boderus (German) high efficiency propane furnace and believe they required no maintenance (that's what we were initially told) but that is not the case. They should be cleaned annually or every other year due to the minerals in the water (the furnace heats water in a closed loop system) that can negatively impact the heat exchanger. We use Jeff Fortin at MESCO (leftplumma@gmail.com). He is very good.

08-02-2017, 01:38 PM	#6
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,509 Thanks: 3,116 Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts	Condensing boilers Condensing boilers uses gas and they require annual inspections if your water is hard or full of minerals. Otherwise the boiler should be checked out every other year as the byproduct of the combustion process is caustic and can corrode the exhaust pipes, both air and water. My installer is Don Morin in Laconia. 800.353.2366 or 603.542.6014 __________________ Someday may never be an actual day. Last edited by BroadHopper; 08-02-2017 at 01:41 PM. Reason: addendum

08-02-2017, 04:22 PM	#7
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	The replies so far demonstrate that what is needed varies as much as the different designs of each system. In my case, we have a new (<5 yrs) forced, hot-air system, with direct vent via pvc pipes. So no corrosion of exhaust pipes, no boiler maintenance, etc. I've still been having the furnace serviced each year. Overkill?