Do You Need a Wall Furnace Replacement in Sacramento & Rancho Cordova?
Monterey Top-Vent Gravity Wall Furnaces
Fox Family Heating & Air is there when you need a wall furnace replacement in Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, and all of Northern California. The gold standard in top-vent wall furnace heating, the Monterey Plus+ has continued to evolve and remains arguably one of their most popular products ever produced. With a draft hood design that sends exhaust through the rooftop, these wall furnaces emit heat through baffles. They also have a porcelain coating for increased longevity at an affordable price point.
So many homes in the Fox family service area use Williams Wall Furnaces for extremely cost-effective heat. Rental units, apartments, and other older homes replace their Williams wall furnace about every 20 years.
How does a wall furnace work?
The thermostat in your room knows when to call for heat according to the temperature you've set it to.
Low-pressure gas supplied by your utility company enters a gas valve that controls the exact amount of gas to pour over a pilot flame.
From there, the burner assembly lights and emits a controlled flame upwards and inside a hollow ceramic heat exchanger. The heat exchanger acts as the firebox that will radiate heat from it and into the room.
Once the room meets the temperature you set on the dial, the burner assembly will extinguish and reduce itself back to the original pilot light.
The pilot stays lit until your thermostat asks for more heat.
Maintenance Tips for Safe Operation of Your Wall Furnace
You may not think about this, but fine particles like dust, lint, fibers, and fuzz are attracted to the burner assembly of wall furnaces because they draw in room temperature combustion air from around the unit. These particles are carried in with that air. Therefore, it’s necessary to clean the compartment with a vacuum cleaner or a small painter’s brush. Just be careful not to extinguish the pilot flame, and definitely don’t bump the pilot. Moving the pilot assembly can adjust it in the wrong position.
A wall furnace that is adequately adjusted will produce a clear blue flame with well-organized cones. The cones will have a bluish-red or bluish-violet outer flame. If you notice your flame flickering with orange, it’s likely because you moved close to the unit and kicked up some dust. Give a few minutes, and the flame should settle back to normal. Yellow flames mean the burner assembly, including the gas pressure, burner assembly, and flue pipe, should be examined.
With the wall furnace not operating, take a damp rag and clean the outer shell. That will reduce the amount of dust and other fine particles and keep it safe.
The flue pipe should be clear at all times. You may need to go up on the roof to ensure this. A clogged flue pipe can create a backup of spent gasses. If the gasses can’t vent properly out of the rooftop, it can create a carbon monoxide danger in the home.
The pilot light should have a specific look to it. The flame should surround the generator tip 1/4″ to 3/8″. If the flame needs to be adjusted, a small screwdriver can do the job. There is an adjusting screw on the top of the gas valve. If you want to increase the size of the pilot flame, turn the screw counterclockwise. To decrease the size of the pilot flame, turn the screw clockwise.
If the pilot doesn’t light on the wall furnace, make sure there is nothing in the hood of the pilot assembly. Gas pours out of a tiny orifice on the assembly; a button creates a spark that lights the pilot flame. If the gas can’t get to the spark because ash or other small particles block the gas emitting the orifice, the pilot won’t light. Again, when cleaning this, don’t bump or move the pilot assembly, so it can light the main burner assembly when needed.
When you turn the wall furnace on, the main burner assembly should light right away, all the way across the burners. Incomplete burning indicates something is not right with the burners and should be serviced. The burner assembly fan goes out when the furnace turns off, but the pilot light will stay lit.
Some people like to extinguish the pilot during the off-season. Simply turn the gas knob feeding the gas valve to the off position. Turning the knob to the off position will extinguish the flame and stop sending gas into the unit. Follow the instructions in the manual for re-lighting the pilot assembly.
Are Gas Wall Furnaces Safe to Use?
As mentioned above, fine particles like dust, lint, fibers, and fuzz are attracted to the burner assembly. If this isn’t cleaned regularly, a yellowish-orange flame may persist. Why is the flame yellow-orange on the wall furnace? It’s because the particles are mixing in with the air-gas mixture. That can create a yellow flame that indicates carbon monoxide and soot that can develop in the operation of the wall furnace.
Of course, carbon monoxide in the air of a home or soot lining the inside of a wall furnace can create a serious situation. That’s why regular maintenance is so essential on a Williams wall furnace.
You HAVE to be cautious around a wall furnace.
Severe burns can occur to the skin if the outer shell of the wall furnace is touched. Don’t let children play around the wall furnace. Because the nature of a wall furnace is to radiate heat, you can see how paying attention to this safety tip is so important.
For the same reason, clothing, paint, varnish, and other flammable should not be allowed around a wall furnace.
Use common sense when using a Williams wall furnace, and safety will be an afterthought as you enjoy a nice warm room.
