Expert: Jim Barnhart - 1/16/2006

Question
Thanks for answering my question! I have a RUDD furnace LX 2000 GRA/GRJ and GTA/GTJ Series. I own a condo on the 2nd floor of an 8 apt building (4 floors total). My problem is this: we had a leak in a sealant around a gasket in our system, a repairman replaced the sealant and during his troubleshooting he poured hot water down the vent pipe on the roof. Since he was out to fix the leak, our furnace will only ignite if the front door to the furnace is open so it can get air flow. He has spent 6 more hours replacing parts (ignitor, etc.), using an industrial vacuum to clean the pipes (he's found sludge) and the system still will not ignite without the door being open.
Any idea on where to go from here? Is there something blocking the vent pipe air flow and if so, how do we clean it out if the piping snakes down 4 floors? Should I bring in another repairman with another form of expertise (he tried to tell us we need a chimney cleaner to clean the pipes?!?)? We're at a loss....

Thanks so much!

Answer
Lauren,
Reading your question makes me feel like I'm in a Loral and Hardy. movie.
People poring water down vent pipes? furnaces that wont light because the door is closed? Pipes that snake down four floors?
Lauren I don't have literature on all the hundreds of furnaces that are on the market so I can't look up model numbers to see what type of furnace you have? I don't know what a front door to a furnace is exactly?
There are different service panels to different compartments.
I think your problem is with your igniter, I'm sending you a web site address to read. I would definitely call some one else.
http://arnoldservice.com/rheem_rudd_ignitors.htm