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Section 10 - Troubleshooting
SECTION 10 – TROUBLESHOOTING
A. FURNACE DOES NOT HEAT (BUILDING IS
LOSING TEMPERATURE)
1. Out of fuel - Check firebox to see if fire is out. Add
fuel as necessary.
2. Fire out - If the controller is flashing
refer
to FireStar Controller for Maxim Operating
Instructions.
3. Thermal valve opened - If during a power outage,
a high temperature situation is detected in the burner
auger area, the thermal valve will open to release a
small amount of water into the burner auger area
to cool the area. To determine if this has happened,
first look in the firebox for the presence of water.
Also check the glass inspection port just above the
burner auger. If the fuel appears to have expanded
from absorbing water, the thermal valve has opened.
Contact your Central Boiler dealer for assistance.
4. Circulation valve(s) closed - Be sure all valves in
the system are open.
5. Circuit breaker off - Reset the circuit breaker that
supplies power to the outdoor furnace.
6. Circulation pump(s) not operating - Disconnect
power to the pump. Close valves at the pump.
Disassemble the pump and try to turn the pump shaft.
If the shaft is stuck, replace the pump cartridge.
Replace only the cartridge whenever possible. If
necessary, replace the pump. Follow instructions
supplied with the pump.
7. Air in system - Check for air in the supply and
return lines or heat exchangers. If you hear a
gurgling sound in a heat exchanger, air is present in
the system. Shut off the pump, wait 15 seconds and
start the pump. If it is necessary to force air from
lines, refer to Section 7.
8. Outdoor furnace exhaust obstructed - Check
outdoor furnace exhaust for obstructions by
removing the chimney transition cover to expose
the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can also be
observed from the front of the furnace through the
front door opening.
9. Combustion fan blocked or obstructed - Check
the combustion fan for obstructions.
10. Building(s) poorly insulated or uninsulated -
Poorly insulated or uninsulated buildings and/
or buildings with uninsulated or poorly insulated
ceilings can cause excessive fuel consumption and
or heating problems.
11. Supply and return lines installed incorrectly -
Make sure the hot supply water line is connected to
the correct fitting on the outdoor furnace and heat
exchanger.
12. Circulation pump(s) installed incorrectly -
Circulation pump(s) must be installed in the supply
line(s) with the arrow on each pump pointed away
from the outdoor furnace. Remove the pump and
install correctly. Refer to the System Installation
section for installation guidelines.
13. Underground supply and return lines insulated
poorly - Heat loss from poorly insulated underground
supply and return lines is often indicated by an
unusually high amount of snow melting above the
lines when the ground temperature is 10ºF (-12˚C)
or colder.
14. Supply and return lines uninsulated - Uninsulated
supply and return lines in areas that are not intended
to be heated (unheated crawl spaces, under mobile
homes, etc.) may cause excessive heat loss. Insulate
the supply and return lines.
15. Low water - If the controller is flashing
the
system senses a low water condition. Check water
level and if necessary add water according to the
Water Quality and Maintenance section. If adding
water does not correct the problem, contact your
Central Boiler dealer.
16. Poor water quality - Water with high amounts of
solids, sand or dirt can create deposits inside the
wall of heat exchanger components, reducing the
amount of heat output. If this condition is suspected,
contact your Central Boiler dealer.
B. FURNACE IS OVERHEATING (FIRESTAR
LED DISPLAYS
)
1. FireStar controller set incorrectly - Lower the
water temperature setpoint and/or adjust the heat
output settings in one or all of the three modes (see
Setting the FireStar Controller for Heat Load and
Efficiency).
2. High limit switch tripped - Lower the water
temperature setpoint and/or adjust the heat output
settings in one or all of the three modes (see
Setting the FireStar Controller for Heat Load and
Efficiency).
3. Water is not circulating - The pump should run
and water should circulate continuously through the
supply and return lines to keep water temperature
uniform in the outdoor furnace.
4. Circulation valve(s) closed - Be sure the proper
valves in the system are open to allow circulation.
