Second Wrench

Know what’s wrong. Know what’s safe. Know when to call. Guided HVAC troubleshooting for homeowners. Now in beta.- Please SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK!

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

https://t.co/Sp0EOg3PNC

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@Conman10033 Good call getting him out. That much soot usually means the burner wasn't burning clean, so ask him for a combustion test and a look at the flue pipe and chimney base too, since soot can clog those. Worth keeping a CO alarm near it until then. (not a licensed tech)

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@FrankBr05713205 Glad they're warm again. That status light is the most underrated thing on a furnace. A photo of the blink code next to the chart on the door means you know what's wrong before anyone shows up, whichever way you go.

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@RightSandy @MushKat 3am chirps are the worst. While the hardwired one waits, a plug-in or battery CO alarm by the bedrooms keeps you covered this winter without the $100 part. CDC says to swap CO alarms every 5 years or per the maker, so yours may just be at end of life.

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@SassyGirl394 Glad the Ecobee's been steady! A random jump like that on a Nest is often Auto-Schedule learning off a one-time bump, or someone else's phone on the Home account. Waking up to 90 is no fun either way.

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

Did you know? A Nest thermostat can switch itself to Eco when it senses no one's home. Google lists a 40-70°F heating Eco range. Chilly house and it says Eco? Check Eco settings in the Google Home app. Still no heat? Call a pro. (Not a licensed tech.) https://t.co/BYRWIlWWE5

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@_TheCZA Thermostats only read the air right around them, so one in the sun, near a lamp or on a warm wall can say 74 while your room is way colder. A cheap thermometer where you actually sit settles it. Is yours in a sunny spot? (not a licensed tech)

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@WeMetWx @CalamityJessWX @GumryWX Glad the lines checked out. A pilot that keeps going out on an old furnace is often a worn thermocouple, a cheap fix for a tech. With old gas equipment, a CO alarm near the bedrooms is cheap peace of mind. (not a licensed tech)
If it acts up again: https://t.co/VYuvHmrsoK

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

Heat acting up this weekend? Second Wrench is a free beta that starts with safety questions, walks you through look-only checks, tells you where to stop, and can write a short note for your service company. (Informational only, not a licensed tech.) https://t.co/jeIDFoUCGs

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@augustagarei Fair question. Yes, we use AI to help write some of our posts, and a person spot-checks them. The filter timing in that reply is straight from Carrier's own guidance, though.

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@Melissa_M_610 @CentralHudson Glad they got it back on, even if a 6 AM knock wasn't the warning you deserved. Hope the heat and hot water are both back to normal.

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@MartyGriffinKD Good advice. It's fair to ask any tech to show you the bad part or the reading, and to put the diagnosis and price in writing before you sign. And if anyone says there's a gas leak or CO, take it seriously, get out, and get the second look after.

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@BobVila Good one to share. A really fine filter can choke airflow on some systems, so check what your furnace maker recommends. Whatever you use, changing it on time matters most, and Trane says every 1 to 3 months depending on the filter.

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@nylagrace__ Same fight every year. When you give in, a dusty burning smell the first time is normal, it's summer dust burning off. If it hangs around more than a few hours or smells like plastic or wiring, shut it off and have it checked. (not a licensed tech)

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

Techs, a real question: what's the one thing you wish homeowners checked, or left alone, before they called you? We want our look-only lists to match what you see in the field. https://t.co/70C6cYtT0h

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

Our honest view: simple calls, like a thermostat on the wrong setting, are fair, paid work for many good shops, and we respect that. Second Wrench isn't about cutting techs out. It's about homeowners knowing what's worth a look first, and where to stop. https://t.co/czCZOTvEIs

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@jimbolicious_c Ha, three installs is basically an apprenticeship. Nice work getting it running. If it ever throws a code again, the little rubber hose to the pressure switch is worth a look before buying more parts. (not a licensed tech)

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@Readygov Good reminder. One more for the season, from the CDC: put a battery-operated or battery-backup CO detector near every sleeping area, and have the furnace and other fuel-burning appliances serviced every year.

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@PJChildofGod @Make_It_Right So sorry about the storm mess. For the basement, check the ducts near the furnace for a small lever on the basement runs. That's a damper, and if it's crosswise to the duct it's partly closed. Is there a return vent down there, or only supply vents? (not a licensed tech)

[Second Wrench @SecondWrench]

@MsSinKC That's a brutal year, I'm sorry. Before you sign for a whole new furnace, it's fair to ask them to show you exactly what failed and put it in writing, and getting a second quote is normal. What did they say was wrong with it? (not a licensed tech)
https://t.co/FR3FrnV8NQ