any one in the heating & AC business?

[cyberdan (SoCA)]

Just tried to fire up the heater last night for the first time in 8 months and no go.
Pulled the cover of the thermostat box. The little mercury glass vial has a big spark inside (I know this is normal) when I try to engage the AC and the AC comes on. The same mercury switch has a very tiny spark when I have it set to heater and nothing comes on.

So my question is (based on your past experience) do you think in is the thermostat (which I can replace) or somewhere inside the heater/AC unit (which I will not attempt to work on)

 

[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

n/t

 

[cyberdan (SoCA)]

n/t

 

[Craig in Alabama]

n/t

 

[Ed SW Fla]

n/t

 

[deerman]

might be the coil went out and won't get you a spark (acts like a pilot light pilot light sparks as needed)

 

[cyberdan (SoCA)]

n/t

 

[Ed SW Fla]

n/t

 

[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

n/t

 

[cyberdan (SoCA)]

n/t

 

[therick]

n/t

 

[cyberdan (SoCA)]

n/t

 

[scottstaff]

maybe the sticks need to be rubbed together a different way.

 

[RustyNTX]

Possibly the main heater coil is out, you can turn the main breaker off, and check across the terminals of the coil with a ohm-meter for an open circuit..