How Do I Close the Metal Covers on a Bryant Furnace?
Improperly secured furnace doors can cause severe personal injury and prevent the system from operating correctly. Bryant furnaces (as well as other furnace brands) are made up of several electrical and natural gas components. With only a few steps, you can keep your family safe by properly closing the metal covers on a Bryant furnace.
Securing the Small Door
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Align and orient the door by following the various safety and information stickers. The words should be right-side up and facing out from the furnace.
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Let the bottom edge of the door fall naturally in place and rest on the bottom of the furnace opening as you tip the top edge toward you. The bottom of the small door is designed to interlock with the bottom edge of the furnace cabinet.
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Tilt the door back up toward the furnace, and listen for the small "click" as it slips into place. Check all around the edges to make sure the door is flush with the outside of the furnace. The bottom edge of the door should be uniform from side to side when it's interlocked with the bottom of the furnace cabinet.
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Secure the small door to the furnace using the two sheet metal screws provided with the unit. Look for two bronze-colored, hex-head screws that were removed when the small door was removed. If the manufacturer screws are not available, small, course-threaded screws will work. Verify that the edges around the small door are smooth and flush with the furnace cabinet. If the door is not flush, the safety switch might not be engaged properly.
Securing the Big Door
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Align and orient the big door by following the manufacturer decals. The big door similarly interconnects with the bottom edge of the furnace cabinet, although in a slightly different manner (the manner of the connection becomes apparent when the process begins).
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Slide the bottom edge of the door into the slot along the bottom edge of the furnace cabinet. Look down and along each edge of the furnace to ensure the door is centered side to side.
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Tilt the door up slowly, and find the two small metal clips along the top edge of the furnace cabinet. The two clips snap into two plastic receptacles along the top inside edge of the door.
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Align the furnace clips with the door receptacles, and gently push the door until you feel a click and the door is secure.
References
Tips
- Note there are two metal covers (referred to as doors in the rest of the article). The smaller, square door isolates the blower section of the Bryant furnace. The larger door fits over the entire front of the furnace to keep dust and dirt at bay and provide a finished looked to the unit.
- The smaller furnace door also engages a safety switch to prevent accidental injury from the fast-moving fan and blower. If the switch is not properly engaged, the furnace (and air-conditioner, if applicable) does not operate. Look for a black plastic switch about 1 inch long near the circuit board.
- The bottom furnace door secures to a shelf in the furnace. This shelf is called the deck and divides the blower section of the furnace from the control section of the furnace. Sometimes the deck sags on a Bryant furnace when the small door is removed and must be gently lifted or pried up to resecure the door.
Warnings
- Read these instructions carefully before you begin. A furnace is a combination of electrical and gas components, as well as numerous sharp edges, that can cause severe injury.
- Make sure the power is turned off to the furnace. Use either the switch mounted to the side of the furnace (a switch similar to an ordinary light switch), or turn off the appropriate breaker at the main electrical panel.
Writer Bio
Mark J. Pugliese began writing home-repair articles in 2010. Pugliese's expertise includes heating and air-conditioning systems, as well as boilers and geothermal systems. He has written for various online publications. Pugliese studied creative writing, journalism and English at Macomb Community College.
Photo Credits
- tools image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
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