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Posted by Bubba on December 7, 2006, 7:43 pm
On 7 Dec 2006 11:07:38 -0800, smanilov@gmail.com wrote:
>Last night another tech came by. Looked, sounded and behaved a lot
>more professional. Anyway, the guy spent 3 hours with the system and
>fixed it. The heat exchanger was not cracked. The first technician
>did not install the board correctly - it was miswired. He was able to
>rewire the new board. He did not bother testing the old board, since
>time is money and I already paid for the new board anyway. He tested
>the outside unit and determined that some electrical component (maybe
>defrost cycle controller) got stuck in off mode. He fixed that and the
>system now works.
>
>This tech was NATE certified, sounded very knowledgeable and charged
>very reasonable $140 for 3 hours of work. I was ready to pay more.
He charged you $46.66 per hour for a night call !!!
Holly shit! Give me his number. I'll put him on my speed dial too.
He can run any and all my calls at that rate.
Bubba
>His number goes on my speed dial and he got himself a customer for
>life.
>
>He did however say that 19 y.o. system may get too expensive to keep
>fixing and maybe I should start thinking about replacing it, unless I
>want to deal with it as an emergency when it fails.
>
>He did not recommend Trane, as in his opinion it's too expensive for
>what it provides. His favorite is Lennox, since in his opinion they
>are more service friendly and better designed.
Lennox is not a favorite as their repair parts tend to be VERY
expensive and proprietary
>
>
>
>
>gofish@gonefishin.net wrote:
>> smanilov@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> >Thank you very much for not ridiculing me, like some people tried to.
>> >I am quite clueless in HVAC and I know that there very many options.
>> >
>> >The HVAC guy first replaced the electrical board in the furnace
>> >(charged $105 for parts). The unit still did not work. The gas would
>>
>>
>> If the unit still did not work after he changed the $105 board, I
>> would have told him to put the old board back in, or forget about
>> getting paid for the new board. You tell that person he can put in
>> parts all day long at his expense, when he finds the broken part,
>> thats the one you'll be paying for.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >ignite and immediately turn off. Also when the gas would ignite, the
>> >flames would shoot out somewhat. It didn't look to me like they shoot
>> >out too much, but I am not a pro and don't know what's normal. So the
>> >guy said the heat exchanger is cracked and in this high efficiency
>>
>> you tell that guy to show you the crack. If he cant point it out to
>> you, it aint there. Its a sales scare tactic. oh yeah, you got a
>> cracked hx. You need to spend $10,000 to fix it. bs.
>>
>> some people know how to fix things, other people know how to sell new
>> things. you need to find a tech who knows how to fix but is clueless
>> when it comes to selling new.
>>
>>
>>
>> >furnace (I think it's Trane XL90) you cannot replace the heat
>> >exchanger, only the whole unit. (???) But since we have a heat pump
>> >system that means the outdoor and the indoor units have to be both
>> >replaced. So instead of several nundred dollars of repair costs, I
>> >would be looking at several thousand.
>> >
>> >He sounded sincere, but not terribly professional to me. He also
>> >doesn't deal with Trane.
>>
>>
>> any competent tech should be able to work on and fix any gawd damn
>> brand sold in amerika. who cares if it says york carrier trane rheem
>> or goodman. junk is junk is junk, its all pretty much the same. some
>> electronics are propriatary, but the basics are all the same. the key
>> word is competent. sounds like you had a lemon who knows selling and
>> thats about it.
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> >I am wondering if the diagnosis makes sense and whether you really
>> >cannot replace the heat exchanger in the high efficiency furnace.
>>
>>
>> last time I checked, we could put men on the moon. seems to me if
>> humans can do that, replacing a hx should be somewhat easier.
>>
>>
>> >
>> >Also, I really need to replace the entire system, where can I get
>> >educated in plain English about different options that are on the
>> >market (variable speed blowers, dual stage, etc.)
>> >
>> >Thanks!
>>
>>
>> before you go spending the big bucks, call a different ac company.
>> dont tell them anything about the first moron. get a second opinion.
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >gofish@gonefishin.net wrote:
>> >> smanilov@gmail.com wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >I have Trane XL1200 heat pump with High Efficiency furnace gas backup
>> >> >system, which is 19 y.o.
>> >> >
>> >> >The system refused to heat the house today (32F outside) and HVAC guy
>> >> >after tinkering with some electrical board diagnosed that the heat
>> >> >exchanger is no good and the whole system needs replacement. He does
>> >> >not specialize in Trane, but in York and Carrier and promised to quote
>> >> >prices for those. He asked what SEER do I want and whether I want
>> >> >variable speed blower. I told him I want a high quality system, since
>> >> >I am not selling this house any time soon.
>> >> >
>> >> >1) Should I replace Trane system with another Trane system?
>> >>
>> >> sure, why not. It lasted 19 years, thats a proven track record.
>> >> why re-invent the wheel?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> >2) We have separate units for 1st and 2nd floors. The other one works
>> >> >well so far. Can only one be replaced now or do the need to be
>> >> >replaced in pairs?
>> >>
>> >> replace them as they fail. or if you love throwing your money away,
>> >> replace them both. Install all new windows while you're at it.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> >3) What SEER do I want nowadays? My house is 3,500 sq ft, if it helps.
>> >>
>> >> you want to educate yourself, so that you can make intelligent
>> >> decisions on your own, without having to rely on strangers on the web.
>> >>
>> >> Go to this website: http://www.aridirectory.org/ari/ac.php
>> >> enter in the Furnace model #, the Evaporator coil model # and the
>> >> condensing unit model #. ARI will tell you what the SEER rating is
>> >> for that system. You want the highest SEER your money will allow,
>> >> based on HOW MUCH you USE your ac system. Look into factory and
>> >> utility rebates. Some Tranes have up to $1000 in factory rebates.
>> >> Get a minimum of 3 bids.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> >4) How can I tell if the guy is a real pro? He was very honest and
>> >> >said it will take 3 days to install and he will take $1,200 for labor
>> >> >(for one system, not both). The rest of the cost is hardware. I
>> >> >understand his price is not high, but how do I know he will do the best
>> >> >job?
>> >> >
>> >> >I am lost (and cold). Please help.
>> >> >
>> >> >Steve
>> >>
>> >> Gut instinct Steve. If you shop price, you WILL get screwed. Which
>> >> guy makes you feel good? Do just a tiny bit of homework and soon
>> >> you'll be able to tell when someone is bs-ing you or isnt. Go with
>> >> the honest guy, regardless of what his price may be. It will pay for
>> >> itself in the long run.
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