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bulges and "hot spots" inside 20 year old furnace...do I really need new one?

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bulges and "hot spots" inside 20 year old furnace...do I really need new one? jay-n-123@verizon.net 10-04-2007
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Posted by jay-n-123@verizon.net on October 4, 2007, 7:27 pm
I'm sure they love the idea of selling me a new furnace even if it isn't
really necessary at this time.

Wondering if other metal inside the furnace were to crack and it weren't the
heat exchanger cracking per se....would that require furnace replacement?

J
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> I used to do furnace checks and was told to sell new furnace installs at
> any cost short of being fraudulent. The heat exchanger in you furnace is
> welded steel and is not known to crack or develop leaks at the welded
> seams. However at 20 years in service I would consider an upgrade if it is
> your budget to afford it. If it is affordable you would benefit from an
> increased efficiency in a high SEER rated furnace.


Posted by Meat Plow on October 4, 2007, 8:02 pm
On Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:27:01 +0000, jay-n-123@verizon.net wrote:

>
> I'm sure they love the idea of selling me a new furnace even if it isn't
> really necessary at this time.
>
> Wondering if other metal inside the furnace were to crack and it weren't the
> heat exchanger cracking per se....would that require furnace replacement?

Main concern for safety is the heat exchanger. A crack or weld leak will
allow CO from the combustion to mix with the heated air. Not much other
metal that would crack or such.


Posted by on October 4, 2007, 9:23 pm

> On Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:27:01 +0000, jay-n-123@verizon.net wrote:
>
> >
> > I'm sure they love the idea of selling me a new furnace even if it isn't
> > really necessary at this time.
> >
> > Wondering if other metal inside the furnace were to crack and it weren't
the
> > heat exchanger cracking per se....would that require furnace
replacement?
>
> Main concern for safety is the heat exchanger. A crack or weld leak will
> allow CO from the combustion to mix with the heated air. Not much other
> metal that would crack or such.


Maybe you need to look at a induced draft, inshot burner type of furnace.
Things change over the years.



Posted by HeyBub on October 5, 2007, 9:02 am
jay-n-123@verizon.net wrote:
> I'm sure they love the idea of selling me a new furnace even if it
> isn't really necessary at this time.
>
> Wondering if other metal inside the furnace were to crack and it
> weren't the heat exchanger cracking per se....would that require
> furnace replacement?
> J

The notion of a cracked heat exchanger being a hazard involves the leaking
of CO into the living space.

Be aware that, for thousands of years, humans heated their dwellings without
benefit of heat exchangers; some still do today.

I grew up in a home with natural gas heaters in every room. The only problem
it ever caused me is the inability to tie my shoes. In all fairness, lately
I have noticed a difficulty in using complicated mechanical devices (such as
a spoon).

Nevertheless, a CO detector (or a canary) is far, far cheaper than a new
furnace.



Posted by Noon-Air on October 5, 2007, 10:38 am

> jay-n-123@verizon.net wrote:
>> I'm sure they love the idea of selling me a new furnace even if it
>> isn't really necessary at this time.
>>
>> Wondering if other metal inside the furnace were to crack and it
>> weren't the heat exchanger cracking per se....would that require
>> furnace replacement?
>> J
>
> The notion of a cracked heat exchanger being a hazard involves the leaking
> of CO into the living space.
>
> Be aware that, for thousands of years, humans heated their dwellings
> without benefit of heat exchangers; some still do today.
>
> I grew up in a home with natural gas heaters in every room. The only
> problem it ever caused me is the inability to tie my shoes. In all
> fairness, lately I have noticed a difficulty in using complicated
> mechanical devices (such as a spoon).
>
> Nevertheless, a CO detector (or a canary) is far, far cheaper than a new
> furnace.

Furnaces are only built to last for 18 - 20 years. The new models use a
fraction of the energy to run them. You can keep funneling money into
repairs, and giving your money to the utility company if you want. Its been
my personal experience that when I install a new comfort system in a
customers home, there utility bills drop on the average of 60%, and the new
system is so quiet, they are not even aware that its running.
Its your choice....Keeping the old furnace will cost you more in the long
run, and you'll *STILL* have to replace it...... its not a matter of *IF*,
its a matter of *WHEN*



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