heater guy says replace furnace/AC

Posted by John Grabowski on November 2, 2009, 6:21 pm

> Forced-air gas heater didn't seem to be sending up any heat today, so
> I cycled it a bunch of times, then finally descended to the 10x10
> basement where it lives. Flame would come on, after a minute or three,
> stay on for 10 seconds, then go out again. Blower kept blowing.
> System was working fine two days ago - but for some years, it has had
> the habit of turning on only slowly, after a minute or three of
> waiting.
> So I called one of the big chain repair places, they came in, popped
> off the cover, told me the pilot was getting sucked away, and this was
> a sign that the whole thing needs replacing, for about $10k. Plus,
> the water heater looks like it's had a couple of leaks, might want to
> replace it, too, for another $1,500.
> Heat/Air is a Carrier unit circa 1984 (house much older), so it's not
> like a newer, higher-efficiency unit might not be a good idea anyway.
> Not sure of the water heater age, probably not that old.
> This is a unit for a 2,000sqft house in suburban Los Angeles.
> What surprises me is how quick the repair guys went to "Replace!".
> Can't these things be repaired? How complex is a gas furnace anyway?
> The repair guys seemed to know their business, I just wonder how much
> of their business is doing replacement rather than repair, if you know
> what I mean.
> Me being a total newbie on this, any advice appreciated.

*Get several opinions and estimates before making a decision. The unit is
25 years old. You might spend a few hundred dollars to repair it and maybe
go another year until something else goes wrong.

Posted by Stormin Mormon on November 2, 2009, 7:22 pm

I'd call another company. Or two. From what you describe,
it's repairable.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

When can these things be repaired, versus being replaced?

Forced-air gas heater didn't seem to be sending up any heat
today, so
I cycled it a bunch of times, then finally descended to the
10x10
basement where it lives. Flame would come on, after a minute
or three,
stay on for 10 seconds, then go out again. Blower kept
blowing.

System was working fine two days ago - but for some years,
it has had
the habit of turning on only slowly, after a minute or three
of
waiting.

So I called one of the big chain repair places, they came
in, popped
off the cover, told me the pilot was getting sucked away,
and this was
a sign that the whole thing needs replacing, for about $10k.
Plus,
the water heater looks like it's had a couple of leaks,
might want to
replace it, too, for another $1,500.

Heat/Air is a Carrier unit circa 1984 (house much older), so
it's not
like a newer, higher-efficiency unit might not be a good
idea anyway.
Not sure of the water heater age, probably not that old.

This is a unit for a 2,000sqft house in suburban Los
Angeles.

What surprises me is how quick the repair guys went to
"Replace!".
Can't these things be repaired? How complex is a gas
furnace anyway?

The repair guys seemed to know their business, I just wonder
how much
of their business is doing replacement rather than repair,
if you know
what I mean.

Me being a total newbie on this, any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

Josh

Posted by dpb on November 2, 2009, 7:25 pm

Stormin Mormon wrote:

> I'd call another company. Or two. From what you describe,
> it's repairable.

If it is a cracked exchanger causing the draft which sounds like they
confirmed, the cost of repair on that old an unit won't be worth it imo.

That still doesn't negate need for/desirability of second opinion/bid...

--

Posted by flir67 on November 2, 2009, 7:35 pm

> When can these things be repaired, versus being replaced?
> Forced-air gas heater didn't seem to be sending up any heat today, so
> I cycled it a bunch of times, then finally descended to the 10x10
> basement where it lives. Flame would come on, after a minute or three,
> stay on for 10 seconds, then go out again. =A0Blower kept blowing.
> System was working fine two days ago - but for some years, it has had
> the habit of turning on only slowly, after a minute or three of
> waiting.
> So I called one of the big chain repair places, they came in, popped
> off the cover, told me the pilot was getting sucked away, and this was
> a sign that the whole thing needs replacing, for about $10k. =A0Plus,
> the water heater looks like it's had a couple of leaks, might want to
> replace it, too, for another $1,500.
> Heat/Air is a Carrier unit circa 1984 (house much older), so it's not
> like a newer, higher-efficiency unit might not be a good idea anyway.
> Not sure of the water heater age, probably not that old.
> This is a unit for a 2,000sqft house in suburban Los Angeles.
> What surprises me is how quick the repair guys went to "Replace!".
> Can't these things be repaired? =A0How complex is a gas furnace anyway?
> The repair guys seemed to know their business, I just wonder how much
> of their business is doing replacement rather than repair, if you know
> what I mean.
> Me being a total newbie on this, any advice appreciated.
> Thanks.
> Josh

I just replaced mine it was 30 years old singer gas furnace. I did the
whole a/c and furnace replacement.I got the 2nd best system carrier
product line.
I got it for 7 grand installed in north carolina . it will make huge
difference in your gas bill. all the new systems use electric gas
ignition and no more pilot light. all the new furnaces have computer
chips in them with sensors for future accessories.you can't even
diagnosis your own system requires expensive software.

so in your part of the country everything is more expensive. so 10
grand might be a good number. make sure they do a quality job and
don't use reducers line on the ac line coming into the furnace.
installing a furance requires a permit these days and make sure they
do it right, it will add to your house value and taxes :(

what is your furnace specs look on the furance for BTU's. and
horsepower of the blower..

model numbers would be great and go from their. make sure you do your
Internet homework I'd say 1 month of researching before making a
decision.

ask friends and bosses about who did theirs,etc.....

good luck

Posted by JRStern on November 2, 2009, 8:01 pm

wrote:

>model numbers would be great and go from their. make sure you do your
>Internet homework I'd say 1 month of researching before making a
>decision.

Would like to have the time, but if it's really failed now, with cold
weather starting soon, don't really want to wait. Might even be a
real safety hazard - I dunno.

But it does occur to me that I do not have specific model numbers, I
will demand those when I speak to them again tomorrow.

J.

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heater guy says replace furnace/AC - Page 3