My home in Arizona has only had filter changes over the past couple years and all is fine. It is a cash grab to a certain extent. However many years of neglect can lead you to some issues.
Furnace Cleaning
- Thread starter SkyRider
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My home in Arizona has only had filter changes over the past couple years and all is fine. It is a cash grab to a certain extent. However many years of neglect can lead you to some issues.
If this is an older furnace, besides changing filters you should at the start of every fall, oil the electric motor, grease the blower bearings and check the fan belt.
Well, the furnace guy came and went and I am now $95 poorer.
He opened the furnace panel and poked around inside for a bit. Then he opened the humidifier and changed the pad and cleaned the housing. Doesn't seem like much for $95.
The real shocker was when I asked him the life expectancy of the high efficiency furnace and he said "15 years". My old clunker was still alive at 30 when we replaced it. Why would an HE furnace have such a short lifespan?
He opened the furnace panel and poked around inside for a bit. Then he opened the humidifier and changed the pad and cleaned the housing. Doesn't seem like much for $95.
The real shocker was when I asked him the life expectancy of the high efficiency furnace and he said "15 years". My old clunker was still alive at 30 when we replaced it. Why would an HE furnace have such a short lifespan?
The HE furnace is to your old clunker as a digital induction range is to campfire cooking. There is a lot more going on when it's heating, and a lot more to go wrong. When Clunky was state of the art repair guys actually fixed stuff—Took motors and such apart, and replaced worn or broken bits—now they just replace whole units that contain no user serviceable and no professional serviceable parts. And after just a few years, the technology that sells new furnaces has moved on so those replacement units become harder and harder to get and cost more and more until, "Well, this here HE's 15v years old and ya just can't get the parts no more, and if I could, it'd cost ya as much as a new unit. Specs are better on 'em too."
But it sounds like your guy didn't really earn his money: there shoulda been vacuuming going on and pieces like burner jets pulled out for cleaning, inspection and then reinstalled. Not even a filter change?
But it sounds like your guy didn't really earn his money: there shoulda been vacuuming going on and pieces like burner jets pulled out for cleaning, inspection and then reinstalled. Not even a filter change?
To be fair, he did spend 40-45 minutes messing around. Not sure of exactly everything he did. Didn't hear a vacuum though. He did pull out the air filter and said "very clean" and placed it back. He also replaced the clamp on the water tube inside the furnace that takes the water to the drain.
We are really becoming a "disposable society" if a furnace only lasts 15 years. BTW The furnace is made right here in North America in Houston Texas. Thought maybe it would have been made in Mexico, China or some other 3rd world country.
That's where the next one will come from.....
I heard the same thing about HE furnaces only lasting ~15 years.
That is not impressive at all.....
For those who believe in conspiracy theories, they should take a look at what is happening in the heating and A/C industry. My old non-high efficiency water heater died last year. So, my heating guy said to buy a tankless water heater for like $3 million dollars or some ridiculous amount like that. I figured that the tankless would have to last for 100 years before I recover the initial capital cost through gas savings. It is all a racket.
Probably is.It is all a racket.
Old furnaces used simple very reliable technology that lasted almost forever and were extremely easy to service yourself.
My old furnace was over 30 yrs old when replaced and never had any problems with it. The HE ones promise all these great savings. I never saw them! Same went for a few of my neighbors said the same after getting a new HE furnace. Only saved a couple bucks a month, nowhere near the 25%-30% savings they claimed!
My mother has a 60 yr old huge Heil furnace that still runs fine and was quieter than my old furnace! A friend I had clean it said Heil were built to last forever.
That is why I'm keeping my 30 year old GE fridge until it actually dies. It will probably outlive 10 new ones. This "high efficiency" stuff is all bullshit.
Guys, if you have a 30 year old furnace or air conditioner, hang on to it until it actually dies. Don't believe this high efficiency garbage.
If its a boiler, yes, you have too get it serviced at least once a year.
If its a forced air furnace, just change the filter every 6 months, or every 3 months if you have a dusty house. Vacuum around the heat exchanger, and thats it.
These tech guys want your money, and they will even break something on purpose just to get a service call.
I would watch them like a hawk.
I have an hvac backround, if you have anymore questions, just email me.
Unless you smell gas or your furnace doesnt work, dont ever call a service man, they will rip you off.
There is actually a chapter in most text books on how to rip customers off. Hvac is the most useless trade out there. Half the repairs you can do on your own if your a bit technical.
If its a forced air furnace, just change the filter every 6 months, or every 3 months if you have a dusty house. Vacuum around the heat exchanger, and thats it.
These tech guys want your money, and they will even break something on purpose just to get a service call.
I would watch them like a hawk.
I have an hvac backround, if you have anymore questions, just email me.
Unless you smell gas or your furnace doesnt work, dont ever call a service man, they will rip you off.
There is actually a chapter in most text books on how to rip customers off. Hvac is the most useless trade out there. Half the repairs you can do on your own if your a bit technical.
Thanks for your candid comments.
My high efficiency furnace and central air is forced air with an attched humidifer.
Agree completely!
Always deal with a reputable company.
It's just as easy to get ripped off here as with a shady auto mechanic.
For those who believe in conspiracy theories, they should take a look at what is happening in the heating and A/C industry. My old non-high efficiency water heater died last year. So, my heating guy said to buy a tankless water heater for like $3 million dollars or some ridiculous amount like that. I figured that the tankless would have to last for 100 years before I recover the initial capital cost through gas savings. It is all a racket.
Try shopping around.... while it is true that tankless heaters are more expensive than a tank they shouldn't be 100yr payback either.
Almost all the new homes being built (admittedly they are on the pricier side of the market) that I've been in lately have been going tankless.
Non-financial advantages to them are: take up much less space and you never run out of hot water.
They also check for safety conditions like cracked heat exchangers, which would be a bad thing - carbon monoxide. Especially important if a furnace gets up in age, but always good to check.
Be prepared to suddenly replace your furnace if your heat exchanger develops a crack. A little red tag is affixed to it, and the gas is shut off.
You should always have a carbon monoxide tester in your home. You dont need a service man to check for a cracked heat exchanger, unless your blind.
Just check the plenum and heat exchanger for a crack, simple.
Most of these new Hi Eff furnaces are built with so many saftey devices, if something goes wrong they shut down. Then call a service man or women
.
The PC board in the furnace goes through 20 saftey checks before it even kicks on.
If the pilot or HSI doesnt start up they dont go on.
If there is no flame they dont go on.
If the blower fan doesnt start up prior to all this, they dont go on. Etcetera....
If youre going to get a new furnace or aircon put in, make sure they do a heat calculation, or your also screwed. Many times they put the wrong size in.
In the case of aircon, I have gone to service calls where the compressor is over worked or just dies early because the wrong size a/c unit was installed.
Make sure its a good company, and a seasoned guy. Half the techs out there cant diagnose a problem, theyre too stupid.
How do I know?
Try being the only female in class with a bunch of dumb borish idiotic yet hopeful service guys who cant even hold a philip screw driver correctly.
Out of a class of 30, there are usually 5 who will make good techs, the rest should find another career.
Just check the plenum and heat exchanger for a crack, simple.
Most of these new Hi Eff furnaces are built with so many saftey devices, if something goes wrong they shut down. Then call a service man or women
. The PC board in the furnace goes through 20 saftey checks before it even kicks on.
If the pilot or HSI doesnt start up they dont go on.
If there is no flame they dont go on.
If the blower fan doesnt start up prior to all this, they dont go on. Etcetera....
If youre going to get a new furnace or aircon put in, make sure they do a heat calculation, or your also screwed. Many times they put the wrong size in.
In the case of aircon, I have gone to service calls where the compressor is over worked or just dies early because the wrong size a/c unit was installed.
Make sure its a good company, and a seasoned guy. Half the techs out there cant diagnose a problem, theyre too stupid.
How do I know?
Try being the only female in class with a bunch of dumb borish idiotic yet hopeful service guys who cant even hold a philip screw driver correctly.
Out of a class of 30, there are usually 5 who will make good techs, the rest should find another career.
The late father of my current heating and cooling guy was a neighbour and friend of mine and his mother still lives on the same block so I know his family background. My only concern is his recommendation for an ANNUAL checkup and inspection at $80 a visit. Yes, he has a young family to support and his oldest child is currently attending a private school.
It's very difficult to check for cracks in a heat exchanger.
First off, you can't really see it. It's housed with the body of the furnace and to see if it's cracked, you need to take the entire furnace apart and visually look for cracks. BTW, cracks in steel can be EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to see. They can be as fine or finer than a human hair laid on the casting and as such, are very had to see.
There is a variety of other tests that can be performed as well such as measuring CO2 and CO coming out of the vents, but again, you have to know what you're looking for and have to adjust for background content etc. Very easy to rip off someone not in the know.
Read this:
http://www.weinstall.ca/checking_for_cracked_heat_exchanger.htm
As far as servicing goes - change your filters, vacuum out the dust, change the pad in the humidifier = good to go.
I had my flame sensor carbon up once. Read the LED flash code, figured it out, took it out (easy 1 screw), cleaned it with fine steel wool, put it back.
Also had the electronic pilot light break. Picked up a new one from a supplier, put it in, good to go.
First off, you can't really see it. It's housed with the body of the furnace and to see if it's cracked, you need to take the entire furnace apart and visually look for cracks. BTW, cracks in steel can be EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to see. They can be as fine or finer than a human hair laid on the casting and as such, are very had to see.
There is a variety of other tests that can be performed as well such as measuring CO2 and CO coming out of the vents, but again, you have to know what you're looking for and have to adjust for background content etc. Very easy to rip off someone not in the know.
Read this:
http://www.weinstall.ca/checking_for_cracked_heat_exchanger.htm
As far as servicing goes - change your filters, vacuum out the dust, change the pad in the humidifier = good to go.
I had my flame sensor carbon up once. Read the LED flash code, figured it out, took it out (easy 1 screw), cleaned it with fine steel wool, put it back.
Also had the electronic pilot light break. Picked up a new one from a supplier, put it in, good to go.
I am offensed buy this tread that Hvac mekanigs....micanix...mecan...guys are stoopid.
I'm curious.
How else to hold a Philips screw driver, if not by the handle?
19 years in the business here. The single most important thing a homeowner can do is change the filter four times a year. Cheapest preventive maintenance going.
A preventative maintenance going into heating season "may" catch a problem before it becomes a "no-heat" call on the coldest day of the year(usually a weekend too). Most furnaces have direct drive motors now, but if you have an older furnace, a quick check of the belt for wear, or a change out will ward off any future problems. As far as everything else goes, corrosion can be your biggest problem....corrosion on your flame sensor, or corrosion on the heat exchanger caused by the drain pan from the evap coil leaking condensate down on the exchanger all summer when the AC is operating. This corrosion occurs over the summer months. Corrosion can cause the heat exchanger to fail, as well as insufficient air flow across it (there's that pesky filter change again).
I start my furnace in heating mode at least once over the summer, and let it run for 10 minutes. Dries everything out.
How else to hold a Philips screw driver, if not by the handle?
19 years in the business here. The single most important thing a homeowner can do is change the filter four times a year. Cheapest preventive maintenance going.
A preventative maintenance going into heating season "may" catch a problem before it becomes a "no-heat" call on the coldest day of the year(usually a weekend too). Most furnaces have direct drive motors now, but if you have an older furnace, a quick check of the belt for wear, or a change out will ward off any future problems. As far as everything else goes, corrosion can be your biggest problem....corrosion on your flame sensor, or corrosion on the heat exchanger caused by the drain pan from the evap coil leaking condensate down on the exchanger all summer when the AC is operating. This corrosion occurs over the summer months. Corrosion can cause the heat exchanger to fail, as well as insufficient air flow across it (there's that pesky filter change again).
I start my furnace in heating mode at least once over the summer, and let it run for 10 minutes. Dries everything out.
So, I asked this contractor how much a TANKLESS water heater would cost. He said $3,200. (I could buy my current 11/2 year old rented "tanK" for $950.) Why would I want to pay an extra $2,250? (there is a federal tax credit of $330 to mitigate the cost a little bit).
