Lennox Pulse - To replace or not to replace?

[cjt]

That is the question. I need a new central a/c unit and have a 19 year old Lennox pulse furnace that completes my system. As far as I know, there is nothing wrong with the furnace other than age. I have been told that these furnaces had some heat exchanger issues and there was a major recall. I understand there is a pressure test that can be done to determine if the unit qualifies under the recall program.

I am trying to decide whether it is worth replacing the furnace at the same time as the a/c given its age and tendency for failure. I hate to spend money now on something that could last 2, 3 or 10 more years and with its 96% efficiency rating, I probably do not stand to gain a lot in replacing it. However, I also do not want to be left in a no heat or dangerous situation.

Thoughts, advice, suggestions??

Thanks

[mjk_na]

Why don't you call a HVAC contractor in your area to check your system and suggest a solution accordingly. Call a reliable one.

You can also give your general location, so that one of us here can help you out.

I would spend money to have it checked, and have some reserve, in case things go wrong.

You can rent portable air conditioners with heaters when your system fails, and while waiting for new system to be installed.

All the best!

[coolwhip]

I say get rid of that noisy old thing and get yourself a new HE system. You will be glad you did.

[cjt]

I've had a few people in and seem to get differing opinions. Some say since there is no sign of degradation in the system and it doesn't set the CO detectors off that it is unlikely to have the heat exchanger problem. Others have said it should be pressure tested.

I am in the Toronto, Ontario are BTW. I guess par tof the dilemma is that if I get it tested and it passes, is there any compelling reason to replace it? I do think I will get it tested, but assuming it doesn't fail what next?

Thanks

[HVAC Pro]

Your Pulse furnace needs a heat exchanger pressure test every four years, and regular service to include air diaphragm replacement.

Please don't rely on your CO detector to determine the integrity of your heating system.

[jacob perkins]

Your Pulse furnace needs a heat exchanger pressure test every four years, and regular service to include air diaphragm replacement.

Please don't rely on your CO detector to determine the integrity of your heating system.
-----------------------------------------

I have no reason to doubt that...every reason to believe it

and I dont think you should replace if it's not necessary.




i didnt know canadians needed air condioning

[HeyBob]

If it's a leaker lennox will provide you with a new G51 gas furnace for no charge. You will have to pay a Lennox dealer to install it though.

Your warranty is lifetime if you are the original owner, 20 years if you are a not the original owner.

[javaman]

Jacob,
We do need AC if the igloo is melting :)

[ascj]

Have it presure tested by a Lennox dealer ASAP. 90% of the failures we find do not set off the CO detectors. The failures are on the secoundary heat exchangers, which are kinda in a dead spot in the cabinet. If it fails you get credit for a single stage 92% furnace. So you do have the option of upgrading too.

Again lifetime-original owner, 20 year any owner after.

When you call, always ask if that company works on Lennox Pulses. If they dont know or dont know what your talking about, then they probably dont have the proper kit to pressure test it.

[dougfamous]

Don't waste any money on a pressure test. If it's 19 years old, it's essentially at the end of it's usuable life (Pulse guys, back off. If it was a 19 year old Goodman you'd all be yelling for him to replace it). The Pulse furnace is noisy, difficult to service, and a death machine. PERIOD.

Why pour money into pressure tests, diaphragms, etc when you can get a nice, complete, MATCHED system with a full warranty? I wouldn't waste money on any 19 year old, Pulse or not.

[thomefan2579]

I agree with doug the pulse furnace was a horrible invention and a death trap replace it with a 2 stage variable 95 percent efficent trane or carrier and youll be very happy and comfortable

[ascj]

If you dont pressure test it, then you dont get the warranty. If it 19 years old, then its definitly under warranty. Why not get some credit on a new furnace?

Lennox does require them back. So no cheating warranty.

[thomefan2579]

but most lennox even new is junk and ordering parts is a pain in the ass if your not a dealer and if you need info at least a 15min wait on there 800 number pain in the ass

[HVAC Pro]

Originally posted by thomefan2579
if your not a dealer[/B]

The key. When you purchase high end equipment, the manufacturer, no, not a distributor, wants to know who is servicing it.

[thomefan2579]

i just hate them when i was in the field trying to find out info and it takes time i do not have every other brand takes like 5 minutes tops to get info ive been with a lennox dealer before and it is just a pain just my opinion

[HVAC Pro]

I carry a laptop with the latest copy of "Davenet Unplugged". Engineering and application data on equipment manufactured for the past 25 yrs. or so. Also "repair parts" with all the particulars on replacement parts for the equipment. Smooth sailing.

I've called tech support only a couple of times. The wait time was less that the time it took to get an authorization back when I was doing home warranty work. Talk about a wait! But that's a whole 'nother story. :D

[t527ed]

Originally posted by thomefan2579
but most lennox even new is junk and ordering parts is a pain in the ass if your not a dealer and if you need info at least a 15min wait on there 800 number pain in the ass


waaaahh waaaaaaaaah waaaaaaaaaah sounds like the yugo dealer crying cause he can't buy the cadillac parts. lennox does business direct to dealers to keep untrained hacks from working on units they don't know how to fix. such as the pulse.

[thomefan2579]

i can fix anything and everything out there buddy Lennox is a pain in the ass to get parts for. I prefer Tarne and Carrier much better overall product good tech support and have never had any crazy death traps like a pulse which almost put lennox under

[Toolpusher]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thomefan2579
i can fix anything and everything out there buddy Lennox is a pain in the ass to get parts for. I prefer Tarne and Carrier much better overall product good tech support and have never had any crazy death traps like a pulse which almost put lennox under [/QUOTE

Lennox never almost went under , get over it .

Bryant/Carrier had a unit that on almost every furnace I went one was cracked. I'm trying to remember the model # but can't.
Late model green units. Clam shell ht exchgr.
I could always bet a dime to a dollar on a crack, and come out on top.

You don't like waiting for Lennox parts, jump through the hoops and become a dealer. you'll get better service. Or stay with brands that will sell to anyone over the counter.

You may be able to work on or fix any unit, understanding the sequence of operation is taught at every trade school.
and they could fix every unit based on that knowledge.

So what does fixing things have to do with liking anybrand, they all work the same.
Some are just easier to get credit to work with.
Fix your credit not your knowledge.

[Edited by Toolpusher on 07-12-2006 at 10:30 PM]

[t527ed]

Originally posted by thomefan2579
i can fix anything and everything out there buddy Lennox is a pain in the ass to get parts for. I prefer Tarne and Carrier much better overall product good tech support and have never had any crazy death traps like a pulse which almost put lennox under


thats the point, if you are not a dealer its supposed to be a pain in the ass to get parts. if you are not trained for their units they don't want you working on it. being a lennox dealer we could not even buy a pulse till we went to school for them.

[Toolpusher]

Originally posted by thomefan2579
i can fix anything and everything out there buddy Lennox is a pain in the ass to get parts for. I prefer Tarne

He maybe be able to fix any Trane (tarne) but he sure don't know the spelling of it.

[tinknocker service tech]

putting all the bickering and asumsion aside
there was never a recall on the pulse furnace. it was an inspection program set up by lennox at thier own doing.
they relized a 1 percent failor rate in the pulse heat exchangers cause by out side pulitaints adhearing to a certain welding compond used on only a certain few heat exchanger. after all was said and done it still turned out to be a 2 percent rate. they also stopped using that welding compond and the hx with the other compond used are still intacked.
i found in most of the tests i preformed the pulse furnace was not set up properly or maintained propely and these two reasons were the biggest for most of the failed heat exchangers i replaced. high gas presure was the biggest problem. guys not knowing the unit setting it at 3.5 instead of leaving it at 2.0
the first that came out were higher before it is said at 4.0
best furnace ever made at 97 percent. also if you are used to or know how to work on them they are the easyest to repair and have a simplicty design imo
keep the furnace, have it service buy a trained lennox tech and relax.

[Wirenut]

I have worked for Lennox dealers and LIKE the pulse furnace, have no problem with servicing them and found if properly installed they were very reliable and efficient. My next comment is that everything does have a life span and I would say that a modern furnace that has been in use for almost 20 years has served you well. If the rest of the system were in good condition I would just have it serviced, pressure tested and keep the furnace. If the ac system has gone south then I would have a lennox dealer pressure test the furnace, you may get lucky and it will fail, but even if it passes the test I would replace the entire system.

[richard peterson]

have a customer with a Pulse who has had a a coil leak into the main compartment. Rust has built up inside the ellectrical and burner area. I have suggested it should be replaced but she insisted that it still works fine. I am not too familiar with the pulse but seeing it in this shape what can I suggest futher? I will be replacing the coil in a few days. I tried to suggest anothe furnace with no evail.

[Wirenut]

Richard
Ask your customer to provide you with date of the last pressure test. It MUST be tested every 4 years, this is very important for safe operation. The kit provides a sticker to record the date of the test on the furnace. If this sticker isn't on the furnace I would bet the furnace hasn't been tested. The pulse furnace is still a good unit if it is properly serviced.

[Irishmist]

I was dealing with Pulse's when this program (recall) came about. I don't remember if there was a time limit on the program or not, but it consisted of performig the pressure test, and then based on the results, there were several options that were made available to you, including replacement of the Pulse furnace. Why don't you contact the original installing contractor if the furnace was already in place, and find out if it has been checked? If in doubt, call the code enforcement department and find out who did the original install. A 19 year old of any sort should be considered for replacement. The Pulse was one of the best in their day, but there are much better available today. all the best, John.

[bmac]

FWIW In my opinion the Pulse is the most reliable furnace I've seen. Most of the people that I know who knock them are the non dealers or otherwise don't understand how to service them. Get the test, if it fails, you get the warranty credit, if it passes at least you know and can make an informed decision.

[Wirenut]

The time limit on the free testing has expired, but the warranty is still good. The furnace had a lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger for the original residential owner and 20 years otherwise.

[Irishmist]

wirenut, thanks for clarification. Lifetime warranty on primary and secondary heat exchangers, but I did not know the status of the program, i.e. expired, etc. If the program is no longer in effect, then I would suggest a professional contractor perform service of the system and determine the integrity of the system.

I agree that the PULSE design was one of the best that has ever come along. It is a shame that the problems that occurred, that were somewhat localized and not national resulted in the demise of this unique and extremely reliable and efficient design.

[Wirenut]

We still test lots of them but the service is not covered under the program just bill it at regular rates, usually takes me about an hour to complete the test and flapper valve replacement. The warranty is a bit more complicated now because of abuse of the system. At first you just mailed Lennox the Id plate with mn and sn and they sent you a replacement furnace. NOW you must return the complete furnace and then they ship you a replacement unit after they confirm that the exchanger is defective. You...the customer must pay shipping on both units. I wonder if they really test the return units.

[bobr42]

We used to be a Lennox dealer seen them pass seen they fail with the sorry ass test Lennox has.I say peace of mind is the answer.Be safe not sorry.

[bobr42]

OK here is the deal I pump it up to 4PSI and it must hold for 10 min. if their is any pressure left half a pound or what ever it passes.Kind of having to fill your tire every week and your machanic saying to youYes sir you dont have a leak this is normal.