Crack in hx below combustion level

[llisk8]

Confused about a hairline crack below the combustion burner in my 45 yr. old Williamson furnace. When getting estimates on a new furnace had 3 companies tell me I didn't need a new furnace.

Had the first company back out (who told me it was cracked) and they were unable to show me light passing through this crack. Also insisted on lighting the furnace for use before they left. Also told me that my small bird would be the last to die if there was a CO leak (which I KNOW isn't true!).

We have CO2 detectors which haven't gone off and no symptoms of CO poisoning.

Who am I to believe?

[key]

If you had 3 companies tell you that you didn't need a new furnace...HOW many estimates did you get? 20?

[tinknocker service tech]

45 years old furnace and you are flipping a coin on saftey
the unit owes you nothing and has served a useful live put it to rest and get a new one

a crack is a crack

[llisk8]

We've had 4 companies out--around here, each company only handles one brand of furnace. We don't know what brand we want therefore had to have 4 companies out...American Standard, Trane, Rheem, Carrier.

[roaddog]

Did any of the companies that inspected your heater use a combustion analyzer with printable results?

[llisk8]

Nope.

In fact, the company I had to inspect the furnace didn't give us a written estimate for a new furnace...just called and recited some prices over the phone...based on 80 vs 90 how many speed for blower motor etc... IMO this should be in writing.

[roaddog]

I tend to agree with the previous post about age of unit as well as safety issue.I would also look for a company with more documentation on heaters condition and shy away from phone quotes.If original company said there was a crack in unit and then insisted upon lighting unit there not doing there job as far as red tagging your unit out of service.This would be for your safety as well as companies liability.

[Freezeking2000]

Originally posted by llisk8
Confused about a hairline crack below the combustion burner in my 45 yr. old Williamson furnace. When getting estimates on a new furnace had 3 companies tell me I didn't need a new furnace.

Had the first company back out (who told me it was cracked) and they were unable to show me light passing through this crack. Also insisted on lighting the furnace for use before they left. Also told me that my small bird would be the last to die if there was a CO leak (which I KNOW isn't true!).

We have CO2 detectors which haven't gone off and no symptoms of CO poisoning.

Who am I to believe?



ARE YOU KIDDING US?
45 YEARS OLD AND YOU WANT TO USE IT?
GET A NEW ONE!

[llisk8]

I, too, thought there ought to be a way of definitively checking for CO. Also, I didn't think that if it was really leaking CO that they would have lit the furnace and let us use it. This, coupled with the sight inspections done by other reputable furnace dealers who could have sold us anything but didn;t, made me further doubt the possibility of a crack in the first place.

[Senior Tech]

Crack or no crack...replace it. Simply put, at that age you are lucky if the unit is 50% efficient, minimum now is 80%. The unit will pay for itself by virtue of fuel savings and will have many more safety features. Any reputable dealer should have advised you on the benefits of replacement cracked or not.

[docholiday]

a crack is a crack. metal expands when heated and there is no way to tell what that crack does when it gets hot or cools off, and now that it's there, ther'es no way to tell when it's going to split wide open. EVEN if he checks the CO, thats a reading for here and now. Your hx is breached and needs to be replaced.

Any compnay that sees the crack and doesnt shut it off and offer a quote to replace it is taking on the liability. Then again, now that you know, it's up to you!

[hvacman06]

any company can get what furance you are looking for. they might not like it but they can do that.

[llisk8]

I didn't know that. Was told that they only install the make(s) they sell.

[docholiday]

Most stick to one or two brands. Many can get whatever you want, and some cannot buy other brands. For eqipment in the high end like a mod90 or infinity system, the contractor has to have attended training and be authorized to buy it. Even if they could get it, they would be at a loss when it comes to setting it up or servicing it.

Also you should understand that neither Carrier, Rheem, Trane or American Standard came out to your home. These are independant dealers who have a working relationship with the manufacture or distributor they choose to partner with. The advantage for them is often in volume pricing, advertising and training with the specific brand.

You already know you need a furnace, now you need to know which contractor to choose. You should have some expectation such as proper equipment sizing that has nothing to do with what was in there before or by asking how many square feet your house is. Ask about training. If they dont attend training regularly, then odds are they are not keeping up and bad habbits can creep in. Your job is to share with the contractor what your expectations are, what issues you may have had, and what you want. It's their job to offer the right solution.

[llisk8]

Thanks, but the company I've been working with for the last few years has really lost my faith by their handling/diagnosing this hx crack. Felt comfortable and confident in another installer who didn't try the hard sell for a new furnace.

I'm just winging it now...along with checking the BBB.

[jason_c]

why would you not want to replace a 45 year old furnace. dont be cheap and spend some money up front. witrh energy costs rising the money spent will be recouped in a very short time by saving a ton every month. dont forget to have the ductwork sealed so what is spent on fuel actually gets delivered to the living space!

[llisk8]

Listen, if 3 out of 4 contractors tell you your furnace is ok doesn't need to be replaced, why buy a furnace just to buy a new furnace? The current heat bills are surprisingly reasonable, and we all know new furances won't last half as long as our old one. The Williamson has a proven track record and repairable parts, while the new ones are made of plastic and electonic controls which are expensive to repair/replace. This is all well and good for the furnace co. a tidy profit, but to unnecissarily prey upon the fears of elderly widows is contemptible!

[tinknocker service tech]

you have been told you have a crack. Doesnt matter how many look at it or for it. it is still there. Most cases a hair line crack is hard to find and doesnt pose a threat at the time but it will pose on sooner or later. A crack is a breach and isnt safe. To sit back and think because two or three other guys couldnt see it does not matter

i once found a cracked heat exchanger and showed the crack to the ho. sut the unit down and documented it do not use

he have gas co and another contractor look and both said i was wrong. He called in complaining and wanted his money back. Told the boss it is crack and do what you want

three weeks later he called back said he was sorry and told us to replace to furnace and he would also pay back the service call. His furnce developed flame rool out and his co detector went off at 3 am. Fire co said the furnace was the cause and shut it down

just an excample of what can happen doesnt mean it will
45 years old i will bet the crack is there and should not be taken litely. The tech should not have turned it on but you should heed his worning imo
brand doesnt realy make much differance as long as installed properly. choose contractor not just brand