Professionalism and the shaft!

[timbalionguy]

First of all, thank you for these forums. I have learned an awful lot in just a few days of browing them.

I own a 5 year old manufactured home, that due to an error by the propane company, needs a new furnace. (Getting the propane company to do or pay for this is not a viable option.) I normally do virtually everything myself, and have very high standards for my own workmanship. However, a furnace replacement is not something I think I should attempt on my own. Therefore, I have asked for a number of quotes from the few people licensed in this area to do furnace work in manufactured homes. As I have come to expect from reading this list, and from my own gut intuition, I can see a definite difference in the professionialism of the contractors I have talked to. That's where things start to get strange.

The furnace they put in this house is, IMHO, an antique, especially for a very nice manufactured home on a substantial permanent foundation. It has a standing pilot, and has not impressed me with it's efficiency. Being environmentally conscious, I would like to upgrade this furnace to a modern 90+ AFUE condensing furnace. I do know that my choices are limited in terms of furnaces rated for this type of installation. The contractors that seem the most competent are very reluctant to put an improved efficiency furnace in here, even though it is practical to do so. The less reputable (IMHO) vendors are more interested in doing this, one of them having given me a firm quote. Why do you suppose this is so? And why, in this modern day in age, should I have to be stuck with an inefficient furnace simply because I live in an upscale manufactured home?

BTW, any contractor retained to do this install will be watched like a hawk to ensure everything is done completely right!

[hvaclogic]

The better more reputable contractors probably don't want to be left holding the bag when a new forced air system blows the duct work apart. Remove one of the registers and feel the metal in there, feels like heavy duty aluninum foil doesn't it?

[BobbyBJr]

We have put a couple of 90% furnaces in manufactured homes, but on both of them we ran all new ductwork underneath the home. Most of the time when we quote a job such as yours our chances of getting it are slim and none because of the price difference, so we don't show much interest in them anymore. If you find a good contractor and make it known to them that money won't be the determining factor because you know it will be expensive to rip it all out and do it right you will probably get better results.

Bobby

[BaldLoonie]

Evcon does make a 90+ designed for mfd housing. We quoted one recently as well as an 80%. Not sure how the quote is going.

Some dealers are skeptical of mobile home owners, I'll be honest. Not fair and blaming good homeowners for the actions of a few that have stiffed them. Not sure if this is why you aren't getting better results or not.

Some dealers are skeptical of new technology. Given the recent problems with some Coleman/Evcon mobile home furnaces, some may be nervous about putting in the new model until it is well tested too.

[contactor]

The contractors that seem the most competent are very reluctant to put an improved efficiency furnace in here, even though it is practical to do so. The less reputable (IMHO) vendors are more interested in doing this, one of them having given me a firm quote. Why do you suppose this is so?

I cant answer that other than many contractors dont like to work on modulars. You have 1 guy that gave you a quote out of several bids. Perhaps he is slow now. You also stated you would watch the installer like a hawk. They all may have picked up on that fact and are unwilling to install a furnace they dont specialize in , for such a demanding individual. You might have to keep shopping some more to find the man that gets your gut to feel right.