SO confused?! Heat Exchanger failed water test looking for new unit advice

[klowe417]

We noticed a water spot in our hallway, assuming it came from the AC we called out a company to service our split unit. Gentleman actually did a "water test" on the heat exchanger, pulled it out filled it with water from my garden hose and it leaked so he told me it had to be tagged and I would have to replace my furnace. In addition, my drip pan under AC is completely rusty and inside the AC unit the coil is all rusty too. So he said I should just replace the entire unit; AC and furnace. We currently have a zephyr system???...its 14 years old, put in when the house was built. I've had 3 different companies come to give me estimates. One is pricing me for a 15 seer 3 ton split Day & Night unit, the second a 13 seer 3 ton split Rheem unit(both around the same prices). The third wants me to go with a 13 seer lennox but the guy was a total jerk and I do not want them in my house again. Anyway I am wondering which unit is best? Also 2 of these companies questioned if the first company(they actually knew who the company was without me telling them) and couldn't believe they actually pulled the heat exchanger because its a hard process and were wondering if they were just trying scare tactics to get me to purchase a new unit. Could this be possible? Has anyone heard of this?! I've been trying to research it online and it just confuses me more! Help!

[second opinion]

We noticed a water spot in our hallway, assuming it came from the AC we called out a company to service our split unit. Gentleman actually did a "water test" on the heat exchanger, pulled it out filled it with water from my garden hose and it leaked so he told me it had to be tagged and I would have to replace my furnace. In addition, my drip pan under AC is completely rusty and inside the AC unit the coil is all rusty too. So he said I should just replace the entire unit; AC and furnace. We currently have a zephyr system???...its 14 years old, put in when the house was built. I've had 3 different companies come to give me estimates. One is pricing me for a 15 seer 3 ton split Day & Night unit, the second a 13 seer 3 ton split Rheem unit(both around the same prices). The third wants me to go with a 13 seer lennox but the guy was a total jerk and I do not want them in my house again. Anyway I am wondering which unit is best? Also 2 of these companies questioned if the first company(they actually knew who the company was without me telling them) and couldn't believe they actually pulled the heat exchanger because its a hard process and were wondering if they were just trying scare tactics to get me to purchase a new unit. Could this be possible? Has anyone heard of this?! I've been trying to research it online and it just confuses me more! Help!

The secondary heat exchanger is usually a replaceable part, and can usually be tested in place.

Do you have the model # of your equipment?

[klowe417]

The secondary heat exchanger is usually a replaceable part, and can usually be tested in place.

Do you have the model # of your equipment?

model # of existing unit - EGPJ-07EAUER

[mechanical'al]

did you watch him do this water test?

[BaldLoonie]

Huh? Actually pulled the HX out of the furnace? Did he show you the crack or hole? Never heard of someone going to the work of taking a HX out and filling with water. Holes and cracks should be very visible.

The *GPJ is an 80% furnace. There isn't water involved under normal operation. I'd bet any water in the emergency pan is from a leak on the A/C coil, either plugged drain or other leak. We've sold Rheem since before the 34" furnaces came out. They arrived in 1992. In the last 20 years guess how many failed heat exchangers found? 0, goose egg, nada. The only Rheem tubular heat exchanger we've ever found bad was on a gas pack and being in the cold air, that's normal.

So something is really tripping my b-s meter on this one.

[klowe417]

did you watch him do this water test?

Yeah I watched him we took it outside and he filled it with water from the hose. It leaked through where all the metal pipes go into the side plate. No visible cracks, but he removed it because he could tell it was damaged in places. What he told me.

[klowe417]

Huh? Actually pulled the HX out of the furnace? Did he show you the crack or hole? Never heard of someone going to the work of taking a HX out and filling with water. Holes and cracks should be very visible.

The *GPJ is an 80% furnace. There isn't water involved under normal operation. I'd bet any water in the emergency pan is from a leak on the A/C coil, either plugged drain or other leak. We've sold Rheem since before the 34" furnaces came out. They arrived in 1992. In the last 20 years guess how many failed heat exchangers found? 0, goose egg, nada. The only Rheem tubular heat exchanger we've ever found bad was on a gas pack and being in the cold air, that's normal.

So something is really tripping my b-s meter on this one.

He said water should NOT get on the outside of it. Filled three holes on top with water. Told me if water could leak through then CO2 was going to leak through.

[second opinion]

Huh? Actually pulled the HX out of the furnace? Did he show you the crack or hole? Never heard of someone going to the work of taking a HX out and filling with water. Holes and cracks should be very visible.

The *GPJ is an 80% furnace. There isn't water involved under normal operation. I'd bet any water in the emergency pan is from a leak on the A/C coil, either plugged drain or other leak. We've sold Rheem since before the 34" furnaces came out. They arrived in 1992. In the last 20 years guess how many failed heat exchangers found? 0, goose egg, nada. The only Rheem tubular heat exchanger we've ever found bad was on a gas pack and being in the cold air, that's normal.

So something is really tripping my b-s meter on this one.

I went with the secondary because of the water, not knowing it was an 80%.

BS meter dinging,
with it out you are forced to reinstall or replace heat exchanger or purchase new equipment, but clearly use a different company.

[BaldLoonie]

I went with the secondary because of the water, not knowing it was an 80%.

Exactly. When you hear water leak and furnace, you only think 90% since there isn't water in an 80 unless it's coming down an uncapped flue or condensing horribly in the flue.

Furnace makers with crimped HX say water test not valid with theirs. Wonder if it is on this one. I might ask our tech rep Monday just out of curiosity.

[Brent Ridley]

Your heat exchanger should still be under warranty. It is covered for 20 years. Check page 7 of the attached link. The part would be under warranty but you would still be responsible for the repair labor.

http://www.rheem.com/documents/rgph-...ication-sheets

I would investigate this route before proceeding with replacement. Call another contractor and discuss all of your new findings and come to a logical and educated decision on what is the best option for your situation.

[carmon]

wow.....

[Special Ed]

Exactly. When you hear water leak and furnace, you only think 90% since there isn't water in an 80 unless it's coming down an uncapped flue or condensing horribly in the flue.

Furnace makers with crimped HX say water test not valid with theirs. Wonder if it is on this one. I might ask our tech rep Monday just out of curiosity.

Exactly right, the water test is NOT applicable to HX's w/crimps.