Cold House This Morning

[vstech]

if I were you, I'd click on the aop pro finder link at the top of the forum, and type in your address, then call the contractor closest to you on our list. if none are nearby, open the phone book and call the contractor that lists carrier/bryant/payne as their equipment of choice, and they can have the motor in your house in a week...

AOP CONTRACTOR LOOKUP

[motoguy128]

More concerns:

I called Carrier this AM regarding the inducer assembly. They informed me that they cannot ship parts from their location, nor do they have a database to search for parts, so it looks like you guys have a "special" line. The woman informed me that the authorized dealers would be able to help me.

So, I first called the independant authorized dealer I called yesterday. The lady seemed less than enthused to speak with me and said the woman I spoke to yesterday would call me back. Awaiting for that callback.

Next, I called Sears, also an authorized dealer. The gentleman informed me that the manufacturer NO LONGER MAKES THE PART and that no replacement is suggested. Interesting. Now remember, this is a 10-year old furnace that I would assume cost around $$$$. Is it really obsolete after 10-years? Are there no "end-of-life" rules in the HVAC world for spare parts?

So, back to my original concern. How did my HVAC gentleman find the part (if it's even the correct part) two towns over when the independant authorized dealer could not get the part yesterday and Sears says it is no longer manufactured?

What should I do?

p.s. - the furnace ran for about 4 hours last night before I shut it down to goto bed. I didn't want the motor trying to turn a siezed unit. Then, it ran for 2.5 hours this morning before I left for work with no issues.

No prices on here. Not a DIY site

You can usually get a full system for that much.

If you paid upper 4 figures for a furnace only install, you got ripped off unless you need ot remove a wall or rent a large crane ot install it... yes, it happen in commerical & indsutrial. .

A ID fan should not have failed within 10 years, but again, it's probably oversized and short cycling, so there's a LOT of wear and tear on that fan. Start & stops are what wear out motors faster, not runtime.

Few dealers will be insterested in selling you parts. Feel free to search online. You can get ballpark prices for furnaces, you might even find your part and some p*** p*** instructions on how to install it fomr some DIY site.

You'd be money ahead to just replace your furnace with a new, properly size high effciency unit and save 15% on your gas use, more depending on how oversized it is now.

FYI, I can heat my whole 3200sqft home with just 70k BTU's at 0F outdoor temp and it's only average insulation with a lot of windows. If it burnt down tommorrow and I rebuilt it to my specs, it would need 1/2 that, mostly due to ventilation requirements.

[91stealthes]

No prices on here. Not a DIY site

You can usually get a full system for that much.

If you paid upper 4 figures for a furnace only install, you got ripped off unless you need ot remove a wall or rent a large crane ot install it... yes, it happen in commerical & indsutrial. .

A ID fan should not have failed within 10 years, but again, it's probably oversized and short cycling, so there's a LOT of wear and tear on that fan. Start & stops are what wear out motors faster, not runtime.

Few dealers will be insterested in selling you parts. Feel free to search online. You can get ballpark prices for furnaces, you might even find your part and some p*** p*** instructions on how to install it fomr some DIY site.

You'd be money ahead to just replace your furnace with a new, properly size high effciency unit and save 15% on your gas use, more depending on how oversized it is now.

FYI, I can heat my whole 3200sqft home with just 70k BTU's at 0F outdoor temp and it's only average insulation with a lot of windows. If it burnt down tommorrow and I rebuilt it to my specs, it would need 1/2 that, mostly due to ventilation requirements.

Thanks, sorry about posting the price. I didn't install this furnace, it was there when I bought it. Are you indicating that the builder put a larger furnace than needed in the home? That would be a first, usually they skimp. Again, my home is 3100 sf of main living with a 1500 sf basement that has ductwork as well.

A dealer from my hometown helped me with the appropriate part number. It is 326628-765.

Now, it seems my HVAC guy is charging me 2x it's cost in labor. For a job that will take less than 45 minutes, I find this unreasonable. I am incorrect in my logic?

Again, you all have been great!

[beshvac]

Those 2 towns must be close together so he can drive there and come back and install it all in 45 minutes.

[91stealthes]

Those 2 towns must be close together so he can drive there and come back and install it all in 45 minutes.

Yeah, yeah, drive time and mileage. So it's 15 minutes there and 15 minutes back, so technically, he could drive and do the whole job in 45 minutes if he is good. You know what I meant though, 45 minutes for the part change. Though, even with drive time at the government rate of $0.55 a mile, that's only $11. I have no problem paying drive time as well.

I really like you guys here. Great information and light-hearted at the same time.

[motoguy128]

larger furnace don't cost much more (maybe 1% if that on the total install price for each size increment), but most csutomers have become accustomed to pushing the thermostst and feeling instant heat, not a slow steady even heat. Some homeowners (I think they are weird) are so used to oversized units that they like the noise, woosh and rush of hot air.... it's comforting or something. IF it's 0F outside and a furance barely keeps up or takes 2-3 hours ot raise the tmep 1-2F, then many woudl think something is wrong and call a contractor.

Depending on where you live and construction, its might not be too far off. Home construction makes a big difference. If my home was Victorian stick frame it might need 100k or more. But being stucco and 1920 arts and crafts and well construction using more modern building techniques plus good storm windows, it's a lot better off.


You sure it takes only 45 minutes to change? He may have a 1 hour minimum as well or a minimum service charge just to show up. He may have to pick up the parts, travel to your house, he has tools, equipment insurance (health, workmans comp, liability), training and should gurantee the installation of that component. He also has a building, inventory costs, and maybe he doesn't like to mark-up the parts, but charger a little more for labor.

Investigate starting you own business and see how much you'd have to charge per hour assuming you can fill a full 40 hour work week.

For my workplace a HVAC contractor can also add on tiem for safety training, time needed to get work permits signed.

Don't forget, all those competitive bids, then may be free to you, but it's still someone's time to come to your home and put them together. All that gets rolled into overhead, whcih gets spread over an hourly rate. I find that smaller shops are often more reasonable for that reason. Less overhead.

[91stealthes]

larger furnace don't cost much more (maybe 1% if that on the total install price for each size increment), but most csutomers have become accustomed to pushing the thermostst and feeling instant heat, not a slow steady even heat. Some homeowners (I think they are weird) are so used to oversized units that they like the noise, woosh and rush of hot air.... it's comforting or something. IF it's 0F outside and a furance barely keeps up or takes 2-3 hours ot raise the tmep 1-2F, then many woudl think something is wrong and call a contractor.

Depending on where you live and construction, its might not be too far off. Home construction makes a big difference. If my home was Victorian stick frame it might need 100k or more. But being stucco and 1920 arts and crafts and well construction using more modern building techniques plus good storm windows, it's a lot better off.


You sure it takes only 45 minutes to change? He may have a 1 hour minimum as well or a minimum service charge just to show up. He may have to pick up the parts, travel to your house, he has tools, equipment insurance (health, workmans comp, liability), training and should gurantee the installation of that component. He also has a building, inventory costs, and maybe he doesn't like to mark-up the parts, but charger a little more for labor.

Investigate starting you own business and see how much you'd have to charge per hour assuming you can fill a full 40 hour work week.

For my workplace a HVAC contractor can also add on tiem for safety training, time needed to get work permits signed.

Don't forget, all those competitive bids, then may be free to you, but it's still someone's time to come to your home and put them together. All that gets rolled into overhead, whcih gets spread over an hourly rate. I find that smaller shops are often more reasonable for that reason. Less overhead.

I completely agree. My wife has owned 2 security businesses. The are definitely costs involved as well as overhead. I agree, it isn't easy, especially in a time when alot of people are becoming do-it-yourselfers.

He is a one-man show, so not much overhead other than a van, license and bond. I have no problem paying for service, especially for something as important as heat in the cold Illinois winters. Maybe it is just me, but I think 1.5 the cost of the part is excessive for only labor. Look up the parts cost and let me know what you think. I am sure you wouldn't want to pay that.

If it wasn't an important part of my furnace, I would change it myself. But not worth the risk in this situation.

My home was finished 10-years ago. I am unsure about how well insulated it is. With the furnace turned off, it dropped 7 degrees (69-62) in 8 hours. Is that good? Outside dropped to 33 overnight I believe.

Edit: upon turning the furnace back on when I woke up, it was up to 71 within 2 hours. Temperature outside was around 35 at that time.

Edit 2: Just reread your post. I didn't do any competitive bids. Just the one gentleman referred from my old HVAC guy.

[beshvac]

Yeah, yeah, drive time and mileage. So it's 15 minutes there and 15 minutes back, so technically, he could drive and do the whole job in 45 minutes if he is good. You know what I meant though, 45 minutes for the part change. Though, even with drive time at the government rate of $0.55 a mile, that's only $11. I have no problem paying drive time as well.

I really like you guys here. Great information and light-hearted at the same time.

Does he get any time to get out of the truck and go stand in line at the parts counter?

[91stealthes]

Does he get any time to get out of the truck and go stand in line at the parts counter?

Nope, don't you guys just drive by and they throw the parts through the window.

[91stealthes]

Thanks again everyone!!

Gary showed up with the part yesterday, was out in about 40 minutes. It took longer because the old inducer wouldn't break free to release the mounting bracket, so he tried to spray it and then had to cut the shaft.

Everything is working great and we are quiet again. He ended up charging me 1x the part cost for labor, so not too bad. I didn't object.

Thanks again for the support and knowledge! All of you were great!

[toocoolforschool]

You will receive our bill in the mail.
Lets see X amount of post plus search time + ummm big bucks.

[Senior Tech]

LOL, his is invisible, like mine, and all other moderators here, but he is approved to post in the AOP forums.

I'm asterikless... my life is over

[beenthere]

I'm asterikless... my life is over

Oh no, then my life is over too.