Day Old Furnace

[Sutree]

A contractor is offering to provide me with a discount if I buy a previously installed furnace. Previous furnace was installed for a day and then removed.

What questions should I ask to determine whether this is worthwhile? Or would going this route be a mistake? Should I go with a brand new furnace?

Furnace is variable, 2 stage Lennox, G61.

Thanks for any insight.

[im4snow2000]

Did he say why it was removed?

If you can get a warranty same as new, in writing, I don't see the downside.

[Mr Bill]

I see no problem, your warranty starts on the day of install and if it's a few bucks
cheaper go for it, I would personally just look over it physically.

[Sutree]

No, we didn't get that far into the discussion, but I wanted to be prepared with questions. I will ask to look it over. Are there any mechanical things I need to ask about? Issues with new fittings?

Thanks again for the replies.

Edit, he said the tech doing the install didn't notice that it was the wrong furnace for the customer, so they had to pull it out after the discovery. I found that to be kind of odd.

[beenthere]

Is it the right size for your house.

Just because its 2 stage, doesn't mean it can be oversized and save you any money.

[Mr Bill]

Edit, he said the tech doing the install didn't notice that it was the wrong furnace for the customer, so they had to pull it out after the discovery. I found that to be kind of odd.

No not hard to believe, this does happen, we don't like it but sometimes the supply
house gives us the wrong one and we just forget to check.

[Sutree]

My current furnace is 50,000 BTUs and 60% efficiency. It is adequate for heating the home (approx. 1,100 sq.ft). The one he is proposing is 70,000 and 80% efficiency. The upside he proposed was quietness and long term savings, but the calculation he gave me was based off a brochure, not off an inspection of the home.

[Mr Bill]

Is it the right size for your house.

Just because its 2 stage, doesn't mean it can be oversized and save you any money.

Well, that would mean he is just trying to pawn this off on her, and if that was the case he
would need to be dropped like a lead balloon, but if this is all on the up and up and she can
save a few bucks, I would personally go for it. If trust is an issue well my advise is find
someone else to give you a bid, I gather trust isn't an issue here, but who knows.

[beenthere]

Your old units AFUE may be 60%, but uts SSE(steady state efficiency) is probay 78 or 80%.

Doubtfull your duct system is sized big enough to handle the extra air the new unit will need to move.

You'll see little if any savings with it in first stage all the time.

If your getting it for less then a new 50,000BTU 80%, you might break even.

[beenthere]

I would personally go for it. If trust is an issue well my advise is find
someone else to give you a bid, I gather trust isn't an issue here, but who knows.

Bet at least 50% of the poeple that post about install, and sizing problems, trusted the salsman/company.

[Mr Bill]

Your old units AFUE may be 60%, but uts SSE(steady state efficiency) is probay 78 or 80%.

Doubtfull your duct system is sized big enough to handle the extra air the new unit will need to move.

You'll see little if any savings with it in first stage all the time.

If your getting it for less then a new 50,000BTU 80%, you might break even.

I'm sure she or he understood all of this, this is why we try and hire contractors
we trust that they know what there doing.

[Sutree]

Your old units AFUE may be 60%, but uts SSE(steady state efficiency) is probay 78 or 80%.

Doubtfull your duct system is sized big enough to handle the extra air the new unit will need to move.

You'll see little if any savings with it in first stage all the time.

If your getting it for less then a new 50,000BTU 80%, you might break even.

Beyond thermal efficiency, are there supposed to be more savings due to more efficient, variable blower?

[beenthere]

The VS blower will save on the electric bill, if the duct work isn't undersized.

Good chance 70,000 BTU furnace will never go to second stage, except for recovery, if you set your stat back at night, and or when you go to work.