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Topic: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here (Read 617 times) |
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catlind
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HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« on: Feb 10th, 2008, 12:20pm » |
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Can anyone tell me anything about how I should choose a new furnace??
We had a new A/C unit put in 2.5 years ago and along with a heat pump, the guy told us then that the furnace was on it's last legs (16 years old) and had suffered some major water damage - but that's a different story.
So, anyone have any recommendations on the kind of furnace to put in (bearing in mind we do have a heat pump)?
Cold Cat
p.s. It's gas
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Melissa
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #1 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 12:29pm » |
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We just got a new one put in last year. It's an American Standard, can't remember the BTU's though. I'll ask Jesse when he wakes up.
In the meantime, wanna come over and have some hot chocolate by our fireplace? 
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catlind
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #2 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 12:42pm » |
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Sounds yummy! Of course a furnace NEVER goes out on a weekday - always on a Sunday when they can charge you massive amounts of extra money to come out on an emergency call 
My little gas fireplace doesn't do much to heat anything except the animals sleeping in front of it...*sigh*
Cat
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Jonny
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #3 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 12:53pm » |
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My furnace broke on the coldest day of the year two years ago, and I had to wait till the next day to get it fixed.
Went out and bought one of those little electric ceramic heaters, that sucker will heat two rooms just fine. 
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Melissa
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #4 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 1:26pm » |
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Ok, I asked Jesse and it is 80,000 BTU's. Jesse says the size also depends on the size of your house. Our house is 2200sqft ranch style.
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catlind
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #5 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 2:06pm » |
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Mines a teeny little 1436 sq ft, so I figured 50,000 BTUs; The little heater I have in the basement that I usually have in the garage to keep me warm while I smoke, has heated the basement up warmer than it is on a normal day with the furnace LOL - menopausal women, sheesh - and with the fireplace on it's keep the upstairs tolerable.
We are going out to get another space heater; We tried everything we could to fix it, bought a new fuse for the electronic ignition, reset the breaker, all the stuff you can do yourself. Nada. Of course the furnace guy will get here and one of two things will happen, he'll take 10 min. to put new wires in and charge me $100 or he'll tell me I have to drop several grand on a new furnace and wait til next week to have it installed....
aRgh.
Anyone have a preference for furnaces? Carrier, Lennox, Trane etc.?
Cat
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #6 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 2:21pm » |
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I have a Lennox Pulse , Cat.
I like it. It's like a 92+ and doesn't cost too much to heat my house. It came with the house, but I think they are pretty expensive.
Dave
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #7 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 2:51pm » |
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Hey Cat,
It's nice and sunny here with the highs in the low 70s. Come on down and play in the sunshine!
Carolyn
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MR_FLOOR
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #8 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 3:17pm » |
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I like Melissa also have an American Standard 2 years old. I have a friend thats in the business, he said that American Standard and Train are the best on the market.
Dave
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catlind
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #9 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 4:46pm » |
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@#$%^@%^&@*^*#%$^@#$^%%^& $170 just to come out to the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then of course the cost to see if it CAN be fixed, then the cost to fix it, then of course if it can't be fixed the cost to buy a new one - $2500-$3000 he said GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRr
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Charlie
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #10 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 4:51pm » |
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Sorry. I'm not much help. Mine is 47 years old and about as effecient as a bonfire. Can't wait to replace the thing.
Charlie
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purpleydog
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #11 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 5:31pm » |
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When we replaced our heating and central air about 4 years ago, we got a Trane. I'm in the industrial supply business, so I got 3 bids, and went with the company who supplied it. It's a 96% high efficiency, and we set the thermostat up 2 degrees higher than the year before, and our heat bills were lower.
The entire furnace, and central A/C, along with an "Air Bear" filter system (had 2 dogs and 2 cats) (5 inch thick furnace filter), and an air to air heat exchanger (to get fresh air into the sealed up house in the winter), was $6K.
Check the warranty on the furnace, Cat, the Trane we got has a 10 year warranty for parts and labor. I also got an extended warranty to do a twice a year check to the system before winter, and before summer. This warranty also includes emergency (after hours) calls. It also includes replacement of the air bear filter ($40.00).
High efficiency furnaces will pay for themselves in a few years, due to the extra heat not going up the chimney, literally. They vent out of the side of your house.
Get a few bids, I'm sure they will get over there same day in your situation, and ask them how soon they can get it installed. A good company will be accommodating. Let me know if you have any questions.
edit to add: it took them 1 day to take out the old furnace, and 1 day to put in the new one. Make sure the company is licensed.
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| « Last Edit: Feb 10th, 2008, 5:38pm by purpleydog » |
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vietvet2tours
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #12 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 5:45pm » |
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on Feb 10th, 2008, 4:51pm, Charlie wrote:Sorry. I'm not much help. Mine is 47 years old and about as effecient as a bonfire. Can't wait to replace the thing.
Charlie |
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Mine is a bonfire. That's bread rising in front of the stove.
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Melissa
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #13 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 6:36pm » |
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Cat, for an American Standard 80,000 BTU Comfort R furnace with a 2 stage burner (which is what we have), Jesse says to have it installed would be about $2200. Now that's here in central WI. Jesse had his friend install it who's an HVAC tech and it cost us $1800 plus we had a $300 rebate.
He says for your home a 60,000 BTU would work good (he was wondering if it's a ranch or two story?).
Please make sure you shop around for prices, you don't need to spend a ton of money to get a good furnace.
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| « Last Edit: Feb 10th, 2008, 6:37pm by Melissa » |
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Jonny
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #14 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 7:07pm » |
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on Feb 10th, 2008, 5:31pm, purpleydog wrote:
edit to add: it took them 1 day to take out the old furnace, and 1 day to put in the new one. |
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Would you expect anything less on a day your freezing your ass off? 
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MJ
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #15 on: Feb 10th, 2008, 8:26pm » |
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Hi catlind.
Maybe I can help. I dont know much but I have a little experience.
First if you have a heat pump, you can set that to operate at down to 15 deg (maybe lower depending on the brand) and you will still get plenty of heat. the air coming out of the registers will only be about 80 degrees.
It will feel cool but its enough to heat the house at those temps.
Most all brands are fairly good. Its the contractors that can suck. Make sure your comfortable with them.
Variable speed 95% plus is the way to go. You may pay around 500 more for a variable speed but the payback through operating costs is fairly rapid in both heating and cooling and its a nice investment for the future.
A high end thermostat can also help in operating costs and the programming variables to suck out all the heat.
2 Stage heat is also a nice option and most units now supply that.
I looked at Omaha (from your profile) temps and tonights the coldest night. The rest of the week your HP could possibly do the job. Turn on the oven tonight to 150 w/ door 1/2 open and the furnace fan on to circulate the heat.
I reccomend you check into all available rebates through power company, gas company, tax man, etc.. These can amount to significant dollars. Your contractor should be aware of these.
Be aware a lot of companies will want to change ductwork and supply those fat filters at extra costs that dont allways make a difference. Have them explain to you why you may need them.
Depending on rates in your area I would suspect replacing a 60k BTU furnace only in your area to run from 1900 to 3200 depending on the brand and marketing costs.
Trane is at the high end of pricing. Goodman is at the other end and in my experience Goodman is a superior unit to most other brands.
Accept nothing less than a 10 year warranty on the furnace.
There are many other options if your pockets are deep.
We have been using these in a lot of small commercial apps lately to the tune of around 150 of them sold last year.
http://www.goodmanmfg.com/Home/Products/GasFurnacesHighEfficiencyUpTo95A FUE/tabid/225/Default.aspx
our newest product for about 10Gs
http://www.gotohallowell.com
or we could put in one of these babies for you at 42million BTUs wich we just finished our 3rd boiler retro installation on. thats enough heat to supply around 800 plus houses your size.
http://www.weishaupt-corp.com/products/model/modelmultiflam.htm
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| « Last Edit: Feb 10th, 2008, 8:49pm by MJ » |
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MJ
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catlind
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #16 on: Feb 11th, 2008, 8:10am » |
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The good (I think) news is that was able to fix it....or at least sorta....
There's a flap that opens when the pilot ignites (or the other way around) and that allows an inflow of air. He fixed it by jamming it open with a pencil.....
Cost me $300 to use a pencil to fix my heater.....
aRgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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George_J
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #17 on: Feb 11th, 2008, 9:16am » |
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on Feb 10th, 2008, 8:26pm, MJ wrote:
Trane is at the high end of pricing. Goodman is at the other end and in my experience Goodman is a superior unit to most other brands. |
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Got to agree. We had a Goodman installed recently when our old furnace expired, and I've been very pleased with it so far. Ask me again in ten years.
Sorry to hear that the repair only required the judicious use of a pencil. But like a lot of other things, you're not paying for the pencil--you're paying for the knowledge that a pencil could fix it.
Best wishes,
George
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catlind
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #18 on: Feb 16th, 2008, 10:40am » |
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Thanks for all the help and advice everyone!
We had heat until Monday when the furnace and thermostat decided to get in a fight again - the thermostat is one of those fancy computer type things that goes with the heat pump, and the furnace keeps turning it off.
We called in a couple folks to give us estimates and the one company tried to sell us the fat filter - we had a friend come over and look things over before we let these yahoos in. I have 4 pets in the house and yes the fat filter would stop *some* of the fur, but not enough to make a difference since most of it is stuck to the couch, carpet, beds and clothing LOL.
They pulled the classic deal of if you place the order right now we'll give you 10% off - after the the 10% they wanted $4110. The second company, who is an umbrella company for several contractors - aksarben (Nebraska backwards) they allow independent contractors to sign up under their umbrella and that gives them the strength of a large company for insurances and the like, and each contractor is then required to maintain a yearly certification depending on what they do (we've used them for our garage door, the concrete driveway and the a/c heat pump, and plumbing as well as to repair a washing machine) all with good pricing and the knowledge the employees are drug tested, bonded and background checked and are certified yearly in whatever their area of expertise is.
We ended up getting a mid range 70,000 btu, variable speed 2 stage carrier (that's what the a/c and heat pump are as well) and they are putting in a humidifier as well - something we desperately need, and they took off the repair charge since we used the same company, and charged no tax - apparently a new thing for using high efficiency heating models. Total price with install and 2 new air return grates to bring us up to code was $3010. One year no interest no payments, so we get to use their money for a year
I'm not savvy with this stuff, but the unit with the heat pump ends up being 95% efficient. They will be here to install on Monday morning and they put in a little bigger pencil to make sure the furnace stays running til they get here LOL. They also made sure we knew that if it went out again or anything happened to call them at any time day or night and they would be right out to take care of it.
We probably overpaid a little, but part of that cost is the service and they have always been superb in the service dept.
Thanks again for all the help and advice everyone
Cat
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #19 on: Feb 16th, 2008, 10:50am » |
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Good for you Cat, glad you got everything resolved!
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ClusterChuck
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #20 on: Feb 17th, 2008, 12:13am » |
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Cat, Sorry it is so cold there! It is cold HERE, too!
I even had to put the top up on my car!
BRRRRRR !!!
Chuck
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The mad viking
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #21 on: Feb 17th, 2008, 6:38am » |
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on Feb 17th, 2008, 12:13am, ClusterChuck wrote:Cat, Sorry it is so cold there! It is cold HERE, too!
I even had to put the top up on my car!
BRRRRRR !!!
Chuck |
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I believe this calls for some sort of LONG TERM REVENGE Cat or what do you say
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catlind
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Re: HELP!!!!!!!! Frrrreeeezzzziing here
« Reply #22 on: Feb 17th, 2008, 9:20am » |
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on Feb 17th, 2008, 6:38am, The mad viking wrote:
I believe this calls for some sort of LONG TERM REVENGE Cat or what do you say |
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Oh Svenn you have NO idea...... 
Chuck you are aware that there is a very high likely hood that I will be living in the state of North Carolina by September of this year? Odds are very high for Clark to be given a PCS (permanent change of station)...
Perhaps you would like to rethink your statement?
(And yes the moving company always packs my 2x4's ...and the 4x4's and 2x6's.....)
Cat
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