From HVAC-TALK.COM:
“I know you’re all dying to know how things are going with my Amana furnace . So….
Last Thursday I was offered a replacement American Standard Freedom 80 2 stage installed for $800 (don’t forget that this is on top of the full price I already paid for the Amana installed (somewhere between $2500 and $3000 cdn) ). Although I felt this was still an unfair amount of money for me to put out in this situation I agreed so I could finally be rid of the Amana and move on from this ugly scene.
The American Standard got put in this morning and the Amana was taken away.
OH MY GOD WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
I don’t cringe any more every time the furnace fires up. In fact I didn’t even notice when the furnace fired at all this evening.
When I was in the basement suite talking with my wife and aunt about 12ft away from the utilities closet they commented that this furnace is so much better. I asked ‘Is it on right now???’. They said ‘yes it is’. I had to run to the utility closet to confirm it was on. The sound of our conversation was able to mask the sound of the furnace. Imagine that.
Before I could tell from the floor above whenever the furnace was firing. In the mornings from my bed two floors up I could hear the Amana unit going…this floor is an addition to the original house and has no registers to carry any sound.
So I leave you all now in peace.
Cheers.
George.”
read whole story @
http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=152741
Who wants to think about the heating system when it’s warm and sunny outside? But winter is never that far away, and having a heating system service done now will ensure that the heat will come on when it is finally needed.
Q: When I called a heating and air contractor to fix my 17-year-old furnace, he told me it was beyond repair and quoted me a “special” price to have it replaced, if I signed his contract that day. I don’t like being pressured into making a decision, especially one that involves thousands of dollars.
A: Unfortunately, we are hearing more and more stories of high pressure and even scare sales tactics these days, which is totally unnecessary when someone is offering a valuable product or service at a fair price. Of course, you should always get competitive estimates on costly home improvements. Contact another heating and air company, describe the problem, tell them the make, model, size and efficiency ratings of the new unit the repair person is trying to sell you, and see what they say. In this case, you probably would save money by replacing a unit that is over 15 years old, but you certainly need more information and options to make a wise decision with which you can feel comfortable.
Q: Last year when we turned on the furnace for the first time one morning, it smelled so bad we were worried it was carbon monoxide or something else was wrong. Is this normal?
A: The odor is normal because dust collects on the heat exchanger over the summer, and turning it on for the first time simply burns the dust off. Carbon monoxide is odorless, so you could not smell it. Homeowners should install a good carbon monoxide detector to make sure none of this deadly poison is present in their homes. When you turn on your furnace for the first time leave the windows open to dispel the odor quickly. This is also the ideal time to schedule a maintenance appointment to make sure your furnace will work properly when you need it.
Q: What does a furnace maintenance check-up consist of?
A: We perform the following steps:
- Inspect thermostat for proper operation.
- Inspect filter and change or clean as needed.
- Check all electrical components and controls.
- Oil motors as needed.
- Inspect heat exchanger for possible cracks. A crack in the heat exchanger will introduce carbon monoxide into the living space.
- Check air flow. If diminished, it may be necessary to clean the evaporator coil.
- Check air fuel mixture, where appropriate.
Q: Is there anything a homeowner can do to assure proper operation and safety of their furnace?
A: Yes. The first thing to check before turning on your unit is to make sure nothing flammable has been stored next to the furnace over the summer (we frequently find lawn mowers, gas cans, etc. stacked against the furnace in the garage!) Use the following as a guide:
- Run your heater for a few minutes now, before you need it. If you wait until the first cold morning to discover is isn’t working, you’ll find yourself on a waiting list before a heating and air specialist can come to fix it.
- Change the filters regularly. Dirty filters restrict air flow, reducing efficiency and worse case, can cause the heat exchanger to overheat. Disposable fiberglass filters should be replaced. Electrostatic or electronic filters need to be washed regularly.
- Be sure all access panels are secure, with all the screws in place.
- Be sure the thermostat is set in the heating mode. Just setting the dial above room temperature will not activate the heat if it is still set in the air conditioning mode.
Q: The home we just purchased has a heat pump and it doesn’t seem to warm up as quickly as our previous house which had a gas furnace.
A: A heat pump is simply an air conditioner with the ability to reverse the flow of refrigerant (freon), and gas furnaces are simply more efficient than air conditioners. If your thermostat is set at 70-degrees, your heat pump will discharge air at approximately 20-degrees above thermostat setting while a gas furnace produces approximately 40-degrees hotter air, naturally warming the area much faster.
Q: I started my furnace and set it at the temperature I needed. It ran fine and did reach the temperature, but after a few minutes it kicked on again. It would run for approximately ten minutes and shut off. The furnace is about 20 years old, and I had it cleaned and serviced last year.
A: You need to have a heating and air conditioning expert come look at your furnace. However, do not be surprised if they recommend you get a new heating system. It may be much more efficient and economical than an older one that may continue to break down.
Although heating and air conditioning companies usually charge for service calls whether you choose to have them repair the system or not, they almost always give free estimates on installing or replacing systems. If you decide to buy a new one, don’t automatically sign a contract with the first company that gives you an estimate, even if you think you want to hire them to do the job. New equipment is too large an investment to make a snap decision, and reputable firms will respect your desire to do your homework and get comparable bids.
Be sure to talk to at least three different companies and carefully compare their bids for the size of system recommended, manufacturer warranties on both parts and labor, and any extra ductwork they may recommend before making a final choice. Collecting competitive bids is always the best way to make sure you have all the information you need to choose the best product, as well as, the service provider you would prefer working with.
