New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o furnace? - http://www.hvacmechanic.com/ Forums

Original message

dtoner73

67.175.150.127

"New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o furnace?" , posted Mon 3 Mar 19:11

I have a 15 year old Comfortmaker furnace. The heat exchanger was replaced in 2003 for free except for the labor to install.
Now the heat exchanger is bad (cracked, ring left off). The tech who installed in 2003 is not longer available but I have his receipt with the model and serial numbers as follows

Model: GDI078A012AIN
Serial: L934690028

Is it worth replacing the heat exchanger for a 3rd time in a furnace this old or time to replace with a better brand like Trane and more efficiency? Please help. Thanks.

Replies:

tinner73

68.60.236.253

"Re(1):New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o fu" , posted Mon 3 Mar 20:02

what you need to do is find out what is killing those heat exchangers? it's probably the size of the ductwork. then get a new furnace.

union trained in Chicago

tinner73

68.60.236.253

"Re(2):New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o fu" , posted Tue 4 Mar 16:03:

if you need help deciding what furnace is best. here's what Consumer Reports says........

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/
gas-furnaces/furnaces-repair-history-205/overview/

union trained in Chicago

[this message was edited by tinner73 on Tue 4 Mar 16:07]

dtoner73

67.175.150.127

"Re(2):New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o fu" , posted Mon 3 Mar 20:14

The tech that came over today said the replacement heat exchanger that was put in in 2003 has a faulty design. It's a manufacturer default but unfortunately the only heat exchanger that'll fit my unit is with the model / serial number I provided. To give you an idea of the uniqueness of the furnace take 2 - 18 x 10 air filters (I have never seen these sizes sold in stores).

I would just like to get the heat exchanger replaced and pay the few hundred for labor instead of getting an entirely new furnace. My gut is telling me get the new furnace but my wallet doesn't feel the same way.

marchvac

24.57.149.86

"Re(1):New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o fu" , posted Mon 3 Mar 19:25

You need a brand new Lennox furnace.

Be careful sometimes you don't get a second chance

tom446

66.66.203.58

"Re(2):New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o fu" , posted Mon 3 Mar 20:38

At 15 years old and a poor track record, I would go with the guts. The wallet will never agree, but at some point it will have no say in the matter. As tinner said find the cause first.

If in doubt call a pro !

yuri

205.200.222.173

"Re(3):New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o fu" , posted Mon 3 Mar 22:03

Badly designed heat exchanger made out of poor grade metal in my opinion. Buy a good Lennox furnace and make sure the installer sets it up properly. Ask him to check the temp rise thru the unit and adjust the fan speed or fix the ductwork properly.

Yuri

Technician

66.66.130.234

"Re(4):New heat exchanger or replace 15 y.o fu" , posted Tue 4 Mar 21:04:

I would replace with a new Amana/Goodman AMH95 95%eff furnace. If you feel like going the extra mile make it an AMV9 2 stage, variable speed, 96% eff. You will never have a problem with the heat exchanger, and if you do godman wil replace the whole furnace and not just the exchanger. Better than the Lennox and not as expensive. I have been installing these units for 4 years. The tubular, stainless steel design is the best in the industry.

[this message was edited by Technician on Tue 4 Mar 21:16]