Natural Gas Home heater replacement

[dennis in se pa]

Mine is almost 30 years old. Still works, but if the cost is not higher than I feel comfortable with I would replace it rather than wait for it to breakdown. Anybody replace one recently that can give me an idea? 2000 SF house. I think it has an 88000 BTU unit now. Local suppliers want to send out a sales guy. I hate to waste his time. Let me add that it would not include dealing with the A/C condenser. My A/C is separate.

[DerkPerk]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

Mine is almost 30 years old. Still works, but if the cost is not higher than I feel comfortable with I would replace it rather than wait for it to breakdown. Anybody replace one recently that can give me an idea? 2000 SF house. I think it has an 88000 BTU unit now. Local suppliers want to send out a sales guy. I hate to waste his time.

I wouldn't be afraid to waste a guys time. You are considering replacement if the price is right.
I'm in the commercial hvac trade so with an educated guess I'd say you should budget 3-5k for a furnace replacement.

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[dennis in se pa]

Thank you Derk

[1990C4S]

I agree, 3k is the bottom end...

[KFC911]

Had mine replaced with a Rheem a few months back. Nat. gas & a/c unit combined in a slightly smaller house. I have a great HVAC guy....didn't need to shop quotes, and boy can they vary . Seems as if it was around $4300.

[MBAtarga]

Last heat/air unit we replaced was similar to KC911's above- about $4500. IIRC, was 75k BTU furnace ( 95% efficiency) and 2 ton A/C. Outside compressor replaced at the same time included in the cost. My guy is an indy - owns the company himself.

[cabmandone]

So you just want to replace the furnace? No A/C, No Ductwork? If so, about $1400 for the furnace about $500 for miscellaneous materials for connecting old to new and 8 hours labor max. I come up with $2700 installed. If you have metal vent and want to upgrade to an 80% versus the old you could save some money there but while you're doing the job I'd go up to 95% efficiency in a single stage system. If you go to the variable speed DC drive systems you get into duct redesign.

[Crowbob]

[sammyg2]

I can't quite grasp the concept of replacing a perfectly good heater.

Maybe that's cause I live where we don't use ours much?


And that one is installed sideways ^^^

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Horizontal Left installation.
I just installed a Payne that is made by Carrier. Same furnaces.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Horizontal Left installation.
I just installed a Payne that is made by Carrier. Same furnaces.

I installed one just like it recently but I hung it from the ceiling.

[Crowbob]

Welp, another thread going sideways.

Ha!

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I installed one just like it recently but I hung it from the ceiling.

Technically a down flow application then. I'd suggest fixing your vent pipes or the pressure switch will kick out due to moisture buildup in the lines.

[GWN7]

I replaced mine awhile ago. Cost $3,500. 1500 sf house. Went from a 60% efficiency to a 98% with the corresponding 38% $$ drop in usage. Only complaint is the new thermostat takes two AAA batteries. If they die you have no heat.

Call and waste the salesman's time. A good one will tell you what you have, it's expected life, what it can be replaced with and payback time at current gas prices.

[recycled sixtie]

We don't have ac but had a Trane installed ten years ago. It is high efficiency and gas costs are reasonable. Zero problems since we have had it. Can't remember what it cost but for peace of mind it was worth it replacing the old one. The house feels warmer now and the motor runs quieter.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by GWN7

I replaced mine awhile ago. Cost $3,500. 1500 sf house. Went from a 60% efficiency to a 98% with the corresponding 38% $$ drop in usage. Only complaint is the new thermostat takes two AAA batteries. If they die you have no heat.

Call and waste the salesman's time. A good one will tell you what you have, it's expected life, what it can be replaced with and payback time at current gas prices.

What T'stat?
You should be able to wire a good programmable stat to include 1st and 2nd stage heating (if required) terminals W1 and W2, cooling Y1, fan switch G and a common terminal to use the 24 vac control voltage to power up the stat.

[billybek]

To the O.P.
Find a local company with high reviews on install and after sales service and install what ever brand they sell. I would be more concerned with good service and parts availability than first cost (although important) or manufacturer.

I recently had replaced a 16 year old Trane two stage heat high efficiency furnace with a York two stage. So far I am very pleased with the Yorks performance. The Trane had developed a main circuit board glitch and the cost of the board plus retro fit time was comparable to a new furnace with a 10 year warranty.

I would recommend the two stage furnace. Much nicer heat and most of the time it runs at just over 40% of its high stage capacity. Much nicer heat in the house with more consistent temperatures.

[Neilk]

Since we are on a furnace discussion, can anyone help with an ignition lock out error message on my Carrier furnace? Installers seem clueless on how to fix it. I can hear water gurgling in the exhaust flue which was supposed to have been fixed yesterday, but still occurring. So frustrating!

[1990C4S]

Maybe your power vent flow switch isn't turning on?

Can you get a diagnostic message from the flashing LED?

[billybek]

Try pulling the small flexible lines to the pressure switches.
Is there water there?

It sounds like it could be the vent piping is not sloped correctly or that the furnace may require a trapped combustion condensate outlet. Some furnaces if there is not a consistent liquid seal in the combustion condensate piping, it will not prove combustion air on the pressure switch(s).

Pretty much guessing here without seeing the install.

Is the furnace in an up flow position or is it installed vertical?