Author Topic: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..  (Read 45034 times)

qval

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #50 on: April 22, 2016, 05:45:10 PM »
I'm surprised nobody has raised the issue of carbon monoxide from a leaky, corroded, heat exchanger.    Does anyone see this as a potential reason for changing your furnace?   Or are they all boilers instead of forced air?

Good point. anybody with a furnace should  check out grey furnace man on youtube. Good stuff, you're looking for a video on what happens to your flames when the HX is rusted through (they go all wonky instead of steady even and blue).

NoStacheOhio

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #51 on: April 23, 2016, 06:16:00 AM »
Heat exchangers are often covered by a lifetime warranty, but you have to pay for install, which is $500-600. Ask me how I know. :-|

HipGnosis

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #52 on: April 25, 2016, 08:13:37 AM »
I'm surprised nobody has raised the issue of carbon monoxide from a leaky, corroded, heat exchanger.    Does anyone see this as a potential reason for changing your furnace?   Or are they all boilers instead of forced air?
She said it was serviced last year.  They surely checked for that, so not a concern.

coffeelover

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #53 on: April 27, 2016, 07:52:54 PM »
Fellow Midwesterner here. Our furnace was also over 20 years old, and we ended up opting to replace both the furnace and AC with a high efficiency model. The furnace kept needing repairs, and it wasn't worth the repair costs. I'm also terrified of carbon monoxide poisoning due to childhood events... so I had a little motivation there.

We were able to negotiate a 10% discount in return for paying cash instead of financing. You might try that if you are able. There is also a tax credit for efficient HVAC installs (10% of cost, up to $500), so keep that in mind.

We would automatically according to their proposal geta 5% discount for paying cash, which we plan to do.
Do you think this can be negotiated higher? Any money saved is more money for something else that is gonna break. hah

Frugal Lizard

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #54 on: April 27, 2016, 08:10:00 PM »
I'm surprised nobody has raised the issue of carbon monoxide from a leaky, corroded, heat exchanger.    Does anyone see this as a potential reason for changing your furnace?   Or are they all boilers instead of forced air?
The one I replaced had service notices because it was prone to leaking carbon monoxide- that was the biggest reason why I pulled the plug on it. 

Pooplips

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #55 on: April 28, 2016, 06:56:58 AM »
Heat exchangers are the most expensive part in the furnace. Actually, it is the furnace if you think about it. Any heat exchanger that is leaking carbon monoxide has failed and I think that is the only way they can fail?

That stuff can kill you. I try not ot mess around to much with stuff that can kill me.

GuitarStv

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #56 on: April 28, 2016, 07:58:34 AM »
I don't get all the fear of carbon monoxide.  You know that a detector is only about 20-30 dollars right?  Stick one in the room with your furnace and one outside of where you sleep and never worry about it again.

Pooplips

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #57 on: April 28, 2016, 09:17:31 AM »
So you would allow a known leak of carbon monoxide from your furnace to persist till when? What is the failure rate of those detectors? just curious.

GuitarStv

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #58 on: April 28, 2016, 09:28:45 AM »
So you would allow a known leak of carbon monoxide from your furnace to persist till when? What is the failure rate of those detectors? just curious.

No.  I'd fix it if there was leaking.  I just wouldn't be terribly worried about leaking with multiple CO detectors in the home.

CheapScholar

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #59 on: January 06, 2017, 07:10:14 AM »
I'm running 29 year old furnace and AC in northern Indiana.  I'm pretty conservative with energy.  We've been in this house 3 years now - Furnace and AC are original to house.  We are pretty much waiting for one of these units to die and then we will replace both.

I agree with many - usually a better deal to replace both at the same time.  I disagree with what someone said about replacing a furnace in winter being expensive.  A family friend who we trust works in sales in the area for the units and he said the best months to buy are January  and February.  Most families don't have cash after x-mas and the companies installing units are absolutely desperate for business. 

Iplawyer

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #60 on: January 06, 2017, 01:19:08 PM »
Bought a place 5 years ago with a 30+ year old AC and furnace.  I was certain they were on their death bed but seller wouldn't replace because they were working.  Inspector said they would die soon.  AC guy said they could go 20 more years.  Both are still going strong.  I know that they are not efficient - but it is also inefficient to just junk something and buy new. So we'll use them until one dies - then replace both.

TomTX

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #61 on: January 06, 2017, 01:32:26 PM »
My furnace is 24 years old, and i have no plans to replace it.

I am in Austin, so it doesn't get heavy use (except for right now)

Natural gas is cheap, efficiency doesn't gain me much

My HVAC guy says it's in fine shape.

MilesTeg

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #62 on: January 06, 2017, 01:52:43 PM »
Have you considered a heat pump? The previous owners of my house replaced the AC and gas furnace with a single heat pump.

Based on your statement that you use the furnace for 7+ months of the year, it might not be possible and/or cost effective.

AFAIK Heat pumps are only effective in mild climates. They aren't capable of creating, for example, a 60F temperature delta

MilesTeg

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #63 on: January 06, 2017, 01:56:20 PM »
Yes, replace it now if it is financially feasible to do. Furnaces are relatively cheap (unlike A/C) and you have gotten a decent life out of the old one. Combining the labor will be cheaper, and you can avoid the possibility of a broken heater in the middle of winter, which can result in 10s of thousands in damage. One frozen/broken pipe can lead to needing to entirely gut and replace large parts of your house.

Reynolds531

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #64 on: January 06, 2017, 04:02:14 PM »
I have a home warranty through my cibc mortgage. $18 a month to cover hvac and electrical and plumbing. Over the years it has paid far in excess of my contributions.

A good service plan also means you don't care about overtime on holidays etc.

postvmvs

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Re: Would you replace a furnace that is 21 years old..
« Reply #65 on: January 06, 2017, 06:50:08 PM »
I am sorry if this was mentioned earlier in the thread and I missed, but is this a forced hot air system?