New Furnace

[Tumbleweed]

Well, I knew the day would come that I'd need to buy a new frunace and I think that day is here. It is 21 years old and was top of the line when it was new at 90% efficiency. It is a Kenmore. To fix it properly it would cost well over $1,000 and I just can't see putting that much into a that old of a furnace.

So far I have had gotten the absolute cost from one company for two different brands. (They guarantee there will be no additional costs even if they find they need to replace anything else to install it properlly.

It is going to run me just about $4,000. Yikes. Who has that kind of money but I guess I'll have to find it somewhere with winter coming up quickly.

I'll call a couple more reputable companies and get a price from them an then make my decision.

I'll add the details in tomorrow on exact cost, brands, etc. since my paperwork is down stairs and I'm too lazy to go get it now.

I was shocked to find out that preplacing the air condition is even more expensive. It too is 21 years old but running fine. Finger crossed.

Oh I dread this but then on the other hand, if I ever need to sell this house in the near future, having a new furnace would definately be a plus.

[aRMY83]

Yikes is right Tumbleweed and one can't seem to find anything lower in price today. Some three plus years ago, we had the same issue with our furnace and it cost us $2600.00 to replace the old one. Just four days ago, the Mrs exhaust system on her car went out and WOW! as that cost $1900.00. Then two days ago, our fridge went out and with a co-pay (AHS) of $60.00, we got that fixed.

I must say tho, that it being 21 years old, was not bad at all. You know as I do, they just don't make things today, like they use to. Keep us posted to what you decide to buy.

Gotta run and by the way, the AHS is American Home Shield that we have for the home.

p.s. wish we had AHS when the furnace went out!

[Tumbleweed]

Wow, an exhaust system cost that much! That is mind boggling. Oh please don't let my exhaust system kick the bucket. I feel for you having those expensive things to deal with. Not fun.

Prior to this furnace thing I had to replace my brake pads and rotors on my car. I only did my front as they were the ones that were going bad but I'm sure my rear ones are on their way to wearing out. I forget what that cost but it was expensive, which was why I opted just to do the fronts first.

No furnace installed yet. I'm trying to come up with the $$$ so I don't have to borrow or put it on a credit card plus I am waiting on the city as they have a program where they may help. But they are very busy so Monday I should know more about if I qualify to be helped or not.

There is also a tax break if you get the 95% efficiency furnace so that's good news.

Estimates are all around $4,000 for a 95% efficient furnace. I've narrowed it down to two companies and they are competing for my business. One upped the efficiency and brand to match the competition. The other guy knocked his price down by about $200 to get the bid. I have decided which company to go with so I'm just waiting on the city. The brand is a Trane, which I believe is one of the top brands.

Once it is in, it will be interesting to see how much my gas bills go down. I hope there will be a significant difference because my gas bills are so high, I fell like I'm making my mortgage payment and not paying just the gas bill.

Meanwhile, the weather got a little cold but we are o.k using some little space heaters. I've not fired up the fireplace because of my Mom's asthm but I will if I have to.

Hopefully, we'll have the furnace installed by the end of this coming week. Fingers crossed.

[aRMY83]

Hello Tumbleweed...

Sorry I have not been around, but WOW! between the forums I belong to and the doc's visits downtown, (everything okay, thus far) I find it hard to have any time just sitting back and relaxing. Anyways... I'm sure you have that furnace installed by now. Bet they had to PULL that check from your hands...

You indeed, purchased one of the best (Trane) and will give you plenty of years of great service. Seems tho, when us consumers try and help with the energy consumptions, (buying the best products), that everything else around us goes up in price *ticks me off*. I say, what happen to those "good 'ole days" when life was so simple?

Enough of me ranting here...

Going to get, so you have a great one and say hello to Mom from us folks...

[Tumbleweed]

Here is what happened. The city paid for the whole thing! I'm not kidding! I'm still in shock about it. But there is bad news. It isn't one of the very top brands I was hoping for (Trane) and the people who installed it weren't the ones I picked. The deal was, the city would pay for it but they wanted to go with the lowest bid and the company they trusted and the furnace that company would install.

So I weighed the pros:
It was free!
It was a 92% efficiency Goodman furnace (compared to my 21 year old 90% efficiency furnace which was probably running at 70% or so) and not the 95% I had hoped for.
It was free!
The guy from the company the city wanted to go with was nice enough. I'd probably had picked him 2nd after my first choice.

Cons:
Not the Trane I wanted.
Not the company I wanted to do the install.
No tax break.
It would cost me about $4,000

I have to tell you, I don't especially like taking things from the government. I always felt it was for the really, really poor but then as I got to thinking, I'll probably never see my social security that I paid into for all my working life so I may as well get a little something back from the government so I "Said yes to the free furnace".

So now the furnace is installed and it seems to be working very nicely. The temperature seems to stay fairly even and this is refreshing since my old one seemed to make it too hot, then too cold. It is quiet as a mouse. I cannot hear it run at all in the living room. The installation looks like it was done fairly well but the duct work isn't as professional looking as my old and although I've heard of this being done before, I wasn't thrilled the filter is closed off with a simple magnetic sheet. Seems a little rinky-dink, if you ask me. But it was FREE!

My thoughts are this. I'm going to start putting more money away to go toward a new furnace, just in case I end up being unhappy with this for one reason or another. I'm sorry, but the old saying, "If something seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true" keeps going through my head. I'm not used to free things.

What I have left to do. The company that did the install needs to come back in a few days just to make sure all is working well and then I need the city inspector to come out and give it the o.k.

And that's it and not a dime coming out of my pocket. Do I feel a little guilty? Yes, but I also feel very relieved I didn't have to come up with such a large chunk of money.

By the way, a fairly nice site to do some research for furnaces, air conditioners, etc. is this site:

www.furnacecompare.com/furnace_ratings.html

But don't stop looking for info there as I don't know the reputation of that site.

[aRMY83]

My thoughts are this. I'm going to start putting more money away to go toward a new furnace, just in case I end up being unhappy with this for one reason or another. I'm sorry, but the old saying, "If something seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true" keeps going through my head. I'm not used to free things.

Hello Tumbleweed...

Will get to the quote in a moment, but first, WOW! on the no cost to you and I'm quite sure, you've paid your dues and deserve a "piece of the pie". What is so nice about you, is it concerns you on "them paying", whereas, some folks could care less and keep taking, without any hesitation or guilt!!

As to the "Goodman" furnace, that's what we have, which is 4 years old and only gave, in the beginning, a few minor problems (bugs), but since then, working like a charm.

Now to the quote. I'm not sure I'd put any monies aside, as if something does go wrong, then let the city take care of it, or the company of Goodman. I'd first contact the installers for any issues you may encounter. Overall, I think you got a good deal and sure that Goodman will give you years of great service.

Gotta run again...

Cheers...