OUCH! Prices for heaters

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

Last year we had a repair guy come out to fix our heater. As soon as he walked in the door, he said we needed a new heater. He (or anyone from his company) had never seen or worked on our heater. The repairman sent a salesman to sell us a new heater. My husband said No Thanks.

That did not go over well with my husband. My husband said the repairman could have waited until he actually looked or worked on the heater.

The repairman fixed the heater. It was an easy and cheap part he replaced. The heater worked well all last winter.

We were away for 10 days and came back Sunday. The heater was running but no heat. My husband pushed the reset button and checked the pilot. The reset button got stuck in the down position.

Called another repairman. He came out and unstuck the button. And also sent us a quote for a new heater.

The new quote for the heater is exactly twice the amount as the quote from last year.

OUCH!

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

When I got my new furnace installed a few years ago I was shocked that I also needed new duct work required to accommodate the new furnace plus I needed a whole new exhaust system going out the roof. The price of the furnace was to be expected but add the cost of the duct and the exhaust plus the labor to put that in was unexpected and it cost me a hefty amount. I wasn't happy about it but there wasn't anything I could do. I needed a new furnace.

Group 5 minus 1 · ‎03-11-2010

@drizzellla WHat do you mean by a 'Heater"/ I do not understand.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@SilleeMee Oh No, There was no mention about new duct work.

I wonder if that will come later. They want us to agree to the new heater. And then spring the additional cost/work about new duct work.

Some of our neighbors "needed" new ducts and some hadn't.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
@drizzellla WHat do you mean by a 'Heater"/ I do not understand.

furnace

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@drizzellla wrote:
@SilleeMee Oh No, There was no mention about new duct work.

I wonder if that will come later. They want us to agree to the new heater. And then spring the additional cost/work about new duct work.

Some of our neighbors "needed" new ducts and some hadn't.

@drizzellla

My guess would be that new duct work would be needed if the new furnace won't fit with the old duct work. That new duct could be included in the cost of replacing the furnace anyway but I would ask about it.

In my case I also needed new exhaust duct b/c my old one was too old to pass building code regulations. Who knew?!

Meowingkitty · ‎06-19-2010

Glad I just have a heat pump and no furnace.

On It · ‎03-15-2021

@SilleeMee I saw the new ductwork issue on a home improvement show. It was for the addition of a refrigerated air unit. They said the ductwork size had to be increased to allow for the increased amount of air flowing through the ducts.

I wonder if these new HVAC units are pushing out more air when they are running to provide more energy efficiency. I have not researched it, but it must be a "thing" now.

skatting44 · ‎07-26-2019

There is a lack of experienced and qualified repair people in this country , despite having trade schools that teach skills to work on HVAC and those that teach how to repair electrical appliances there seems little push to encourage incentitive for these type of schools . Knowing a relaible knowledgeable person to repair thimgs in one's home is worth their weight in gold.

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

A couple of years ago we had to replace to AC units, They were almost 25 years old, original to the house. When we bought the house we knew we'd have to replace but was just hoping to get a few more years out of them. Well, the new AC units are not compatible with our old furnance so had to replace both. Cost $25,000. Still need one more AC unit and 1 more furnance. Had it priced out a couple of years ago, pre Covid and that was $7000. Afraid what it will cost now.