This PAYNE 90% has the worst clogged secondary heat exchangers I have ever seen. The heat exchangers where so clogged that the flames where burning yellow starving for air and overheating the combustion box … the condensation actually ate through the exchanger. After putting up with headaches and a unusual odor they decided to give us a call. They are lucky to be alive in my opinion.
Older PAYNE 90% Furnace
The PAYNE furnace actually sat up on a air conditioning coil that is about 24″ tall, imagine trying to lift a furnace off and on that coil. Fortunately my customer hung around to help me with the lifting.
American Standard 95% 2 stage variable speed
The new American Standard 95% 2 stage variable speed furnace was physically the same size and slide right into place with very little modifications. After reconnecting up to the venting, gas pipe and drain system I dialed in the propane pressure on the valve. I know I have said this a hundred times in my blog but I’m going to say it again … I really love installing this furnace model of American Standard, I have no issues and it does as promised every time.
Heating And Cooling Skagit County
Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? We install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.
If you have a furnace or hot water tank 10 plus years old you should seriously consider replacing it. True your furnace or HWT may last a few more years, but considering the CNG rebate and the tax credit’s that could go away you may want to give me a call and at least way your options.
This particular customer has a 90% YORK that is on its last legs, with the repair bills mounting up it really made sense for her to replace it with an American Standard 95% single stage furnace.
Older YORK furnace
I had a little bit of a challenge because the room was very dark and my drop light dropped and broke. I had to position my flashlight on a piece of furniture to have enough light. And yes from now on I will be carrying extra bulbs for my drop light.
New American Standard 95% Single Stage Furnace
The American Standard 95% single stage furnace slid right into place, leaving very little room. Fortunately enough room to still access the gas pipe, venting and condensate drain. The job went fairly smooth with very little issues and after about a 30 minutes the house was back up to a comfortable temperature.
Heating And Cooling Skagit County
Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? We install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.
The customer of this 18 year old American Standard (Trane) furnace finally decided to replace it. The repair costs versus the price of the new American Standard furnace, the rebate from CNG and the fed tax credit was all it took to convince him.
Older 90% Trane Unit.
The physical size and or foot print caught me a little of guard, but nothing a little piece of ducting can’t fix, other than that this was a fairly straight change out … no real surprises.
New American Standard 95% 2 Stage Variable.
The new American Standard 95% 2 stage variable will not only provide a higher efficiency than the older furnace but more comfort while doing it.
Heating And Cooling Skagit County
Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? We install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.
Here we have another RHEEM 80% that has died, my customer decided to way the costs of repair versus new furnace and with this year potentially being the last year for tax credits they decided to replace the dinosaur. I have to admit if there is any application for an American Standard 95% Variable 2 speed its this one. 2 story home with the ducting located between the floors and the equipment located within the home.
Older Rheem 80% Gas Furnace
As you can see the Rheem furnace is located in a closet next to the HWT, this is a fairly easy replacement. I just need to run the vent and condensate out and make a few duct changes.
Flex Connector
One of the best friends of a change out installer is the flex connector, above you can see it installed. This type of connector allows the installer the flexibility of the ducting so he or she can slide the furnace in to place and stop any vibrations from the equipment. Even though it can be done without this connector it surely is easier with it.
New American Standard 95% 2 stage variable gas furnace.
Above you see the American Standard 95% 2 stage variable speed furnace installed. A condensate pump had to be added because there was no floor drain available. We also converted there electronic air cleaner over to a 4″ filter bank. the existing EAC was not operational.
Heating And Cooling Skagit County
Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? We install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.
Every time I’m around an oil furnace it brings back memories of my dad, why he liked working on oil furnaces beats the hell out of me, but he did and he was very good at it. And even though I would go with him call after call learning what I could I never fell in love with it. I just don’t understand why someone could look past the oil smell that stayed on you all day, the stained clothes or the soot that gets everywhere including in your lungs.
Existing Oil Furnace
This oil furnace was doomed the minute the new owner of this home took over, it was just a matter of time. She knew she wanted it gone but what to replace it with? She ended up deciding on installing an American Standard air handler with a heat pump coil. This will eliminate being slaved to a oil tank and get her one step closer to a American Standard Heat Pump.
New American Standard Air Handler
With a few duct changes the new American Standard air handler slipped right in to place. I also added a Honeywell F100 filter system that will make it easier to change the filter. In the future when my customer is ready she can add the Heat Pump and really start saving money.
Heating And Cooling Skagit County
Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? We install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.
I’m not a big fan of Arcoaire furnaces, I use to be a dealer back in 1992 and quickly drop them because I felt the quality just wasn’t there. That being said this one was installed in 1990 and on this last maintenance call my technician found a hairline crack on the heat exchanger. This is enough to label the furnace as a health issue.
Arcoaire Furnace
As you can see the older Arcoaire 80% furnace vented out with metal, sharing a vent with the existing hot water tank. So when quoting an 80% to 95% furnace you have to consider new PVC venting and condensate, everything else like the gas, electrical and ducting should be present and re-usable with slight modifications.
New 95% American Standard
My customer elected to go with an American Standard 95% single stage furnace. This is a good solid piece of equipment that still meets the 95% federal tax credit but without the 2 stage or variable speed blower. In some cases this is what I recommend.
Heating And Cooling Skagit County
Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? We install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.
For this customer the furnace repair bills where getting to high and they wanted to take advantage of the tax credits. It wasn’t until we got the furnace changed out that we noticed the huge crack in the heat exchanger. Its not uncommon for us to find cracks later on after we are able to look from a different angle, but this crack was at least 6 inches long.
Crack in heat exchanger
The crack runs vertically and starts pretty much in the center of the screen and goes down. Cracks like this one really open up after the furnace is warmed up and that is when it can do the most damage.
Older 80% Gas Furnace
If you have a furnace that still has a standing pilot light like this one you should really think about replacing it. You got your life out of the furnace and safety is becoming a factor!
New 2 Stage Variable 95% American Standard.
The new American Standard 95% 2 Stage Variable fit right into place, I had to make a simple transition for the return air and then add a filter access door so the customer can actually change the filters without cutting themselves. The venting went up through the existing chimney and we ran the condensate drain to the existing drain line under the home.
I must have said this a hundred times, the American Standard 2 Stage Variable is my favorite furnace to install, and so far I have had zero issues with this model!
Heating And Cooling Skagit County
Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? We install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.
Unfortunately my dad was an oil man, meaning I was raised doing oil service calls. Oil can be a very clean piece of equipment if its maintained correctly. Notice the words “maintained correctly”! Usually your changing oil to oil because the people are still happy with oil heat and do not want to invest in something way more costly. And their oil hunk of junk oil furnace is not worth fixing up. Usually that means the furnace is older than dirt and we are getting dirty!
Older Oil Furnace
The furnace above is an old Montag oil furnace and its lived its life. Fortunately American Standard produces a fantastic oil furnace made by Thermopride. Built like a tank and its 84% efficient. It comes with a state of the art Becket Burner assembly and in my opinion one of the best oil furnaces on the market today.
American Standard Oil Furnace.
The new American Standard furnace slips right into position with a few minor duct and venting adjustments and its ready to run.
Dirty Duct
When you remove ducting that looks this bad then you get told to hire a duct cleaner …. HIRE A DUCT CLEANER. This piece of ducting was not near as dirty as what was in the home.
Heating And Cooling Skagit County
Need a Heat Pump, Air Conditioner, Furnace, Boiler or Tankless Water Heater? We install them all over Skagit county including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Sedro Woolley, La Conner, Stanwood WA, and on Camano Is.