On Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:11:17 -0500, Home Guy wrote:

wrote:

"This limited warranty does not apply if the unit was purchaed
direct (ie from internet websites or auctions) on an uninstalled
basis."

Perhaps Rheem can explain why they sell their products to internet-based
retailers in the first place.

I'll tell you I how I had a new furnace installed.
When I bought my house 13 year ago it had a couple window A/C units,
one not working, the other barely.
The first year I had a family event and everybody was sweating.
My brother was in the trades, small-time GC, never successful.
Too honest, but his biggest problems were a hot temper and
underbidding.
He told me to get a 220v/200 amp service and he'd fix me up with a
furnace/AC. The house had 60 amps.
The next spring I got the new electric service put in for $1100.
This guy was by far the cheapest of 3 estimates, and I liked him.

If you have a choice, always get young guys to do the work.
This guy was all over the roof and service lines and basement like a
monkey and never stopped moving.
Ran an extra conduit and box to the back of the basement gratis.
Here maybe 4 hours.
He wanted to get the next job to make more money for his girlfriends.
Maybe you remember those days from your own life.

Anyway, I called my brother and he sent his furnace guy out.
Bobby. That's all I ever knew. Bobby. Can't even remember his
helper's name. Bobby was a pro installer, moonlighting.
They were there one day, maybe part of the next.
Cost me $4500, in 1998.
No permits and no inspection. Unlawful.
Don't know if that was a good price because I never had any estimates.
I wasn't hard up for cash anyway.
My brother said the price was par and wasn't that happy about it.
Made Bobby put in a SS chimney liner.
My brother was there when Bobby finished up and Bobby said the chimney
didn't need a liner and brother said "Put in the ****ing liner."
And so it was.

They quit doing business together later, but I got along with Bobby
when I saw him.
Had him out that same winter when the furnace wouldn't light and he
put in a new igniter, and got it going. No charge.
Bobby told me he didn't know squat about troubleshooting furnaces,
just installing them.
He did a good job installing, and except for a motherboard problem the
heat and A/C have been fine.
I had to lever up the condenser pad and jam some crushed rock under a
corner when it sunk in soft ground, but no big deal.
I never sent in a warranty on the furnace or A/C, but the first time I
had it repaired - new motherboard - it was at least 8 years old,
probably out of warranty.
Just got the various paperwork that was stuck on the furnace.
Pretty useless.

If I ever get this furnace replaced I'll just get the usual suspects
out for estimates and take it from there.
I liked and trusted the guy who put in the new motherboard so I'd go
with him if he isn't more than maybe $500 higher than the others.
Price isn't everything. Sometimes it matters, sometimes not.

BTW, as far as I'm concerned if you can do your own furnace
installiion, go for it.
I put a new boiler in my ma's house with no problem a 36" pipe wrench
with a 6' persuader on it couldn't solve.
But I don't know sheet metal.
As I've said, you won't have any luck trying to modify a modern
furnace to make it work like a 40 year old furnace.
Non-starter.

--Vic