Hi. I would like some advice. I have an 18 year old Bryant furnace
that seems to work fine. The blower motor went south on it last
Friday. The company that I have a service contract with recomends
replacement of the entire furnace as it has exceeded its life
expectancy. They'll replace the blower on the old one, but are
advising against throwing good money after bad. They say about $500 to
replace the motor, about $2800 for the new furnace (both installed
prices). It's a single family home. The current furnace is 125,000
BTU 60% efficiency, the new one will be 110,000 and more efficient
(80%).

Please help me decide what to do. I am leaning towards accepting the
advice of replacing the furnace, but was not ready for a big-ticket
item just yet. I just want to know what the common sense thing to do
would be. The service company is a reputable one and has been
servicing this house for many, many years. I just owned this house for
about 1.5 years.

Many thanks,
Vladimir

Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.

Frankly, the $500 cost replacement for the blower motor seems a
little high from what I have seen in this area. However, I don't know
your particular unit, so can't really know. I just know that two
years ago, I replaced the blower motor on my mother's Majestic furnace
(was 40 year old furnace), and it cost me a total of $275 bucks and
that price including cleaning the furnace when they replaced it. That
furnace is running today very well and the first company that took a
look at it recommended the same thing that you have been told. I never
regretted calling that second company.

That is my personal opinion on this issue..


--
Tumbleweed36
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On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:38:49 -0500, Tumbleweed36
wrote:


Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.

Most companies will give you a free bid on replacing your equipment.
None hardly will give you a free bid on repairs. That would be utter
insanity
Bubba


Frankly, the $500 cost replacement for the blower motor seems a
little high from what I have seen in this area. However, I don't know
your particular unit, so can't really know. I just know that two
years ago, I replaced the blower motor on my mother's Majestic furnace
(was 40 year old furnace), and it cost me a total of $275 bucks and
that price including cleaning the furnace when they replaced it. That
furnace is running today very well and the first company that took a
look at it recommended the same thing that you have been told. I never
regretted calling that second company.

That is my personal opinion on this issue..

Bubba wrote:
On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:38:49 -0500, Tumbleweed36
wrote:


Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.


Most companies will give you a free bid on replacing your equipment.
None hardly will give you a free bid on repairs. That would be utter
insanity
Bubba

Are you saying auto mechanics and auto repair
owners are insane?

How do you know what you have is only 60% efficient and not 80%, what
make is it, most old units are 80%. You really need other bids and a
written load calculation for sizing yourself right, A few things this
one contractor have said dont sound right, motor price, present unit
efficiency, new unit price, pushing a new unit, and no discussion of a
condensing furnace that can save you 15% more over an 80% unit.

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 06:56:27 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
wrote:

Bubba wrote:
On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:38:49 -0500, Tumbleweed36
wrote:


Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.


Most companies will give you a free bid on replacing your equipment.
None hardly will give you a free bid on repairs. That would be utter
insanity
Bubba

Are you saying auto mechanics and auto repair
owners are insane?

HVAC man, not cars. Hell, if I could get all my customers to bring
their furnace or central air conditioner into my warm well lit
comfortable shop Id probably be happy to give all kinds of free
estimates too. Until that day comes, it just aint free.
Ive even started charging for most estimates. I do the work and your
estimate fee goes towards the install price.
Im tired of handing customers all my ideas, paperwork, Manual J's and
all just to have the $3hr hack read my work word for word and do it
cheap. Let him figure it out on his own.
Customers waste tons and tons of man hours by getting 5, 10 and more
bids and then some decide "Uh, thats too much, I'll think about it
next year." Next year the whole process starts over and it doesnt get
done again.
Bubba

Bubba wrote:

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 06:56:27 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
wrote:


Bubba wrote:

On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:38:49 -0500, Tumbleweed36
wrote:



Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.


Most companies will give you a free bid on replacing your equipment.
None hardly will give you a free bid on repairs. That would be utter
insanity
Bubba


Are you saying auto mechanics and auto repair
owners are insane?


HVAC man, not cars. Hell, if I could get all my customers to bring
their furnace or central air conditioner into my warm well lit
comfortable shop Id probably be happy to give all kinds of free
estimates too. Until that day comes, it just aint free.
Ive even started charging for most estimates. I do the work and your
estimate fee goes towards the install price.
Im tired of handing customers all my ideas, paperwork, Manual J's and
all just to have the $3hr hack read my work word for word and do it
cheap. Let him figure it out on his own.
Customers waste tons and tons of man hours by getting 5, 10 and more
bids and then some decide "Uh, thats too much, I'll think about it
next year." Next year the whole process starts over and it doesnt get
done again.
Bubba

At yet somehow life goes on. Maybe HVAC isn't at the center of the
universe after all.

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

"CJT" wrote in message
...
Bubba wrote:

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 06:56:27 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
wrote:


Bubba wrote:

On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:38:49 -0500, Tumbleweed36
wrote:



Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.


Most companies will give you a free bid on replacing your equipment.
None hardly will give you a free bid on repairs. That would be utter
insanity
Bubba


Are you saying auto mechanics and auto repair owners are insane?


HVAC man, not cars. Hell, if I could get all my customers to bring
their furnace or central air conditioner into my warm well lit
comfortable shop Id probably be happy to give all kinds of free
estimates too. Until that day comes, it just aint free. Ive even started
charging for most estimates. I do the work and your
estimate fee goes towards the install price. Im tired of handing
customers all my ideas, paperwork, Manual J's and
all just to have the $3hr hack read my work word for word and do it
cheap. Let him figure it out on his own.
Customers waste tons and tons of man hours by getting 5, 10 and more
bids and then some decide "Uh, thats too much, I'll think about it
next year." Next year the whole process starts over and it doesnt get
done again.
Bubba

At yet somehow life goes on. Maybe HVAC isn't at the center of the
universe after all.

and yet your head is at the center of your ass-hole....

Bubba wrote:
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 06:56:27 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
wrote:


Bubba wrote:

On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:38:49 -0500, Tumbleweed36
wrote:



Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.


Most companies will give you a free bid on replacing your equipment.
None hardly will give you a free bid on repairs. That would be utter
insanity
Bubba


Are you saying auto mechanics and auto repair
owners are insane?


HVAC man, not cars. Hell, if I could get all my customers to bring
their furnace or central air conditioner into my warm well lit
comfortable shop Id probably be happy to give all kinds of free
estimates too. Until that day comes, it just aint free.
Ive even started charging for most estimates. I do the work and your
estimate fee goes towards the install price.
Im tired of handing customers all my ideas, paperwork, Manual J's and
all just to have the $3hr hack read my work word for word and do it
cheap. Let him figure it out on his own.
Customers waste tons and tons of man hours by getting 5, 10 and more
bids and then some decide "Uh, thats too much, I'll think about it
next year." Next year the whole process starts over and it doesnt get
done again.
Bubba

You live in a strange place. The main problem the
homeowner faces in getting something fixed is
generally getting any or multiple estimates.
Mostly when homeowners need something fixed they
have waited until it is an emergency and they
don't get bids they just take the first repair
person available. Never heard of anyone getting
more than 5 bids unless their was collusion and
the bids were ridiculous.

On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 00:52:37 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
wrote:

Bubba wrote:
On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 06:56:27 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
wrote:


Bubba wrote:

On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:38:49 -0500, Tumbleweed36
wrote:



Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.


Most companies will give you a free bid on replacing your equipment.
None hardly will give you a free bid on repairs. That would be utter
insanity
Bubba


Are you saying auto mechanics and auto repair
owners are insane?


HVAC man, not cars. Hell, if I could get all my customers to bring
their furnace or central air conditioner into my warm well lit
comfortable shop Id probably be happy to give all kinds of free
estimates too. Until that day comes, it just aint free.
Ive even started charging for most estimates. I do the work and your
estimate fee goes towards the install price.
Im tired of handing customers all my ideas, paperwork, Manual J's and
all just to have the $3hr hack read my work word for word and do it
cheap. Let him figure it out on his own.
Customers waste tons and tons of man hours by getting 5, 10 and more
bids and then some decide "Uh, thats too much, I'll think about it
next year." Next year the whole process starts over and it doesnt get
done again.
Bubba

You live in a strange place. The main problem the
homeowner faces in getting something fixed is
generally getting any or multiple estimates.
Mostly when homeowners need something fixed they
have waited until it is an emergency and they
don't get bids they just take the first repair
person available. Never heard of anyone getting
more than 5 bids unless their was collusion and
the bids were ridiculous.

.............and by your own words, Id say you live in a strange place.
You've not seen people get more than 5 bids? Ive seen it over and over
and over. You learn to recognize it just from the initial call. A few
appropriate questions and then I can let them know that if they are
looking for the cheapest bid, Im not your man. I usually then give
them one or two names of some really cheap hacks if they like.
I dont want and dont need every job. I get to choose.
Bubba

Bubba wrote:
On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 00:52:37 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
wrote:


Bubba wrote:

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 06:56:27 GMT, "George E. Cawthon"
wrote:



Bubba wrote:


On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:38:49 -0500, Tumbleweed36
wrote:




Hi,

I would get another bid to replace that motor if it were me. Most
vendors will give you a bid for free, so what can you lose. If this
vendor has the best price, then i would replace the blower motor and
save the new furnace for later.


Most companies will give you a free bid on replacing your equipment.
None hardly will give you a free bid on repairs. That would be utter
insanity
Bubba


Are you saying auto mechanics and auto repair
owners are insane?


HVAC man, not cars. Hell, if I could get all my customers to bring
their furnace or central air conditioner into my warm well lit
comfortable shop Id probably be happy to give all kinds of free
estimates too. Until that day comes, it just aint free.
Ive even started charging for most estimates. I do the work and your
estimate fee goes towards the install price.
Im tired of handing customers all my ideas, paperwork, Manual J's and
all just to have the $3hr hack read my work word for word and do it
cheap. Let him figure it out on his own.
Customers waste tons and tons of man hours by getting 5, 10 and more
bids and then some decide "Uh, thats too much, I'll think about it
next year." Next year the whole process starts over and it doesnt get
done again.
Bubba

You live in a strange place. The main problem the
homeowner faces in getting something fixed is
generally getting any or multiple estimates.
Mostly when homeowners need something fixed they
have waited until it is an emergency and they
don't get bids they just take the first repair
person available. Never heard of anyone getting
more than 5 bids unless their was collusion and
the bids were ridiculous.


............and by your own words, Id say you live in a strange place.
You've not seen people get more than 5 bids? Ive seen it over and over
and over. You learn to recognize it just from the initial call. A few
appropriate questions and then I can let them know that if they are
looking for the cheapest bid, Im not your man. I usually then give
them one or two names of some really cheap hacks if they like.
I dont want and dont need every job. I get to choose.
Bubba

You are probably right. Different, nicer. Most
people I have spoken to don't get bids or if they
do it is two. Owners of multiple unit rentals or
people with some business savvy wouldn't get more
than 5 bids, and with future similar work, would
probably limit bids to the 3 most reliable
businesses. OTOH, I stand by the statement on
taking whatever is available based on what people
here say about the problem of getting AC and
plumping problems fixed. In fact, availability in
my town appears to be much higher than in many
parts of the U.S.