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Question:

What to do about failed heat exchanger on furnace?

Had our furnace checked out for its yearly inspection...heat exchanger is cracked in a few places and the plastic on the limit switch is falling apart. I know I need an immediate fix. It is a 1997 Goodman Furnace. Supposedly it has a 15 year life expectancy. Should I replace the exchanger and switch or get a new furnace? I don't have the several thousand dollars for a new furnace and we don't qualify for the tax credits because we already don't owe any federal taxes. Will replacing the exchanger markedly increase the life expectancy? I don't want to spend $800 now to fix and then be forced to spend thousands more in two or three years. If I could expect to get another 5+ years out of it with just minor repairs here and there, then I would lean towards fixing instead of replacing the furnace.

Answer:

best thing is to replace the heat exchanger unless u want to get a hi eff furnace
examine your furnish air with a co meter mutually as the furnace is working.maximum possibly undesirable warmth exchanger yet a plugged flue is often the prob. pass with Goodman in case you purchase a clean unit great high quality,cost,and guarantee
Is it 92% efficient or 80%? Most 92's have a lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger. Most 80's have a twenty year warranty on the heat exchanger. All you should be paying for is labor. If your getting charged $800 in labor you are getting overcharged. Should be more like 3-4 hundred to change out the heat exchanger. Anyway, If you replace the heat exchanger you should get well over another 10 years out of the furnace. Now, Im not saying that something else in the furnace will not fail in this time but most of the components can be changed for less money. If you use a goodman dealer than they should have spare parts they can sell you for cheap. Who told you the life expectancy of the furnace is 15 years? That sounds like someone just trying to sell you a new furnace. Be careful not to get taken advantage of here. Get a second opinion.

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