Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - furnace and A/C equipment advice
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Ismellsomething
06-16-05, 03:52 PM
Hi,
I had posted back in March and April about how to determine if the heat exchanger in our oil fired furnace was cracked--and what kinds of equipment we might be best to replace it with. Well, the guys took the furnace apart today and found a 6-inch long open crack in the outside of the combustion chamber, as well as two 1-inch diameter holes in the right and left sides of the lower portion. Lots of crud and corrosion was in and around those holes, and the area inside the furnace where the system vents to the chimney was corroded ande clogged beyond description. I wish there was a way for me to post the pics here, so you all can comment on them. I'm curious if this is a normal type of failure, or if something may have exacerbated the failure (such as the old in-line humidifier that was being used regularly by the previous owner).
Anyway, we are getting an Ultra 80 Air-Ease furnace with a 5-inch thick filter (son with Asthma) and it came with a Beckett burner. Also, noticed that the A/C condenser is a Goodman. Goodman furnaces are not held in high regard in some of the posts on this forum, but what about the A/C units? Before you all remind me that I should be insisting on certain things from the installer, please bear in mind that these installers have been hired by my family's oil heating business. I, myself, question whether this installer is on the up-and-up, but my hands are tied...just want to know what to expect from this equipment.
thanks, and in the mean time I'll try to get the pics online
I had posted back in March and April about how to determine if the heat exchanger in our oil fired furnace was cracked--and what kinds of equipment we might be best to replace it with. Well, the guys took the furnace apart today and found a 6-inch long open crack in the outside of the combustion chamber, as well as two 1-inch diameter holes in the right and left sides of the lower portion. Lots of crud and corrosion was in and around those holes, and the area inside the furnace where the system vents to the chimney was corroded ande clogged beyond description. I wish there was a way for me to post the pics here, so you all can comment on them. I'm curious if this is a normal type of failure, or if something may have exacerbated the failure (such as the old in-line humidifier that was being used regularly by the previous owner).
Anyway, we are getting an Ultra 80 Air-Ease furnace with a 5-inch thick filter (son with Asthma) and it came with a Beckett burner. Also, noticed that the A/C condenser is a Goodman. Goodman furnaces are not held in high regard in some of the posts on this forum, but what about the A/C units? Before you all remind me that I should be insisting on certain things from the installer, please bear in mind that these installers have been hired by my family's oil heating business. I, myself, question whether this installer is on the up-and-up, but my hands are tied...just want to know what to expect from this equipment.
thanks, and in the mean time I'll try to get the pics online
Ismellsomething
06-16-05, 04:42 PM
Me again...I just looked online for a place to buy filters. I saw www.allkindsoffilters.com and browsed around. I saw the 5" 16x25 Trion Merv8 filter that is being installed in our new system. We had asked for a HEPA filtration because my son has asthma. Is the 5" system a HEPA, or is it as good as one?
Grady
06-17-05, 07:27 PM
Goodman gets a lot of bad press from a lot of "pro's". I can tell you this much from 20 years of working on all different brands of equipment & having a Goodman A/C myself. I installed my A/C about 12 years ago & other than changing filters & cleaning coils, I have done NOTHING to it. Over 90% of the premature equipment failures I see, regardless of brand, are directly traceable to the installation.
Regarding the furnace: The equipment is good mid-grade equipment & should, with proper installation & care last 20+ years easily.
Humidifier: Probably the biggest furnace killer ever made. I encourage free standing humidifiers for those who want a humidifier. All humidifiers require a LOT of maintanence.
Air Filter: In my opinion, air filtration is way over rated. Houses too tight with little air leakage from outside are a far bigger problem. Couple that with all of the perfumes in cleaning products to make you think something is clean when it really is dirtier than it was to begin with, & it is no wonder asthma (Dr.'s term for "I don't know what is wrong with the child's breathing") has seen such a dramatic increase in the past few years.
Regarding the furnace: The equipment is good mid-grade equipment & should, with proper installation & care last 20+ years easily.
Humidifier: Probably the biggest furnace killer ever made. I encourage free standing humidifiers for those who want a humidifier. All humidifiers require a LOT of maintanence.
Air Filter: In my opinion, air filtration is way over rated. Houses too tight with little air leakage from outside are a far bigger problem. Couple that with all of the perfumes in cleaning products to make you think something is clean when it really is dirtier than it was to begin with, & it is no wonder asthma (Dr.'s term for "I don't know what is wrong with the child's breathing") has seen such a dramatic increase in the past few years.
Ismellsomething
06-17-05, 08:23 PM
Hi Grady,
Thanks for the reply and info. What should I be looking for to make sure the installation is a good one?
By the way, the humidifier has been removed and in fact, not used during the last heating season. (son allergic to mold, too).
ISS
Thanks for the reply and info. What should I be looking for to make sure the installation is a good one?
By the way, the humidifier has been removed and in fact, not used during the last heating season. (son allergic to mold, too).
ISS
Grady
06-18-05, 08:46 AM
There are many, many factors which go into a proper installation. One of the big ones is proper equipment sizing. In a replacement application it is way too easy just to use the same capacity equipment as was already there. A heat loss calculation (manual J) should be done. The VAST majority of furnaces, particularly oil fired, are grossly oversized.
The duct system should be inspected & repaired/replaced as needed for proper air flow & distribution. Ventilation is important, particularly with an asthmatic in the house. A heat recovery ventilation system can go a long way toward a healthy house. If nothing else, make sure there is adequate air for combustion & exhaust. The chimney needs to be inspected & repaired or modified to match the furnace & provide a safe & efficient means of getting furnace exhaust products out of the house. With today's energy prices & people trying to conserve energy & thus money by tightening up the house it becomes more & more critical to bring in air via controled ventilation.
The duct system should be inspected & repaired/replaced as needed for proper air flow & distribution. Ventilation is important, particularly with an asthmatic in the house. A heat recovery ventilation system can go a long way toward a healthy house. If nothing else, make sure there is adequate air for combustion & exhaust. The chimney needs to be inspected & repaired or modified to match the furnace & provide a safe & efficient means of getting furnace exhaust products out of the house. With today's energy prices & people trying to conserve energy & thus money by tightening up the house it becomes more & more critical to bring in air via controled ventilation.