Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Carrier Furnace / AC question

My furnace went out this week. It's a 17 years old carrier Model 58SSB so it's lived a long life already. Technician came out one day and repaired it replacing the circuit board and the pilot assembly for $800. It was working when he left, but it died again overnight and I was told the inducer motor now had seized. Another $350 plus $100 in labor. The service company is now offering to credit me that whole amount toward a new furnace. A Carrier Perfomance 80 Gas Furnace CTA 110-112 for roughly $4,000 in total.

If I replace my AC unit too they are suggesting a 3 Ton unit 95,000 BTU Carrier Perfomance Series AC unit with new Perfomance Series Evaporator Coils for another $5300. My AC compressor has been making a horrible noise on start up for the past three years, like a grinding noise yet it has kept on running.

It's the first quote I've gotten but they've had my business for a long time and have seemed competent up until this week. The whole thing with furnace breaking the day after it was repaired has shaken me my faith.

2 questions -
1. did the first repair on my furnace end up killing the inducer or is it likely that the first repairs were necessary to begin with?

2. Do the quotes seem fair?

Thanks for your help

Just my opinion, but I think they think they knew they missed the mark on their diagnosis and replacements and figured rather than have you smell a rat, with costs piling on for what may have only been one really needed part, in lieu of your furnace AND a/c problems, they figured they'd actually come out ahead and even make MORE money on this deal with you if you decided to go with them and have them put in a new furnace and central air.

I'm curious how much what they charged you for just the cost of the new board. But I suppose out in NJ, everything is 3 times higher than around my parts.

The service call cost me $65 and they charged me $335 for the board claiming it was corroded. Another $350 for the Pilot assembly. So a total of $800 on day one. Less than 12 hours later, no heat again and then $95 the next day for installing the new inducer motor. Haven't charged me for the inducer motor yet but quoted $350. All of that but the $95 for the service the next day would be applied to the cost of new system.

From looking at the different HVAC message boards I'm starting suspect that their price quote is more in line with a top of line Carrier Infinity series rather than the Performance Series they are quoting me. Essentially everything in, the quote is for $9,350 for Performance Series 80 furnace and AC units. This is a replacement system so the duct work is already in place

I live in NJ so the idea of installing the AC now seems stupid, since it means the compressor just gets to spend one more hard winter outside before I even use it.

The service call cost me $65 and they charged me $335 for the board claiming it was corroded. Another $350 for the Pilot assembly. So a total of $800 on day one.

Where is the missing $50? :)

A couple years ago replaced neighbors complex board that had many parts to it, with lots of wire hookups (12 at least I remember) and (brand new) part was $105 and I threw it in for a beer. Have also put in used gas valves that include pilot and the whole works for like $25 for used part.

I feel sorry for people like you who have no connections to people and have to be at others mercy.

Taxes = the missing $50 is Tax

:thumbup:

Let us know how you handle your situation.

Hi Morris:

Well at least they are offering you some credit towards the new system. The repairs from day one didn't affect the inducer motor; just bad luck it went out so soon after the initial repair.

Choice Number 1
94% AFUE / Carrier
Two stage gas furnace 58MVB080-114
80,000 BTU/H
Carrier Condensing Unit 24APA536 / 14 SEER
Carrier Coil CNPVP4221
36,000 BTU / 3 Tons
Roughly $8,500

Choice Number 2
80% AFUE / Carrier
Two stage gas furnace 58CTA110-112
110,000 BTU/H
Carrier Condensing Unit 24APA536 / 14 SEER
Carrier Coil CNPVP4221
Roughly $7,000
36,000 BTU / 3 Tons


Any thoughts would be welcomed. Is the higher efficiency furnace going to offset the fact that it's less BTU's?

I also got a quote for fully installed Carrier 58CTA110-112 80% AFUE w/ Aprilaire humidifier 600 & air cleaner 5000/501, and Honeywell thermostat for $4800 from AirGroup of Whippany, NJ. They throw in 5 yr warranty as well.