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13 year old Ruud Furnace apparently needs replacing, what is reccomended?
QUESTION:I have a 13 + year old Ruud 90+ furnace.
model # UGEB 07ec-FS 75,000 BTU/HR manufacturing data is 1988.
Here's the symptoms, the high limit switch on the inducer fan keeps
tripping out. The firebox is hot to the touch.
When you look in the glass windows, the flame dances a bit and
occasionally puffs against the glass.
when you go outside, you can smell a little unburnt methane (You can't
actually smell methane, but you can smell the mercaptans odorant ) in
the exhaust.
So My tech says "In my opinion the heat exhanger is cracked"
I believe this, unless there is some thing, you guys think he needs to
do beyond this, but, I'm comfortable with the diagnosis.
He gave me 2 quotes. Replace the heat exchanger estimated labor
charge of $700-800 depending upon the labor and if there is anything
wrong beyond that.
Replace the furnace at $2850 Ruud 90+ add $75 Permit fee and $300
reserve allowance if the inspector makes him re-route and upgrade the
venting lines.
So
Should i replace the furnace or just fix the Heat exchanger?
Do I Want a Ruud 90+ or is there a better brand? (Reliability,
quality, performance?)
Is this price a fair price for the DC metro area for this kind of
furnace?
ANSWER: There is one thing here that i have not heard yet. Did the tech pull the
burners out and clean them alone with the gas jets. You pull all the fire
chamber parts and clear real good and then replace them. Then run it and see
that the vent fan is running and the roof vent is remove to remove dought of
vent plugged up and then run it. It flames still want to come back to glass
when main blower comes on. You have a whole in the fire chamber. If not it's
something else.
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