Quote:
Originally Posted by dpg
Who in the area sells/installs new furnaces? It's a gas unit and at 40 yrs old I'm more and more nervous every winter. Working ok still but I'm sure there's WAY more efficient units out there also.
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Propane?
Doesn't look like the poster is seeking boiler advice.
I have two propane furnaces in two homes. One 30 years old and one a few years old.
The newer one requires more maintenance.
The older one just keeps running and running year after year.
The older one has only a few parts that can fail. The heat exchanger, the AC blower motor, and the thermocouple. I replace the thermocouple every couple of years during routine maintenance. It's an inexpensive part.
You don't state what brand the old one is. Check to see if parts are still available. If not, then maybe think about replacement. All parts are still available for my older propane furnace.
The new ones that are high efficiency have all sorts of electronic parts and circuit boards. All of these parts can fail. There are no more pilot gas furnaces so there has to be some sort of electronic ignition or "glow plug". That item can and does fail.
I have had 7 service calls on the newer furnace and only one service call on the older furnace. And that service call for the older furnace was a failed original thermocouple - why now I replace thermocouple ever two years during Summer maintenance.
Whatever you do get a brand name that is well known to all service people/gas companies. I'd skip the super efficient as way too complicated. Some have to vent directly to the outside and not the chimney. Higher installation costs. And if the vent is directly to the outside you have to keep snow cleared at the outside vent area.
Bottom line. I worry more about the newer furnace then I do about the older furnace.