New furnace

11 years ago

I just bought a home, know nothing about furnaces, and the home inspector report indicated the furnace was fine. It is not. There is a large hole that is causing carbon monoxide to fill the house. It is a fuel oil furnace and was installed in 1998. The home is a 2 story, the furnace and fuel oil tank are located in the basement. I had an estimate completed and the technician recommended installing a new propane furnace. This is completely unexpected and funds are very tight. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. The technician recommended:

Trane xv95, TUH2b100A, 100,000 btuh, 95% AFUE, 2 stage, variable speed high efficiency ECM blower, condensing, propane fired, forced air furnace. 10 year limited parts and limited lifetime warranty on heat exchanger $5994.74

Trane xr95, tuh1c100a, 100,000 btuh, 95% AFUE, single stage , condensing, propane fired, forced air furnace using existing thermostat. 10 year limited parts warranty and limited lifetime warranty on heat exchanger. $4,942.11

Includes use of existing distribution duct and registers with modifications: add 8 inch supply air to living room, increase supply air in parlor to 8 inch, change return air in kitchen to supply air, increase first heat run from to 8 inch, increase size of 3 existing return airs and increase the first 6 foot do supply air truck from 10"x8" to 14"x8".

Trane clean effects air cleaner$1363.16
Uv filter install Honeywell uv100e1043 single lamp return air uv $521.06

Humidify action trane thumd200 automatic bypass humidifier $626.32

As mentioned before, I do not know anything about furnaces. Is there any reason that it can't be replaced with a fuel oil furnace? Is all, of this needed? Please help....

Comments (10)

mike_home
11 years ago
I am going to assume natural gas is not available.

Is there a hole in the heat exchanger? Who told you it is emitting carbon monoxide? Has it been inspected by an oil burner technician? When was the last time it was serviced?

The cost of operating a fuel oil and a propane furnace is about the same in most parts of the country. So there is no significant savings in heating by switching to propane.

Many furnaces have a 20 year warranty on the heat exchanger. It may not cover the labor. I would first get an estimate for a repair by a qualified fuel oil tech. If you are going for a replacement, you can get another fuel oil furnace. The question would be is that the best choice for your situation.
stoveguyy
11 years ago
U just bought house? 30 days ago of 6 months? Perhaps u bought it last fall when u were not using the furnace? The home inspection did not catch high levels of co? Too bad the inspector is not liable for missing things. They never are.
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furnace
Original Author
11 years ago
The house was purchased 1 week ago. While working in the house became very sick with a horrible headache. Found a large hole in the heat exchanger. I'll call the technician about the warranty. Any other thoughts?
audiomixer
11 years ago
In our locale, your purchase of a home with defect would be considered a breach of contract in that the heater defect was not disclosed by the agent...either knowing or unknowing. Also in a purchase, local, federal and state laws may require the presence of a co detector at sale.

Here is a link that might be useful: Disclosures
stoveguyy
11 years ago
What city is house? Funny a major hole in furnace would not bother former owner? Or maybe house was bank foreclosed? Abandoned?
mike_home
11 years ago
Are you sure there is a hole in the heat exchanger? You may have a combustion problem or possibly both. Get an oil furnace tech to come in ASAP.
furnace
Original Author
11 years ago
The home is in Hammond, NY. The HVAC technician came out and inspected the unit, confirmed there was a significant hole in the heat exchanger, not repairable, and the visible flue from basement to 2nd floor was a fire hazard and would need to be removed. They would not install any type of furnace without removal of the flue due to the fire hazard. The home was sold by a bank and had been vacant for one+ year. There was no disclosure regarding this provided by the seller.
audiomixer
11 years ago
If this was a foreclosure and you bought it from a bank or sheriff's sale AS-IS, then your stuck with the improvements.

Otherwise, you need to start complaining to: agent(s) that sold the house, title company, state consumer affairs, county code compliance division and a lawyer.

The problems you are seeing should have been disclosed. The mere fact they didn't provide a CO detector prior to the sale is against the law.

N.Y. Exec. Law ÃÂ§ 378 Ã¯Â¿Â½" Standards for New York state uniform fire prevention and building code.

Requires New York Fire Prevention and Building Code to adopt standards for installation of carbon monoxide detectors requiring that every one- or two-family dwelling constructed or offered for sale after July 30, 2002, any dwelling accommodation located in a building owned as a condominium or cooperative in the state constructed or offered for sale after July 13, 2002, or any multiple dwellings constructed or offered for sale after August 9, 2005, have installed an operable carbon monoxide detector of the standards established by the council. Carbon monoxide detectors required by this section are required only where the dwelling unit has appliances, devices or systems that may emit carbon monoxide or has an attached garage.
brickeyee
11 years ago
'In our locale, your purchase of a home with defect would be considered a breach of contract in that the heater defect was not disclosed by the agent...either knowing or unknowing. "

How do you disclose unknown defects?

By definition they are unknown.
energy_rater_la
11 years ago
the money is in the add ons...and your guy sure added on!

Trane clean effects air cleaner$1363.16
Uv filter install Honeywell uv100e1043 single lamp return air uv $521.06

Humidify action trane thumd200 automatic bypass humidifier $626.32

why not just mastic seal ducts & return?
if sealed there is no stuff that needs to be uv
or cleaned.
get more bids.
keep in mind that every major brand has a sister
brand.
trane- american standard

tempstar, york, luxaire, rudd are all good
systems but not as well known as trane
lennox etc

best of luck.