Tough Lesson- furnace repair

[FacePaint]

Yep, same guys as Punctual Plumber.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by FacePaint

I'll start by saying that we should have handled this way differently but here's a heads up for those folks whose furnace breaks down.

This company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has 16 complaints in 3 years. I welcome all comments, helpful suggestions and clever criticisms.

My 2¢:

I find it surprising that a company large enough to buy a ton of annoying advertising can't spare the small costs of being affiliated with the BBB...

I'm a one man operation (albeit in a different trade) and can easily afford to be with the BBB.

I have noticed a couple of do-it-yourself forums out there set up similar to CP. There was lots of good old threads diagnosing various residential problems. I found one by doing a google search about shower control hook ups.

[zarrell]

Clearview has to be a fairly large operation, no? 16 complaints in 3 years doesn't sound that bad at all to be quite honest. However, your complaint Facepaint, seems quite alarming. Maybe forward this thread discussion to someone at the company and see what they say.

[DuffMan]

fyi.
The motor on my furnace quit last winter when it was -30 out.
I was able to get one at CT for $120 I think, on a Sunday. Had it up and running in no time. It's an old furnace, not a HEF.

Just in case this happens to someone else sometime.

[Ice]

Originally Posted by algernon

My 2¢:

I have noticed a couple of do-it-yourself forums out there set up similar to CP. There was lots of good old threads diagnosing various residential problems. I found one by doing a google search about shower control hook ups.

I'm so paranoid about being ripped off by heating/AC guys, I always google for a solution. I once got an estimate for 800.00 to fix a problem with this terrible sound my AC was making. After googling, I followed the advice found online. I shop vac'd the exit pipe to clean it out and it was fixed. It cost me nothing.

Its such a shady business, I always look for a do it myself solution before calling a pro. I know when I call a professional its because I know the repair is out of my league.

[Robbob]

You have to love the capitalist mentality of sticking it to people when they are vulnerable. I don't understand why some companies do this and can keep a straight face. I guess making an honest buck has gone like the dinosaurs.

[photon]

Yeesh, my sister got a whole NEW furnace installed for not much more than that.

I've had two interactions with The Punctual Plumber, once I think I was vastly overcharged for the work done, the second I was getting a quote that seemed really high when I remembered what happened the first time.

[Flames09]

We had a problem with our furnace where water leaked into the circuit board or something like that, we didn't have any warranty info, the home is 2 years old we called up the people who built the home, they got someone to check it out and fix it for free, while someone else quoted us $800.

[T@T]

Hit them hard.

http://thesqueakywheel.com/

[guzzy]

Originally Posted by Robbob

You have to love the capitalist mentality of sticking it to people when they are vulnerable. I don't understand why some companies do this and can keep a straight face. I guess making an honest buck has gone like the dinosaurs.

I agree. My parents have poly B tubing for plumbing in their house (common in the 80's...very troublesome today). They had a tube burst in the upstairs bathroom that wrecked the drywall, ceiling etc. They brought in a plumber who charged them $1000 for 4 hours work to replace only the poly B that was exposed in the wall and ceiling (behind toilet etc). He then quoted them $10000 to replace the rest of the tube but that didn't include replacing drywall he needed to tear out.

Considering it's less than $1000 for parts and replacing poly B with Pex is an easy job I couldn't believe what hey were quoted.

[FacePaint]

Originally Posted by Ice

I'm so paranoid about being ripped off by heating/AC guys, I always google for a solution. I once got an estimate for 800.00 to fix a problem with this terrible sound my AC was making. After googling, I followed the advice found online. I shop vac'd the exit pipe to clean it out and it was fixed. It cost me nothing.

Its such a shady business, I always look for a do it myself solution before calling a pro. I know when I call a professional its because I know the repair is out of my league.

I initially looked on the internet for tips, cleaned out the filter etc. for minor stuff but when it comes to motor's and circuit boards that's beyond me.

[Rerun]

I suggest you call Tony Tighe - Consumer Advocate

for Global TV.... http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/cal...4-2d92c70b2cdf

This is probably a story they would love to get their hands on... Big cold snap in Calgary, people's furnace stop working and they are in danger of freezing to death in their own home, rip-off furnace company fixes furnace but charges an exorbitant price thus taking advantage of the home owners dire situation.

[North East Goon]

Any furnace experts in the building? We are starting to have problems with our igniter, it has to sometimes re-set itself. What should the cost to replace one of these be? House and furnace is 8 years old.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by guzzy

I agree. My parents have poly B tubing for plumbing in their house (common in the 80's...very troublesome today). They had a tube burst in the upstairs bathroom that wrecked the drywall, ceiling etc. They brought in a plumber who charged them $1000 for 4 hours work to replace only the poly B that was exposed in the wall and ceiling (behind toilet etc). He then quoted them $10000 to replace the rest of the tube but that didn't include replacing drywall he needed to tear out.

Considering it's less than $1000 for parts and replacing poly B with Pex is an easy job I couldn't believe what hey were quoted.

That just makes me sick. Contractor cost on the pex piping is around 30-50 cents a foot depending on the brand and the fittings/ adaptors maybe a buck or two a peice. He probably spent maybe $40 bucks on materials. The 4 hours probably included time spent driving to pick up the materials.

[CubicleGeek]

Originally Posted by Robbob

That just makes me sick. Contractor cost on the pex piping is around 30-50 cents a foot depending on the brand and the fittings/ adaptors maybe a buck or two a peice. He probably spent maybe $40 bucks on materials. The 4 hours probably included time spent driving to pick up the materials.

This guy speaks the truth (well $40 might be a slight exaggeration). A good friend of mine is a journeyman plumber and the cost of parts for replacing all the galvanized steel to pex for the entire house he helped me with was maybe a little bit north of $200.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by CubicleGeek

This guy speaks the truth (well $40 might be a slight exaggeration). A good friend of mine is a journeyman plumber and the cost of parts for replacing all the galvanized steel to pex for the entire house he helped me with was maybe a little bit north of $200.

The $40 I threw out was only for the replacement of the old pipe in that one wall and ceiling he did. I think $40 still might be a little high because I can't see more then 3 runs (30 feet is probably a generous number for the amount he replaced).

[jonesy]

The most common furance problem I have seen is the thermocouple.
last year my furnace kept igniting, the blower would start then it would shut down.
I took out the thermocouple and cleaned it off and it has worked since.
I think it is hard to even buy a thermocouple, most guys won't sell them to you b/c they want to come install them and rip you off

[jonesy]

On a similar vein, the starter on my van went a few years ago
A new one was about $500, and if you had a core it was about $300 or so.
The contacts were bad, so I tried to just buy those, and no one would sell them to me. They just wanted to sell a new or refurb starter.
Finally i found a guy who sold them to me for $5!!! I didn't even have to remove the starter, there was a cover to pull out the brushes and put the new ones in.
$500--->$5

[Flames_Gimp]

i had a quote on a new furnace from clearview, the guy should up in a regular car, unprofessional, the quote was high, and he seemed desperate for a sale.

I use fagnans now.

[csnarpy]

I got my new furnace and ac from Action Furnace - these guys were top notch. Great install all around. Just one thing they forgot, spray foaming the core hole through my exterior wall.

I phoned the company and they were very apologetic, scheduled someone to come in right away and got a free ac cover in the process.