Needing to replace furnace because of cracked heat exchanger

When I called for repair, I expected it to be minor and inexpensive.

I only owned my furnace for seven years when I was forced to replace it. Because I failed to keep up with the annual, professional maintenance, the heater was no longer covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. I had not realized that a record of regular service was a stipulation of warranty coverage. Because the furnace was brand new, I decided that paying for upkeep every fall was a waste of money. Although the HVAC contractor who installed the heating system strongly recommended that I enroll in a maintenance program, I declined. I made sure to change the air filter every six weeks. The furnace only ran for about six months per year. This seemed like a minimal workload, and I assumed the heating system would continue to operate properly for the next fifteen years. I didn’t realize that even when the furnace isn’t running, dust and other debris gets inside the inner workings and settles on the various components. The gradual build up blocks airflow and causes friction for the moving parts. With less heated air reaching the target destination, the furnace is forced to run for much longer cycles to achieve the thermostat setting. The excessive wear and tear led to overheating. When I called for repair, I expected it to be minor and inexpensive. Instead, the HVAC contractor informed me that the heat exchanger had cracked. I quickly learned that replacing a heat exchanger costs more than buying a whole new furnace. Now that I have a brand new furnace, which I am making payments on, I have enrolled in a maintenance program with a local HVAC contractor.

a/c professional