Furnace Repair - am I being ripped off?

Question

long story short...
- my 7 yr old furnace breaks
- one of the valves on the gas valve is broken
- call repairman and he replaces the gas valve with a 'brand new' one
- $500 parts/labor
- 2 weeks pass
- furnace fails again
- gas valves aren't opening after circuit board 'clicks'
- I call a repairman (from the same company) and he comes to diagnose the problem
- says the solenoid is causing something in the gas valve to 'stick' (which he says, is common in brand new gas valves)
- he taps the gas valve with a wrench a few times
- then he looks at the connectors on the circuit board
- he says the contacts (from the circuit board) are dusty and that could be why the valve is not getting enough energy (signal) to open the valves
- we try lighting the furnace again- and now it works!
- $60 labor
- 3 weeks pass
- now having the same issue as last time (gas valves aren't opening after circuit board clicks several times)

***

Does this sound like I need a new gas valve? I mean, is this common in a new gas valve where the solenoid is sticking like this? I'll be the first to admit I'm not a professional, but logic tells me that if I have something 'new' I shouldn't have to hit it like the Fonz to get it working again.

At first I was convinced that it was the contacts being dusty for why the valves didn't open but I find it VERY hard to believe that after 3 weeks my furnace doesn't work because of more dust, when the previous 7 yrs I never had touched those contacts before (i know, i know, im going to start being more mindful and get annual cleaning on my unit).

anyones thoughts on this situation?

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Yes that is too much money. And tapping on new parts is not the magic fix. Sounds to me like you either have a bad connection, bad control board or ignition module is bad. Sounds like your not getting 24V to the valve and the problem is intermittent. So, working backwards depending on what you have it would point to the control board or the ignition board. I would call the company and demand they fix the problem on there dime. Sounds like the guy does not know what he is doing. Also, the other parts that could be bad would be limit switchs and or pressure switch. It part of the completion of the ignition circuit. Again working backwards is the key

Answer 2

At seven years old how dirty can the contacts get? Nobody should have to hit any part to make the furnace operate. If the new solenoid on the new gas valve is sticking then the furnace company should warranty the item and the labor. There shouldn't have been a charge for the second service call. It also sounds like there is another problem with unit.

If the board is clicking, and the unit will not operate, the board may have some indicator lights that tells the mechanic what is wrong with the unit. The light will tell you what problem is occurring but, the issue with the gas valve may be caused by another issue. Will be flashing lights on the furnace board. The back of the furnace door tells you what the flashing lights mean. Hope this is helpful. Good Luck

Answer 3

I deal with solenoid valves and the electronics that power them on and off in the equipment we build every day. First, in my experience, solenoid valves rarely (and I mean RARELY) work "sometimes". They work or they don't. Once in a very great while you might get one that sticks but I've never had it happen with a new one right out of the box.

Second, smacking anything that has electronics involved to make it work is a red flag that says the electronic part is at fault.

Third, dirty/dusty contacts don't have a darn thing to do with this unless he unplugged something and didn't clean it before plugging it back in. Once something is plugged in, dust and dirt aren't going to get between the meeting surfaces. Corrosion, maybe, but not dust/dirt. Now the board itself, and components on it, can overheat due to dust/dirt. That can cause exactly what you are experiencing. You hear about this all of the time with home computers that sit under a desk for two years and then people can't figure out why a cap fried the motherboard or the vid card wen belly-up. It happens with our equipment, too, if customers don't keep the control panel door sealed.

If I had to hang my hat on something, it would be the circuit board or at least a component on it. Try a google search to find a new one.

As far as the other company goes,

I'd call to complain, but doubt you will get anywhere.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

He could have installed the wrong type of gas valve, if you have a analog thermostat it has a setting on it that has to be set the same as the valve if different it will work intermittently. or not at all The other issue is it may not have been the Gas valve it could have been the circuit board they get Hot spots on them and can cause the problem. Also 500 for a gas valve is high

Answer 5

Personally, I would be telephoning the owner/manager of the company you are dealing with, and ask that it be FIXED, not just worked on, and mention that you have already spent $560 on a furnace they have not yet fixed. If you don't get an immediate positive response, mention that if they can't finish the repair -- and at no additional charge -- you will be forced to hire someone else who CAN do the work, and will consider action to recover the money you have already spent on improper and unacceptable work.



Best of luck to you!

Answer 6

when your board clicks to open gas valve, i sure hope the guy checked to see if he had 24V at the gas valve. then he should work backwards to the board. when the power loss is found, viola! theres your problem. 2nd day service tech should know this.