Furnace replacement recommendations

[Buster]

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Subscribed. If I'm replacing my furnace, heat pump will definitely part of the equation.

heatpumps are eligible for the canadian green homes grant as well, if you havent maxed that out. AC obviously is not.

[sabad66]

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Huh, we don't have any obvious symptoms but I guess it's time for a furnace checkup come spring. I can replace heat exchanger cells easily enough but it's a ~$1000 repair in parts alone, ugh.

Atco will check heat exchangers as part of their free inspection program. I get them to check mine once a year. But they are probably extremely busy now, doubt you’ll get an appt in 2022 if you sign up now

[benyl]

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I've got a boiler for in-floor heating in the basement, and two furnaces for forced air.

I've been considering one giant boiler to run hot water tanks, the in floor heating, and installing hydronic (I think they are called?) furnaces to replace the existing gas-fired ones. Can also install heat pumps instead of AC into the furnaces to heat the house in shoulder seasons.

My boiler runs the floors in the basement, garage and the bathrooms. Also heats DHW. It basically allows for unlimited hotwater and it heats so fucking fast. We have had 3 showers going at the same time and the water stayed hot.

The only reason I didn't run hydronic heat off the boiler through the furnace is that I wanted redundancy. You boiler becomes your single point of failure and in -30, there isn't a heat pump that works at that temp. Sure, you can have resistive heat as backup, but it just adds to the cost.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

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Atco will check heat exchangers as part of their free inspection program. I get them to check mine once a year. But they are probably extremely busy now, doubt you’ll get an appt in 2022 if you sign up now

Thanks, that's good to know! I wasn't planning to get into it until spring anyway - I don't want to have to screw around with furnace repairs in the winter and for now it doesn't have any obvious symptoms of a major exchanger failure.

[killramos]

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My boiler runs the floors in the basement, garage and the bathrooms. Also heats DHW. It basically allows for unlimited hotwater and it heats so fucking fast. We have had 3 showers going at the same time and the water stayed hot.

The only reason I didn't run hydronic heat off the boiler through the furnace is that I wanted redundancy. You boiler becomes your single point of failure and in -30, there isn't a heat pump that works at that temp. Sure, you can have resistive heat as backup, but it just adds to the cost.

I figure my 2 gas fireplaces, with blowers, will keep the pipes from bursting.

[Buster]

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I figure my 2 gas fireplaces, with blowers, will keep the pipes from bursting.

i think he was saying that with my plan, your boiler goes down, you are pooched...which is true.

[killramos]

Yea aside from the heat pumps your plan is exactly what I have.

And ya, if my boiler craps out my house gets cold.

[benyl]

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I figure my 2 gas fireplaces, with blowers, will keep the pipes from bursting.

Totally.

My brother's boiler went down. We actually had to go and get two 220v heaters from Lowes as he doesn't have a fireplace. Many things will work in a pinch.

[Maxt]

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My there isn't a heat pump that works at that temp.

Mitsubishi hyper heat/Zuba. Have that wallet ready.

[benyl]

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Mitsubishi hyper heat/Zuba. Have that wallet ready.

Can you even get it in Calgary? I was looking to do it, but in early 2021, it wasn't available.

[ExtraSlow]

Don't those systems use electric heat to melt the ice off the coils? Seems wildly inefficient in cold weather.

[benyl]

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Don't those systems use electric heat to melt the ice off the coils? Seems wildly inefficient in cold weather.

The focus isn't really the efficiency, but more to get off gas. push emissions down the line to the coal fired power plant.

[tonytiger55]

My girlfriend replaced her furnace with the Daikin brand. Paid $6k for it.

[Buster]

Everyone I ever hear talking about Pete the Plumber raves about them. Seems that they are pretty legit in terms of customer service.

[killramos]

I have used them several times and haven’t been unhappy.

They probably aren’t the cheapest in town, but they show up on time do what you ask them to and do it all right.

[SJW]

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Everyone I ever hear talking about Pete the Plumber raves about them. Seems that they are pretty legit in terms of customer service.

They did my furnace and AC. Came over and sat with me, didn't treat me like a complete moron with the quote. I compared it to two others and they were cheaper. Did a great job. My house is warm AF and the two stage is sweet.

Would recommend to you beyond lunatics.

[suntan]

They replaced my hot water tank years ago, guy was also kind enough to fix a couple of leaky pex quick connects for me for the grand sum of like $20.

[The_Penguin]

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Everyone I ever hear talking about Pete the Plumber raves about them. Seems that they are pretty legit in terms of customer service.

Mrs. Penguin booked them to do 2 water heaters and add a softener. I was .... a bit concerned due to the cheesy ads, but I was quite impressed with the work, and price.

[rage2]

They're not cheap, but they're not bad.

I do have a co-worker who's the only one I know who's not happy with them. They suggested to him to change from normal hot water tank to instant one and nothing but problems. They wiped their hands clean of the mess after a few years. Poor recommendation/upsell and just a nightmare afterwards.

[ExtraSlow]

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They're not cheap, but they're not bad.

I do have a co-worker who's the only one I know who's not happy with them. They suggested to him to change from normal hot water tank to instant one and nothing but problems. They wiped their hands clean of the mess after a few years. Poor recommendation/upsell and just a nightmare afterwards.

@suntan read this.