STOP Getting Ripped Off By HVAC Companies. Replace Your Gas Furnace Yourself
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
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⚠️ Disclaimer:
This video is for educational purposes. Any and all HVAC repair work is done at your own risk. The DIY HVAC Guy channel is not responsible for any possible damages or injuries caused by the use or misuse of the provided information.
00:00 Introduction
00:16 SAFETY
00:27 Turn off power and gas
01:04 Disconnect gas
01:50 Disconnect electrical (MAKE SURE BREAKER IS SWITCHED OFF)
03:51 Disconnect thermostat wire
06:55 Disconnect exhaust venting
07:09 Disconnecting return duct from furnace
08:40 Disconnecting upper ductwork from furnace
11:05 Sliding old furnace out
11:24 Making return air opening in new furnace
12:02 Installing new filter rack
17:11 Attach new furnace to ductwork
18:00 Connect thermostat wiring
21:39 Connecting 110v electrical
25:55 Reconnecting gas line & flex
28:50 Connecting supply ductwork
30:20 Re install exhaust venting
HVAC owner here, and I do not hate anyone for doing their own work. If you are mechanical and competent by all means it is your home do what you wish. I would say that MOST HVAC companies are not going out to rip you off. What people don't realize is that it costs thousands of dollars in overhead to operate an HVAC business. With high wages for experienced tech's, building lease, Office help, Sales men, managers, service vehicles, insurance, medical, benefits, licensing, and countless other overhead costs.
The point I am trying to making is it is dishonest to say you are getting "Ripped off by HVAC companies". Consider the average HVAC company makes a profit margin of about 2.5-3.5%. McDonalds makes a 28% profit margin average and Apple's is around 25%. I don't feel that a burger joint or a tech company deserves more profit margin that a trade company. Trade companies keep our homes warm or cool, running water, sewer, electricity, and the roof over your head. These trades people deserve to make good living wages for the amazing work they do keeping our infrastructure working so you can live in comfort.
Do your do diligence get 3 estimates, and select the company that you feel most comfortable. OR save some money and do it yourself. Don't get half-way into the job and then start calling around to get the equipment installed. A business must make enough money on a job to pay our employees and make the profit they deserve. Most times that profit comes from the markup of equipment. I would just caution homeowners as you can cause a gas leak, get electrocuted or carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure you install carbon monoxide, and smoke detectors outside of your sleeping areas, as a mistake installing your own furnace can be dangerous.
I really appreciate this comment. It’s true, for a growing hvac company the profit margin may be minimal, but I’m not sure that includes product markups.
To your point though,people get ripped of in the respect that they’re paying x amount to this huge company while another company has less overhead and can offer the same service for way less. So the customer is paying for the companies overhead. What’s ok about that? They just want their unit fixed. These videos are simply for people to have the knowledge and awareness they need to either repair their system or just to understand what exactly the company they are hired is doing.
Thanks again for your feedback! I appreciate it, as do all our viewers. Cheers
@@diyhvacguy I don't mind your video, in fact it is great for the DIY crowd. I do feel the title is misleading, and gives HVAC companies a bad name. Like they are ripping people off by making them pay for their overhead weather a large or small company. I feel that we as highly trained and experienced professionals should be well compensated. And in order to do that and offer great services you need to have your overhead paid for and you need to grow your business.
Overhead is included in everything that we buy, and if not that product or service will not be around for long. When you ordered that furnace from the supply store, you paid for the overhead of that supply store. The warehouse, desk people, sales men, managers, owners, shipping costs, manufactures overhead etc... Most of what you pay for with ANY product is the overhead. So yes, it is ok to include your overhead, and as a consumer you must pay for it. Or don't buy anything ever again.
As for paying for overhead on larger companies, there are many reasons that customers want to work with the larger companies. Larger companies can offer services and speed that a small guy can not. Not too many small shops offering 24hr service, or have the man power to do timely repairs in extreme weather. The manufacture of the furnace you install is the largest HVAC manufacture in the world, are they bad for including all of their overhead in their products?
If you are in business and you have no idea what your overhead is and how to include it in your pricing. You won't have a business for long, or you are in for some rough days. This is not directed at you, but to any business owner out there. I would recommend the book "On the Shoulders of Giants" by Jack Tester. Great book on how the trade industry has made huge changes, and how to be successful in your own business.
They get no warranty and if they do the AC I will turn them in to the EPA for the fine money that I will get
@@pmichaelhayes I agree Michael with all you said but there is a safety component to this that is above and beyond everything said here. I worry about the homes and occupants after he is done. No license, no permit, no insurance,no training just a jaded guy that thinks this is easy to do. If he thinks the install prices are high now just wait till after January 2023 with new energy regulations and equipment changes.
@@diyhvacguy If every HVAC company had the same level of service with the backing of an established business with knowledgeable techs who can show up same day they would all charge more than you would want. The fact that starting an HVAC repair business is easy any chuck with a truck can do so. Not everyone has the same finances and for those who are all about price there is a chuck with a truck that will fix your unit for bottom dollar and run. For those who appreciate knowledgeable techs, customer service and piece of mind there is service companies who provide that at a cost.
As an electrician, if you are replacing an existing piece of equipment, he is right to take a picture, but assuming there is plenty of slack in the wire, don't take the wire off the terminal, cut it slightly back, leaving the colored insulation on the terminal for reference when you install the new one. It is also a good idea because you want to use a fresh connection in the new device. Old exposed wire at the terminal is often deteriorated over time. It can be higher in impedance/resistance and can be more brittle than a fresh connection, especially for particularly old connections like ones on a furnace.
This is brilliant! Why didn’t I think of this! Thanks so much for sharing. I’m just accustomed to what wires go where but this is excellent advice for someone who hasn’t done a hundred of them. Also saves time. Thanks again! Cheers
It is this kind of genius tips and tricks that can only come from experience that impress me. Amazing.
When i changed the batteries in my thermostat those small wires behind it were very rigid
I always cut all the wires back if I have the slack.
Mind blown.. 😅 can’t wait to share this one. 2nd year hvac apprentice
As an HVAC professional I wanted to tell you how much I find your videos helpful to share with may people that didn't realize just how capable they are. I did service for 6 months and was heartbroken with the big company's and how they pushed sales and over priced equipment and un needed service to all there customers. Now I work in house at a large manufacturing company maintaining and repairing there equipment and don't have to worry about being a salesman first, technician second.
I had 2 HVAC techs come out for my condenser freezing up. They hooked their digital SH and SC lines and didn’t show me the refrigerant level, but just said “oh wow man…you’re low on refrigerant!” They then told me that my unit needs to be replaced. Well at that time, I couldn’t really afford that. So I took matters into my own hands and took apart my air handler and looked up underneath my A-coil…being that my system is 30 years old…there was a huge buildup of dirt and such underneath my A-coil. So I cleaned it and put together my air handler…no freeze up after that…and my house cooled so well it was like stepping into a refrigerator from the intense heat outside.
So I appreciate your telling the world about your DYI advice and guidance. If I didn’t watch videos on why your condenser freezes up, I wouldn’t have eliminated all possibilities as to why. Before I gave up and said “yeah we’re low on refrigerant and probably have a leak”…I took that last step and checked under my A-coil…and that it being dirty turned out to be the problem!
Thanks for doing what you do!
Thanks for your testimonial! That’s awesome. Glad our videos helped you out 🤘🏼
I really appreciate your honesty! When I bought my home over twenty years ago, it had a contractor grade furnace. One technician, after taking the burners apart, refused to complete the maintenance due to supposed liability issues. He proclaimed the furnace needed replacement. Well, after that incident I started doing the maintenance myself. I kept that furnace working for ten more years!
Holy cow! Thanks so much for sharing. Did he said the heat exchanger was cracked or something like that? It’s crazy how many hvac companies take advantage of people. That saddens me a lot
@@diyhvacguy No cracked heat exchanger. The ignition would hesitate briefly, resulting in a slight burst of flame when it finally ignited. I repositioned the spark ignitor (old furnace) closer to the gas outlet during my maintenance and that appeared to resolve that issue. Also worked better after a cleaning. I also suggested the tech may want to adjust the gas pressure, but he was insistent on selling me a new furnace.
My high efficiency Carrier was making a lot of noise and finally would not start up. I have appliance insurance through my home mortgage. They sent out a technition. To make a long story short he said I need a new furnace. I did a little research. The only thing it needed was a new inducer fan because the original one was cracked and out of ballance. I ordered a new one for $143.00 and replaced it myself. Even though the insurance would cover $500.00 towards the cost of a new furnace I still saved myself a ton of money. It's too bad that you cannot trust people these days. They just want to make a sale. They really don't care about the customer.
@@thekman1812 i did hvac in Maryland in 2010 for a year and then got fired because i wasnt selling enough and just fixing peoples shit. I dont like to sell people junk they dont need..... If you live in MD stay awy from United Air temp.... They may be different now but they were predators while i worked there...
I’m gonna be real I would trust a service techs experience overall vs a homeowner with zero experience.
Never thought I'd be watching a furnace installation Sunday morning. LoL. I would like to comment on the gas line connection. I always add a Tee on the drop and a 4-5 inch capped drip leg after the gas shutoff and before furnace to catch crud from the gas line. It's suprised the rust and grit ends up in the bottom of the drip leg over time keeping it out of the gas valve. All in all it was fun to watch someone else doing the work 👍
Yea, I’m going to make it a habit of doing that on all future installs. Thanks so much for your input!
@@diyhvacguy Appreciate the reply, Some places require that but I've always routinely added one if there wasn't one on a furnace installation. I really do like your channel and look forward to the videos. I've been retired for a few years and I miss the work.
Code in most major cities.
Great video. Knowledge is power for a home owner. Last year I had a big Reno project going on in my home and one day I fired the carpenter who was also the general contractor, I fired the electrician, who did really nice work, but was charging way too much, and I fired the plumbers who were doing some of the ugliest work that I have ever seen anywhere. I took two weeks off work and finished everything myself, saved a ton of money and everything passed inspection.
Our company is slow, as a field tech, they gave me a solo furnace replacement. Good stuff and fun to watch it done by another.
I have no comment on encouraging people without hvac experience to take on a task with electricity, gas, & metal work. I hope you're encouraging them to confirm everything during commissioning: flue analysis, gas pressure, co in the space
Great video. Now I really know what my HVAC guy did when he rightfully charged me lots of money installing a new system. Thee is no way I’d do this myself and appreciate knowing what he was doing.
And your HVAC guy probably cut and bent new duct pieces to match everything up correctly instead of using aluminum tape everywhere making it look like a DIY Christmas present.
As an hvac professional, ive honestly gotta say you did a good job like most companies would but you did two major mistakes. One was the flex line is not upto code and not having a drip leg voids the warranty on that gas valve. Two that coil needs separation from the heat exchanger. It will melt over time and you’ll end up with water all over the floor when the A/C runs. Everything else is golden. Good job. I wish more homeowners were as skilled as you
Thank you so much, you have no idea how much your constructive criticism is appreciated. The pan on this one was metal so I opted to leave it right on top as it was on the old furnace. The drip leg advice is noted and I am absolutely going to be doing that on all future installs! Thanks again. Cheers
@@diyhvacguy could u explain what the drip leg is that he is commented about? Also in this video you put somekind of sealant on the sheet metal work you did on the inside where the coil is. What is the sealant you used and is it a special type for furnace ductwork or just basic silicone?
Great video and am enjoying binge watching it today!
@@BillSW Just a DIY guy myself but at 0:46 when he takes the old one off, you can see the pipe goes down before it comes back up into the unit. You'll see the same thing on a water heater too. There's like a downward pipe just stubbed off like T a lot of times where water will collect if there's ever water in the gas line so that the water doesn't go into your equipment.
They do not require “separation” from the furnace if they are rated for being on top of a furnace. 🙄
@@jman0870 doesn’t matter if its rated for high heat cus over the years Ive found pans get brittle and crack. Avoid problems by just separating it at first install
Amazing video. I got a deal I couldn't pass up on a furnace a few years ago to replace the one at my parent's house when it goes out eventually, but so far it's still sitting in my garage as their furnace just keeps going, lol.
Haha don’t fix what ain’t broke! If you need any help when you do it, you know where to find me 👊🏼 cheers
Fantastic video! Thanks for sharing, piece a cake. Be looking at all your other videos. There's always some mystery with some parts, you demonstrate plain and simple.
A few things to add regarding the condensate pump. GFCI protection of the pump is required in our state by code. Also be sure to check the insulation temperature rating of any wire inside the gas furnace cabinet. I see the condensate wiring traversed the inside of the furnace before terminating in the box, if the temperature rating of that cable is less than the insulation rating of the wires used by the manufacturer inside the cabinet then they shouldn't be there (inspectors here will fail for that). In addition The 120v connections you made to extend the condensate pump wiring need to be inside a junction box to pass code.
Just a few more things I would recommend. The manufacturer suggests about a 6 inch gap between the heat exchanger and evaporator coil. I've seen too many plastic drain pans melted by the heat exchanger. Of course the drip leg, especially for propane. Although for natural gas they've eliminated the drip leg in my state. I still put them in. Also I don't think its code to put two wires together on the service switch. A pigtail would be better. Your wire connections would be better off inside the metal box in the furnace. You do need some type of bushing connecting the electrical box to the furnace to prevent the wires from developing a short. I always change the gas shutoff on every change out. Not a big fan of the appliance connecter. Would rather see hard pipe ran all the way to the gas valve. I realize its not code in every state. Always check the temperature rise of the furnace after the install, just in case you need to change the blower speed. I also would of cut a piece of metal for the gap near the filter rack. I would also recommend furnace blocks on the bottom of the furnace. Its just a nice added feature for floods. I think the hardest part for diyer's would be the plenum transition. That takes some skill. I also change out the thermostat with every install. Always and I mean always, install a carbon monoxide detector. Other than those few things, good video.
Thank you so much for these pointers, and sharing your knowledge with everyone. I truly appreciate that. This one had a metal drain pan otherwise I’d have lifted it up. But I am for sure going to do the drip leg for all future furnace replacements. What did you mean by the bushing connecting the electrical box to furnace? Thanks again for the advice and your knowledge. Cbeers
@@diyhvacguy Its basically like a wire grommet to prevent the wires from chaffing between the opening of the electrical box and the furnace
@@bobschuster63 Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of people don’t pull permits on change outs
I agree the plenum transition would be the hardest thing
@@deanmartin1966 you have to get a permit to change out your furnace? What about other appliances? I would think that this would be a State specific requirement?
I AM INSTALLING NEW DUCTWORK , A HEAT PUMP AND AIR HANDLER IN MY HOUSE. I WATCH ALL YOUR VIDEOS, WHICH HAS GIVEN ME THE CONFIDENCE TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT.
Awesome! If you need some help during your project feel free to check out our membership over at Patreon.com/diyhvacguy where you’ll get one on one assistance with everything from sizing to installation as well as warranty info 👍🏼 cheers
@@diyhvacguy I CLICKED ON TO YOUR PATREON LINK AND GOT A WEIRD SECURITY WARNING AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCESS THE SITE. DAVE, YOU SHOULD COME OVER TO BOISE AND SEE MY PROJECT? I AM USING MR COOL PRODUCTS, BOB
Another informative and instructional video young man. In my opinion, knowledge is power. The more knowledge the DIY has , the more safer and capable will be. I've been installing furnace's and CU's for 4 decades and your change out of that old furnace is exactly how I have done many that required some slight adjustments and retrofitting. Excellent job! One last thing I noticed you didn't cover. In attaching the flex gas line, let your viewers know that you don't need pipe dope or Teflon tape on either sides of the connections. You did great but didn't explain why there is no need for any extra sealant. I've lost count of how many I have corrected due to installers thinking it's necessary. That stuff can and will cause the fittings to leak gas.
Awesome, thank you so much for the advice. I really appreciate it. Cheers.
@@diyhvacguy You're welcome! Keep up the good fight! You're doing great. 👍🏾
I can’t believe the prices they want even for very easy jobs. A year ago my AC wouldn’t come on. They came out and put a new starting capacitor on the outdoor unit and added a half pound of Freon. The charge was $750. The guy wasn’t even there 1 hour. I know how to change a capacitor and could have gotten one for $20. I realize these companies have overheads and such, but to me that was excessive. Now I try to do as much troubleshooting as I can before asking someone else to look at it. Thanks for this informative video.
If it’s r22 and ur in Canada that craps expensive now.
Yeah it depends on what refrigerant it is. Prices are different for every refrigerant but right now r22 Is around $500 a pound
Yeah we charge out the ass for R-22, we have to pay out the ass and I don't even know if we're getting new in. Also gotta figure in our upper expensive tools to do the job correctly and get a proper charge. It's not as easy as just dumping in refrigerant. Too much in either direction can damage your compressor, then we're talking a much more expensive visit just for the part. You also need a license to buy and hold refrigerant that has potential for ozone depletion or green house gas. Don't go putting R-134 in because you got it from Napa and it keeps your car cold. You'll have a huge mess on your hands.
Secondly, go ahead and buy your $1,600 home depot special, when you install it wrong and have a mess of CO in the house, I'll charge you hourly to come out and fix it. If you're not certified you don't get your warranty either. And when you put in a furnace too big or too small and are using too much energy to efficiently heat your home, we'll come out to put in the correct size and make sure your house is heated right. You're not just paying for some dude to make a killing, you're paying for that dude to make a living and all the knowledge, certifications, equipment, and insurance that company provides.
For reference, if you get a high dollar, super efficient boiler (Weil McClain comes to mind) your efficiency comes from the amount of fuel it uses. To set this correctly, you have to let it go and make minor adjustments to a couple screws, like 1/8 of a turn can be waaay too much. To check this, you have to use a combustion analyzer, you can grab one today for under a thousand. It used to be like 2,000 or more for this tool. There are many tools like this that are crazy expensive. Guess what.. They're expensive to replace too or get worked on. It's more than just slap it together and call it good. It also takes more time to come out and fix than it does to just do it ourselves as we know what has been done.
Yes the prices are incredible. I bet most homeowners put most HVAC technicians' kids through medical school. That's why I'm so glad for DIY split systems available now. We're done buying HVAC guys a Lambo every 2 years.
If your elderly. Call the senior citzen center or another advitict if your handed a bill that looks like your getting gouged. My neighbor had 15' of PVC main sewer line dug up and replaced by a plumber. She was handed a bill was over $7,000. Sge was going to pay it. The inspector that had to by off the final inspection said. No way. Bill was changed to 3k or inspector wasn't going to pass it. Good people still exists.
FYI neutral is blue in this colour coding. The plug that comes off of a condensate pump has been cut off but you should see the cord end has a larger prong that ends up on the white or neutral side. Previous HVAC installer screwed that up.
Great Video! I love the simple, yet detailed explanations each step of the way.
I am now encouraged to replace the furnace myself. I have replaced 40-galon water heaters before (sweating copper pipe), so I am a bit of DIYer already. Couple of Comments:
A) I like to take pictures or videos of the "before" when there are wires involved, just in case I forget.
B) I find that sheet metal is too sharp. I will probably use gloves when I work on that part of the installation.
HVAC companies probably are not happy with videos like these... But they squeeze too much $$ from the client, so this is what they get.
Just wanted to say thank you for refreshing my memory as I went to HVAC school several years ago and never entered the field as I took on a new career.
What did you end up getting into?
I can appreciate what you are doing on helping people out.been doing HVAC/sheet metal mechanic for over 33 years and would like to suggest things to make for a better install.
You need a drip leg on the gas line and some state code will not let you use a appliances connector.you ran the electrical into your handy box with no connector which could cause a short and also against code.if you are going to try to reuse duct work never just tape a gap that large.cut a piece of metal first then tape.it would have been a good idea to have added a receptacle for the pump so if it goes bad the serviceman or homeowner can just unplug to change.i know it was hardwired before but put a plug on it.on these kind of low voltage plugs for the board it good to twist the wire together on the ones with two.sometimes you think you got them both in there good but one is not.
One thing a home owner needs to consider if they try to change there own furnace.one is the warranty with not a professional putting it in.the manufacture will probably not honor with a homeowner install.second if you change out a gas or oil furnace you need to pull a permit and have it inspected by local inspection.if the homeowner goes to sell his house and the buyer or mortgage company doesn’t see a permit pulled for a new furnace could possibly be a problem.
Just a few suggestions and you are doing a good job and you will pick up things the longer you are in the trade
Thanks so much for your input. What did you mean when you mentioned the electrical connector that was missing? I know now about the drip leg. How many inches do you do? Also any Goodman that isn’t registered still has a 5 year warranty. Thanks again for the feedback
Chris and Max, where or who do you work for, some town or municipality as an inspector?? The town governments and manufacturers are beating the shit out of homeowners by refusing to honor a manufacturer warranty along with all the town government waiting at your doorstep to steal money out of your pockets for stupid permits every time you do something! Who’s side are you on on??? Sounds like you work for the government as an inspector? Humanity needs more people like this hvac tech to help people save a couple of bucks instead of a bank or town government inspector chomping at the bit to steal more money out of a person’s pocket. Chris and max, sounds like you’re the only human beings that can do hvac work! Don’t know why you’re so offended watching a hvac tech explaining to home owners how to save some money?? Look at the greedy world we’re living in now in 2022!
@@mmingle57 i don’t work for the inspection department.i am assuming you are a homeowner from your comment.i in no way was trying to show this young man any disrespect but try and give some guidance.
You have inspections to make sure the installs are done to code and safe.they are there to protect the homeowners.i can’t tell you how many jobs that a homeowner or a chuck in a truck did a sorry job and it didn’t work.seen homeowners not having the proper clearance to combustibles and then when I get there the wood is burnt.
This video shows a easy install but most are not this straight forward.usually you have to make duct transitions,electrical not long enough,and so on.
So before you get so tore up over my comment just realize if a furnace isn’t done right your house could catch fire.
@@diyhvacguy three inch drip leg is normal.when you did the electrical,from the video it looks like you screw the handy box and then just ran the furnace wires through the hole in back of back.really need to use a connector in box to run wires through.
You did a good job and was just trying to give you some tips.
We are a Carrier dealer and they will not honor a warranty if a homeowner does the work.
I'd like to see the sediment trap/drip leg. Drip legs are required to be installed in a manner that meets or exceeds fuel piping codes and manufacture requirements for appliances and devices
Right. Dude didn’t even follow code
Very informative! Definitely something I'd do! I would consider myself a strong DIYer. I've done sheet metal work, wiring and soldering. Haven't branched into silver solder, but would be willing to give it a shot.
Thank You for producing this and then being bold enough to share it! I have witnessed enough of the way the HVAC installers play on the customers ignorance! My brother bought three rentals and being new to the rental business he decided to bring in a friend who was a reputable (so we thought) HVAC tech who said you have a bad (cracked) heat exchanger and so without further investigation he had a new furnace installed at $3000 and within the next two houses lo and behold two more furnace installed with same issue and expense! It may have been necessary for one but highly unlikely that all three needed it! My brother was soured on rentals and being milked by such greedy rascals ! I hired a HVAC pro he got on sight and said I’m your supervisor your going to pull the old and install the new and this I’m giving you a job well done and an education to boot! He got paid and I will always treasure his encouragement to hop right in there and do that install! Our family owns about 14 or more homes and we’re not afraid to tackle such projects and this is a great tutorial! I salute you for your kindness to the DIY family!
Awesome man. This is really cool to hear. As long as the people doing the work are being extra safe when working with electricity and gas, I think it’s definitely a mechanically inclined person can tackle. Thanks again for the comment! We have another install video coming out in the next few days that shows some cool tricks so stay tuned for that! Cheers
Incredibly unlikely but it's not too far fetched that 3 furnaces in the same neighborhood had cracks. Especially those in older cookie cutter developments with the same shitty type of furnace. Still sounds scammy though
One way to know for sure is to insist or demand proof of the crack upon presentation of the concern or after the furnace is removed
Good info. Did this same replacement myself a few gears ago and saved thousands. Inexpensive manometer isn’t hard to buy. Easy to check delta T measurements. Thanks for the video, enjoyed watching it!
Glad it helped! Thanks so much! Make sure and subscribe for more hvac tips and tricks! Cheers
When it comes to DIY HVAC installs or repairs you have to be aware that wherever or however you find someone or business that will sell you a furnace or A/C unit that you will probably not receive a warranty with it since the major manufacturers of these units require installation by a certified installer to honor the warranty. I know this for a fact since I work for a wholesaler for 34 years and we run into this situation a lot from people who buy the equipment online.
Yes, when the people who bought the equipment want to warranty something. The reality is the unit comes with 5 year out of the box warranty with no registration, so if they hired an hvac company to diagnose and replace a warranty part, they will do it. I know that for a fact because I’ve done it many times. The dealer doesn’t care who installed the unit. As long as the person coming in to replace it has their HVAC license they can get a replacement. So the homeowner is just paying for labor at that point.
Been doing hvac for 30yrs, own a business for 17yrs. I won't touch anything a homeowner installed or tried to fix. Been there done that, not worth the headache.
@@diyhvacguy Advertised manuf. equipment warranty cannot be denied unless there is a clear case of negligence causing the issue. Bonus warranty term conditional upon registering after dealer-install is different matter. Also, the companies that charge an arm and a leg are also typically offering 10 year labor warranties with 10 year parts. People pay for that peace of mind. It's like buying extended warranties. 99% of the time you're better off declining those things as long as you have savings to pay for repairs when they happen.
Home insurance won’t cover it either because permits weren’t pulled
@@gglira101 not to mention in our area it will have to be disclosed if you sell the house. Easy for home inpecters as there will not be a gas tag with a license number on the equipment. Immediate gas code violation. Not many people will put their license on another person's work when the person with the license becomes liable.
Lavimores channel is basically watching him do installs, with little expalanation. You explain everything in detail, including tools. Ive come to the realization that i need power shears. i found the old steel-frame basement sink base is perfect for raising a furnace up: the new furnaces are significantly shorter than ones made 25 yrs ago. Rather than extend the plenum, you just raise the furnace up to whatever level is needed by cutting the steel legs. Amazon also sells an adjustable furnace base.
He sure does give great info on installs,try openning your eyes.. Shows all the tricks clearly..
Excellent and very informative. Replaced my own furnace a couple months ago and everything worked out fine. Had an electrician stop by to check things out and all was good. Would emphasize to "take your time" taking before and after pictures for every piece you work on. Good Luck my Brothers. Benjamin Franklin - A penny saved is a penny earned 💯 He was right.
Nice install but you need a drip leg before your flexable stainless connection and you absolutely need to change the vent pipe to type B- vent, it is a fire hazzard as well as a carbon monoxide leak source. The company before your install did not use the correct vent pipe upon their initial installation.
I really like this video you did a great job with your explanation and showed good practices that a diy person may want to try and install their own furnace.
Thank you so much, I truly appreciate your input. How come none of the other hvac guys mentioned the vent pipe? some mentioned that it isn’t supposed to by within 6” of combustibles but nothing about it needing to be b vent. This is good to know. Thanks again
Nothing wrong with c vent… this guy did some wacky stuff… but the c vent is fine. Code here says no appliance connectors for a fixed appliance… and it needs a drip. But allows c vent till it passes through a wall assuming it’s sized right based on the building and fresh air.
@@diyhvacguy If single wall vent is present code doesn't require us to replace it, but sometimes we are forced to replace some of it because it is too close to other things that are hard to make not combustible (who wants to stub out copper for your drain line off a coil to meet that clearance from combustibles for single wall pipe?)
@@diyhvacguy I Have 34 years field experience, since combustion assisted furnaces came into the playfield they don't burn nearly as hot as do the old school ones therefore they don't burn out the excess condensation, causing water to makes its way into the inducer housing rotting away the squirrel cage to nothing, that's why you should always upgrade the pipe to double wall.
@@Sightthrough should be 6" of clearance from anything per code, 1" for double wall. supply plenums are far closer than 6 inches from the outlet connection of the furnace.
I replaced my 3 zone valves, installed new pipes and added shut-off wherever there was a component, new gas valve, burners, hydrostat, trandsformer... so everything except the cover... All for less than $800.. Also upgraded my expansion tank and added a second 30# relief valve.
Bought it all on amazon from manufacturer.
A local hvac charged me $7k for a new lennox gas furnace and 2.5T outside unit (they were 40 years old, outside unit didnt work and furnace was loud and burning a ton of gas). New lines, haul away, 10 year parts and labor warranty. He said if i need something adjusted call his cell and he would come over and do whatever was needed. Heck the guy even added a water shutoff inside for an outside hose bib for $0 with a spare he had in his truck. Very nice guy, good company to work with. It's been 9 years and I haven't needed any work on it. He put in a filter housing that takes 5 inch filters and he told me to ignore the '1 year' on the filter and replace them twice a year. Even told me which ones would work from Amazon to save money.
I don't regret it a bit.
Amazing, sounds like you got a great deal. That same job would be 20k minimum here in utah. It’s absolutely robbery
This is hopefully my last winter with my furnace. After watching your videos I'm definitely doing it myself. Your videos give people confidence which is invaluable. Thank you sir
If you are considering buying an inverter for this purpose, make sure it is a pure sine wave inverter if you want to also use the inverter to power electronics and laptops. Also, just to be clear a fully charged RV battery will NOT power a furnace for two days.. technically speaking. The furnace comes on and off so the furnace will stay working for few days maybe. If the furnace was to stay on continually, the battery will only last about two hours maximum.
Yea i thought the same thing. I'm 100%off grid, and i have both kinds, and the sin wave is unreliable, pulls way more power, cost a bunch more. my computers and electronics run better by far on the regular Canadian tire off the shelf inverter.. like this message powered by solar and a standard square wave inverter, going on three years now. (i use the sin one for the fridge, so i didn't have to toss it in the trash.).
I, an electrical engineer, replaced my own furnace 28 years ago and it's still running great. I did get a permit as my city allows homeowner to install furnace in their own home. The most difficult part I encountered back then was the ductwork. All new furnaces now are shorter than they used to be. I wish you had shown how you did the transition from the new furnace to the plenum. Also, I would not use the flexible gas line for furnace. I did learn from you how to install the furnace filter frame. I may need to replace my furnace again maybe in a couple years. Great video and I just subscribed to your channel.
Awesome. Thanks for the sub! We will have a video coming out that shows the whole transition part of it, you will be blown away at how easy it is. Nice cross breaks I’m the transition with no break needed! Stay tuned for that one. You will really enjoy it. Should be out next week. Cheers
6 years ago I replaced the furnace in my house with a new Goodman. Everything went great and it's still running fine. The only problem I encountered was when I called to register my furnace for the warranty they voided my warranty because I wasn't HVAC certified. That part sucked loosing my 20 years parts warranty. Luckily Goodman makes good stuff so I don't foresee any problems... hopefully.
Also, I did a similar wiring job so that I can use my generator Incase of power outage during the winter months. So great job on video.
Relax. It's only a 10 yr warranty. Goodman, Amana, Lennox, Trane. Same unit, different badging.
A straightforward replacement like you had isn't very difficult and can be done by a lot of homeowners.. however, not all replacements are straightforward. Like switch to a high efficiency from a mid. Different height/width furnace replacement. Etc..
It's definitely not something everyone can do..
I couldn’t agree more. This job is NOT for everyone! do your research people and as always be safe. 🙏🏻
Also there’s about a million reasons this would fail inspections at least in my state.
Microphone Drop
Very informative video. When attempting a project like this , especially to novices,weekend warriors, etc. , the audiance should first be informed of the proper tools to be used for this type of project. Using vice grips, and channel locks on black pipe or any pipe for that matter is just wrong !
Why? It does the job just fine.
Pipe wrenches are a pain in the but in my opinion. Unless working with really big sizes
I've done 2 furnaces and AC units in the past 10 years or so. Had duct work fabricated to make it a little easier. I thank God for what talent I've aquired.
Amazing thanks for sharing!
I love watching the video just to see the various wiring and how it is hooked up. I live out in the country and do most home repairs myself. Just getting someone out to fix something is a nightmare. However, I doubt I'd attempt to this myself. I agree a person would save a few thousand dollars by replacing it yourself, but this is more of a job that is left up to professionals. Suppose for the sake of argument you install it yourself and a month down the road there's something wrong with it. And it does happen. We had a new heater and air-conditioner unit installed at our last house. Yes, it was expensive. But about 7 months down the road, it wouldn't turn on. No air-conditioning. Being it was still under warranty, I called the company and they had someone come out within 2 hours. He diagnosed it and repaired the problem in a matter of a couple hours. No charge since it was under warranty. I wouldn't have known where to even begin. There's just some things that you have to leave up to a professional. But a good video and I enjoyed watching how they are put in!!
Thanks so much for sharing. I can totally respect that and I understand that not everyone is going to want to replace their own furnace or ac, but for those who do, this is good information. And simply knowing how it’s done too is good knowledge to have. I’ve helped several DIYers over the past few months to install equipment and they have been very happy. Goodman equipment comes with 5 years of warranty out of the box, so if some itching was to go bad in day 7 months, simply hire a contractor to fix it. You’ll only be paying for labor since the parts are all covered for 5 years 👍🏽 Paying the extra money is worth having the 10 years but for some that’s not as important.
@@diyhvacguy I totally agree. I love watching how the furnace is removed and replaced. And I learned a few things about the wiring on the circuit board. That in itself was valuable knowledge to know. I have replaced a couple of parts on my furnace that went bad just from watching your videos. Thank you and keep the videos coming!!
Appreciate your DIY position. I bet you're catching a fair amount of static from other HVAC contractors for it.
Some of these “honest” HVAC contractors on RUclips complain about DIYers but most of the HVAC hack jobs are performed by lazy employees of licensed contractors. I worked as a service technician many years ago and hated to see people get cheated but there are still plenty of dishonest/ shoddy contractors today.
Yes, a fair amount is right! I appreciate a lot of people trying to educate instead of putting others down. I won’t tolerate the later. If you want to comment and leave a meaningful educating comment feel free, but hate comments won’t be allowed.
@@floridamanhvacr1091 Then any info you can share would be greatly appreciated to add to this video! Thank you for your good attitude as well! Most are critical because they feel threatened. I was a licensed HVAC-R as well as a Journeymen electrician and plumber plus worked 20+ years literally building homes from the ground up! Siding, roofing, cement, tike, flooring...you name it! Spent a few years on professional crews for each profession to learn the right way to do things before I earned the right to brag about the above lol.
I’m sure many HVAC companies hate you for divulging all this info, in reality your videos are very valuable too many including myself. Keep up your professionalism and honesty😊
Thank you so much!!! I truly appreciate your comment. Thanks for watching!
Not at all... There's plenty of work out there to go around and, also most DIY videos and DIYRS out there are lacking years of professional experience which means there's going to be mistakes made which will create issues that only a experienced tradesman in that area will be able to identify and resolve.
Take myself for instance.... I'm an HVAC technician and I have been for a little over 20 years... That's what I know that's who I am... I don't work on computers but there's plenty of RUclips videos out there to do so. When I attempt to fix a computer problem with my laptop I might think about it. But more likely I'm not going to lie to myself or anybody else that I can fix the problem I'm just going to call a company who has employees that have made a choice in life to learn that trade and PAY them for their services! There's some things RUclips videos just aren't going to provide you and those some things are certifications, hours and hours of continuing education, and years and years of in the field experience striving everyday to be your best!
The issue is that Most HVAC contractors are charging $5500 for a new 80,000 BTU 96% efficiency! Gas Furnace! Using PVC pipe to vent the furnace! New Goodman and AirQuest furnaces cost between $1500. - $2000. which means the gross profit is over $3500. before labor cost! And most companies are hiring young kids and training them and these kids are 18 to 20 years old! Paying them $15.00 per hour! The only person who is a licensed professional is the owner of the HVAC company and he’ll hire a supervisor! But the grunt work is done by these young inexperienced kids! learning on the job! Supervisor will come by periodically to make sure the work is being done correctly!
@@Nonsense62365 Yep, the HVAC contractors are the root of the problem. If they were reasonable with "profits" most people would not even bother to attempt their own repairs and installation.
@Kaplan Design Audio & Video Solutions actually depends on the state you live in. Oklahoma is required by law in order to install a hvac system you have to be a licensed hvac journeyman. And FYI if a dyi person installs a hvac system in some states and a fire happens because of not doing the installation proper and legal the insurance doesn't have to pay.
I do commercial/industrial HVAC. So this isn’t taking any money out of my pocket. But you’re going to get some that can handle the project. And some that will end up costing themselves trying to copy you more trying to do it alone than just hiring it out. One huge thing about stuff like this, no two are exactly the same. Good work! 👍
Reminds me of my experience. On the coldest day in the north-east, I had no heat. Called the company that installed it, and the tech replaced most of the stuff inside the gas/hot water furnace - boards, regulators.... No good. He said the boss would be back next day.
Symptoms: call for heat worked and the 'ceramic" ? igniter would glow, the gas came on and lit, but only for a few seconds. On a whim, I removed the igniter.
The manufacturer had provided a thorough schematic so I measured and found the igniter resistance was far off from the specification. Bought a new one and it worked fine. No - the original tech didn't charge me.
Install whatever you want whenever you want just don't call me when it breaks lol
I did the same thing at my old house - I had a quite old unit, that was a pilot valve style, horizontal mounted from the floor joists in a crawl space. It went quite bad, with not igniting on a start, resulting a quite obvious 'boom' (I swear the floor heaved a bit). I purchased a new furnace from a nearby contractor and had a deal, where I would do the install (except for the gas hookup), and they would provide any ducting to connect up. Worked out perfectly. The city gas inspector wanted to know who did the install, as it was one of the best that he had seen -> Me!. Bonus, was that the new furnace being 92% as opposed to the older one at about 65%, resulted in as gas bill ONE HALF of the previous winters. PS - 1994, and the cost was $900.
This is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!!
With my first house purchase (a long time ago) I had to remove an old gas octopus with 8” pipes going everywhere. I found a furnace guy that gave me a $3k price. I asked if he showed me how the sheet metal work was to be done, what would he charge me? $1,500, so I said let’s do it. In the end, he hooked up the gas and electrical and I did everything else. That included getting ducting into the upper floors. When the inspector came by, he hummed and hawed then asked. “Who installed this?” I replied that his card was wired to the gas pipe, and asked why did he ask - whereby the inspector said that it was the best installation he’d seen. Finally, the furnace guy called me back asking if I’d install a couple of furnaces for him. I said Yes, and ended up installing 2 for him around the city. A collaborative process can work and in my case it did. 😊
Really really looking forward to your ac unit install video. Im a learning home owner and in a year or two I would like to attempt replacing my furnace and ac unit all together . These jobs are very intimidating (I never found a video like this for replacing a whole unit) but with videos like these it helps a ton
Furnace doable .... AC strongly not advisable, unless you know someone with all the tools who can come and help. Most builders who have many years in trades and own companies do not attempt their own installs for good reason. Duct repair, knock yourself out too. The only two people I met who attempted AC/heat pump installs had to trash their systems within the first few years and hire out. Not fun.
You need a EPA refrigeration license to install your AC and you can be fined for working with refrigerant and you can really hurt your self and damage the whole system why do you think that HVAC techs go to school for it and have to pass tests good luck
Well I have to say there's no bull shit / straightforward you are a damn good instructor
Thanks so much.
Putting a car on jacks is dangerous… lighting a grill is dangerous … if you not familiar with safety precautions DONT DO IT….love the videos keepuum coming
definitely informative. that's one way to install a furnace. it just depends on how much you want to replace/update. Could have done more, could have done less. nonetheless the job got done. Gotta be careful and read up on current codes for furnace installations. I know a couple things in this video that would not be code and also best install practices.
Thank you for your feedback sir. I know now the drip leg needed to be installed so that will be included in all future replacements. Anyways thanks again for your feedback! Cheers
It's good to be able to DIY some things but doing a first install for the average homeowner would be a DIY project best left to the pros.
Don't get me wrong man I enjoyed your video and watched it to the very end. I also do heating and air conditioning for a living and really enjoy what I do! Also love striving to be my best and give my customers the best service I'll possibly can. And also giving them advice about things they can do to save a buck or two if I feel they're capable.
But I've come across equipment that's been installed wrong by a homeowner or someone they know that done it for them. Certain things that are important would not be completed or thought of. Like for instance a drip leg on gas line, or needing some more 4-in flue pipe and going to their local home store and buying thin dryer vent.
Most would not know if they had installed the furnace correctly and could potentially install one that would be hazardous to run.
So my suggestion to you if you're going to continue putting out DIY videos on installing equipment is to make sure your explaining certain steps and how they relate to your local HVAC codes in your area.
Thanks for putting the video out looking forward to seeing the next one! 👍
Thank you so much for this. I sincerely appreciate your input on this. Instead of just criticizing you offer ways in which my videos could be improved and for that I am eternally grateful. Please keep doing that. I’m for sure going to install a drip let on all future installs. For that, does it need to be before the valve or after? Thanks again for your input. I truly appreciate it!
@@diyhvacguy Drip leg goes before gas valve. Tee is placed such that branch of tee goes toward valve.
I'm I'm thinking you're referring to the shut-off valve or referred to as a gas cock and not the main gas valve in the furnace....
So you can put your drip leg after your "gas cock" or "shut off valve" and then flexible gas connector from there to a black iron nipple coming from furnace gas valve and out of furnace cabinet.
Very important not to install drip leg or dirt trap improperly. Important thing to remember is the half inch black iron tea of your drip leg has a short nipple with a cap on it pointing down to floor and the gas supply coming in at the top which will leave only one side of half inch black iron tea for your flexible gas connector that will be connected to that black iron nipple coming out of furnace cabinet.
So the reason it's important to have this dirt trap on your gas line before any gas appliance is because when gas company or a contractor works on gas lines dirt will get into gas piping and then travel along until it reaches whatever appliance which can cause serious issues with gas valves like : cause gas valve to stick open and never shut off! And I have personally seen that one! Smh...
So no matter what code somebody tells you don't exist in their state still go that extra mile to do things the best way you possible can. Codes were are created because of issues experienced in the past. And it is codes that allow a trade to grow and evolve and provide safety for society. That's true in hvac, plumbing, automotive, manufacturing, so on and so forth...
One last thing you might want to put in a disclaimer at the beginning of your video. Just for your own protection.
I appreciate what you are trying to do but giving people false confidence to play around with fuel and electrical supplies is not a good idea. Some people are mechanically inclined and can probably handle this stuff but many are not and this could make an expensive situation a dangerous one. We have gone behind more than one homeowner that has tried to install their own mini splits and have butchered them. Fortunately most people are smart enough not to play with gas lines if they lack experience. What if they have copper flared gas supply that is in the way? lots situations that people can run into that would get them in over their head quickly. I have seen a gas company employee over tighten a flare to point of sheering it off. He should have known better but that was a line rupture that could have caused explosion. Hopefully anyone watching this knows his or her limitations.
I agree with you 100%. This isn't a job for the general handyman homeowner. I have replaced a few parts in my furnace when they went bad, but to rip out and replace a furnace....no way. Especially with gas. Now if it was an electric furnace, I might go for it. Gas is dangerous as we all know. You could have a gas leak or worse case...carbon monoxide poisoning.
I truly appreciate your comment. It was very informative and I totally understand where you are coming from. What you said in part of your comment resonated with me. You said mechanically included people probably could handle this but many are not, that’s the bottom line.. THEY should make that determination not me, or you, or anyone else. If someone doesn’t want to do this, I’m not twisting their wrist, I’m simply sharing knowledge. I’ve helped many people install equipment with great success and I want to share that. If a homeowner goes into this, they should know the liability and the consequences of getting in over their head. I agree maybe I should start by saying ok guys, no everyone needs to be attempting this. Unless you understand the danger of gas and electricity, do NOT attempt this yourself. Thanks for your input, I truly appreciate it. Cheers
Haha, well even if you did an electric heater yourself, people would be ALL OVER YOU on why you shouldn’t. I can’t win on here, I try and help people and I get everyone saying I’m the bad guy.
@@diyhvacguy I totally agree with you. If a homeowner attempts to do this, they have to know the liability and the problems that may arise. I agree you are simply showing them the procedure. You are a professional HVAC person and removing and installing one of these is probably like child's play to you. You could probably do it with your eyes closed, so to speak. I would love to have the confidence and mechanical ability to change my own furnace out and save thousands of dollars. I live out in the country and the closest city is 50 miles away. It will cost me plenty when the time comes to replace mine. I think of myself as mechanically inclined. I repair my own vehicles...brake jobs, water pumps, alternators, shocks, etc. However, this would be over my head. I think some people look at a video and think...I can do that. But in reality, it's not that easy. Especially messing with gas. I wish I had an electric unit, but I don't. Perhaps when the time comes, I'll have them change it out to an electric unit, if possible. I love your videos and I've learned a lot from you. Please keep the videos coming!
@@diyhvacguy You aren't the bad guy. Your videos are extremely valuable to the lay person like myself. I've learned a lot from you. I just think that some people watch a 30 minute video and think this is easy peasy...and it's not. When I had my old unit changed out at my last house about 10 years ago, it took 2 guys almost 12 hours to remove and install. Granted, it wasn't an exact replacement. In addition, they ran into a problem with the duct work coming off the furnace and had to call a 3rd guy from the company to come out and take a measurement, go back and manufacture a piece of duct work for the furnace to match up. And this company was an established business. These guys had worked there for years. Imagine if that had been your average homeowner and they had a problem with the duct work not matching back up. Then what? I hope that whoever wants to replace their own furnace knows what they are getting into!
Southwest Missouri here, very good video, very informative
Greetings from the great state of utah! 👋🏻
Great video
Really detailed on the step by step process and how it is dissembled resembled. Really help me understand and break thru at my new job in the beginning of my journey in the hvac field
While I agree there's plenty of things a homeowner can and should do yourself, this just isn't one of them. While it's a relatively simple concept on the surface there is much more you need to know to properly install a furnace. Such as doing a load calculations, setting gas pressures, blower speeds, venting tables, minimum clearances, required safety equipment, local codes. I highly advise nobody install a furnace unless they absolutely know what there doing. As an HVAC technician I can't tell you how many furnaces I've seen that are unsafe and installed improperly by somebody's friend who does HVAC or the "handyman". All these comments are perfect proof of the dunning Kruger effect. As soon and you know a little, ie watching this video, you have unjustified confidence, typically more confidence then someone who actually knows what there doing.
I agree on some level, that this job is NOT for anyone. If you don’t feel confident about it, or don’t know the safety concerns with working with gas and electricity, you should NOT do this. But if you are aware of the dangers of gas, electric, co poisoning and have good mechanical abilities, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to do this yourself. It’s not rocket science, and people want you to think all this load cal, blower speed adjustment is crucial when it really isn’t. You can also hire a company to come and do a furnace tune up when you are done, and they can check blower speed, gas pressures, and do a combustion analysis.
No one is twisting anyone’s wrist to tackle this job themselves. This information is here for people to know how it’s done, and if they choose to do it, they have something to follow, while every other company keeps it a secret.
I really appreciate your input, but I’m just being transparent here. Thanks for watching. Cheers
I hope you realize what your doing is definitely wrong. It should be a certified HVAC technician/installer to install a HVAC system what your doing is definitely giving people false confidence in installing a piece of equipment that can possibly kill someone. As a certified HVAC technician I also see many DIY homeowners trying to save money by installing HVAC systems/parts and still having to call a technician to come and diagnose a system failure due to poor installation, this also puts us technicians in danger and when I go out to a call that was DIY installed I will charge extra for the fact that I have to not only fix or replaced the defective part/system but I also have to fixe their mistake.
I'm holding my wallet against my face and punching it right now. I work on military wire guided missile electronics and other complex precision equipment. I knew I could easily do this type of work, but when my parents home furnace blew the board, I was more concerned with getting them heat as soon as possible and hired an HVAC company come out to do the repairs. Well, $2400 later after replacing the circuit board, blower motor and capacitor, I was disgusted. I was charged an additional $290 for a friggin FLAME SENSOR replacement! It was then that I knew that these companies are fleecing people to no end. They seem to be all on the same code of ethics as well. They seem to not care about the elderly, the financially strapped or anything but squeezing as much money as they can out of those requiring their services. Of course, not before suggesting a total furnace replacement, back ground checks, deposit and financing for a new one. I now know why this particular company doesn't deal with home owner insurances that include this coverage, because the insurance companies would not allow them to charge the grossly marked up prices to customers as they do.
You are the realest of the real The DIY HVAC Guy, because there's something good inside you that motivates you to show home owners that they can do these types of repairs themselves. For that, I'm pretty sure that all of us in the comments REALLY APPRECIATE!!! (Speaking for myself in particular)... I APPRECIATE YOU BROTHER!, and you need a million subs for this!
Thank you so much man. You have no idea how much this comment means to me. RUclips needs more people like you. Granted there is a reason some folks should hire an hvac company to do the work, but for those who have the know how and mechanical knowledge and understand the dangers, I’m simply sharing knowledge. I try and do right by all my customers and that is reciprocated in how loyal they are to me. Looking forward to sharing more hvac tips with you. Cheers brother
I'm not replacing my furnace, but do like learning new things. Glad the RUclips algorithm got me here. Great Video. Subbed!
Welcome aboard! Thanks for the support! Cheers
To Replace d.y.i,,,, gas furnace one must be capable of understand everything in the video and the Reading manual instruction..... I did installed 3 years ago by myself 💯% and A/C unit. I'm just a Handyman 😅👍💪
I actually did just that. The hvac guys quoted me from 5k to 9k to replace my furnace and air conditioning system. The air conditioning system wasn't broken. Yes old, but not broken. The furnace had a bad heat exchanger. So for $775 with shipping and taxes. It took me 5 hours to get the old one disconnected and removed. And then installing the new one. Saved myself a ton. And because of your video, I now can replace my air conditioning system this summer. I had no idea that you could use the compressor to seal in the refrigerant. I know I can weld the lines together, and I can handle the power connection. So simple. Your videos are great.
That’s amazing, and you have no idea how much I appreciate this comment. When people tell me how they swapped their furnace or ac and are happy with the end result it brings me great joy. So many hvac contractors are butt hurt on here because they act like I’m taking food out of their families mouths or something. I’m glad you saved a bundle and are happy. If you need help locating the right equipment for your ac install, shoot me an email at diyhvacguy@gmail.com Cheers!
@@diyhvacguy I bought my furnace online from Alpine home air products. They sell goodman, and blueridge. The furnace has now been installed for 2 years. Works great in both air conditioning mode and heating mode.
@Kevin Bowman I tend to agree with you. What finally gave me the courage to do this was that I got a few estimates for removal and installation. There were 4 estimates in total. The highest one was $2800 plus any materials, and the lowest was $800. Now, $800 isn't a bad price. But here's the catch. He was going to FaceTime with me to complete the job. He wasn't even going to be here at all. I was doing all the work and using my tools. So honestly, why not just do it yourself. So I did. The $2800 estimate, that guy said it would take them about 4 hrs. I'm like $700 an hour. I'm in the wrong business. But in all it took me 5 hrs and the only tool I had to buy was a manometer.
Well that is all well an good but rem this when you do your own unit you will only get a min waranty on your unit if you get one at all your try to reg it an not a certerfied hvac an you want get the longer warrenty an plus you will not be able to fix it under the Warranty so beforw you go replaceing your own unit make sure who ever you buy it from will allow you to work on it an also you will have to have epa cert to get any refrigerant
@Ralph who said anything about air conditioning systems? You do realize that a furnace is a separate system from the air conditioning system? You can replace your furnace without touching or doing anything with the air conditioning system. Stop being so bitter. Not everyone has the ability to drop thousands of dollars. Hvac companies wanted between 5k to 9k to replace my entire system. When the only thing broken was the furnace. Did the job myself and saved thousands. The brand new furnace was under 800 bucks. Stop being a dick.
I called a friend contractor who has worked with HVAC friend for years with over 15 years experience. My 50 plus year old furnace was huge, heavy and installed under my house (no basement). Not only the furnace need replacing but the ductwork also. They came and check it out and installed my new furnace, ductwork and cleaned up (also cleaned other trash under my house) all within 7 hours. The new furnace is about 1/4 of the size of the old one. Total cost $5,000 and well worth it. USA made furnace not from the orange or blue store. I don't mind paying a little extra for good, quality and honest work. The best part there was no contract signed, my contractor friend just said to pay him when I can. It two weeks, but he was paid in full.
Very well done, thanks for sharing. I don't think I can replace the unite by myself, but I've learned how it works and can maintain our unit.
Union thread direction is EASY.
The wrench-face sides continue across the back, terminating at a hole a bit larger than the pipe. From the back, turn the wrench faces counter clockwise.
Easy.
Honest man at work 👍🏻
Great video
As a small hvac and plumbing business owner this is great info for diy’ers if ur mechanically inclined and have the proper tools for a furnace swap but even then remember gas can blow up and kill you and electric can cause fires so be very cautious,the ac if you never installed one before I highly recommend not doing it because ur gonna have issues,and one more thing find a local small business they will be thousands cheaper than the big local busines i alway beat my big competitors by thousands and still make decent money and I’m very reputable in my town
Awesome thanks so much for the feedback 👍🏼
What great info was in this video? I wouldn't install a job that bad in my enemies home.
Thanks for the video. It's a great idea in states that sell furnaces to the public.
Unfortunately in several states including California, you must have a contractors business license to purchase a furnace. In addition if you want to buy a commercial grade water heater from a plumbing wholesale house you must have a plumbing license. More bureaucracy that makes it difficult for the DIYer.
You make it looks simple. Great video.
Thanks 🙏🏻
Great video love learning new things. This will be very useful Thanks
Thanks for watching! Cheers
Thank you for sharing great content 😊
I have a relatively new big Trane heat pump. I purchased an insurance policy for ten years along with the new heat pump. Now after 5 years the dealer says capacitors are no longer covered. He charged me $188 each for two little capacitors that I later found on a Trane site for under $60 each. Guess a contract doesn't count. The installer originally told me the type of filter doesn't matter, just change it every 30 days. Now the tech says get the M13! They want $900 to clean the heat pump as they have to remove the motor. My brother cleans his himself, so will I.
Great video! You are NOT putting anyone in danger. They have a choice to either do it or not. For the time being we still live in a free country.
Thank you for this. I really appreciate the feedback. If anyone doesn’t feel confident doing this themselves, please don’t. But for those of you who do, more power to you! Thanks again for the comment. Cheers
@@diyhvacguy Keep the great videos coming. Ignore the Karens. I'm sick of it.
You're just like my dad like I said before you can repair electric blindfold and do it with one hand behind your back and standing in a bucket of water you're just good at what you do..
@@Kevin-mp5of
Your light has a short in it..
My previous house had a high efficiency Ruud gas heater. The heat exchanger cracked. My wife noticed she didn’t feel so well when the heat came on. Got a carbon monoxide detector with a digital readout. It should be zero. Always. We were getting readings, but not enough to sound the alarm.
On the next Saturday I took the heater apart, not knowing what I was doing, but determined to see What was causing the issue.
Took almost the entire innards out. Taking pictures as I was going on an old fashioned digital camera, before smart phones were a thing.
Found a foot long crack on the edge of the primary heat exchanger. It appeared to be aluminized coating on stainless steel.
I found off the aluminum and used my mig welder to weld the crack.
Put it all back together, referenced the pics, and got it all working again.
No more carbon monoxide readings over zero, and saved my furnace.
I may have lost a little bit of efficiency. Maybe. But saved me from buying a new heat exchanger, $700ish I think at the time, ot many thousands for a new furnace.
Gas and electric are dangerous if you have no idea what you’re doing, but you’ve got to learn somewhere or you’ll be dependent on someone else for the rest of you’re lives,
Watch videos for things you’ve never done before and go from there.
I installed my own mini split after watching a ton of videos of others on the topic before committing to the job. The hardest part was deciding which model to get. Turns out there are just a few companies that make everything, but there a bunch of middlemen that just throw their label on it.
Thanks for sharing. Glad you were able to get your furnace up and running! Did you get an aluminum spool gun for your mig?
It's great that you are doing it yourself just be extremely careful make sure you have no gas leaks because it's like a bomb but hey if you are comfortable doing it yourself then go for it don't worry about what people may say
Thanks man. I appreciate your comment! I couldn’t agree more. People act as if I am giving people permission to do things that are unsafe, but in reality, I want every single person who uses this information on their own replacement to be extremely cautious when it comes to gas and electricity. And I get that a lot of people shouldn’t replace their own furnace due to lack of understanding but for those of you who do this information helps to build knowledge and empowerment. Thanks again for your comment, Dave.
I find it a bit funny in many situations when people have this 15 + year old HVAC system and act like the HVAC contractor is a scam artist because they recommend replacement over repair. The contractor isn’t trying to scam you and I’ll explain how/why. Your 15+ year old unit is about to be 3rd generation obsolete come Jan 1 2023. So your dumping money into an obsolete, underperforming and inefficient unit.
Also I think there is a key distinction to make about/between customers wanting to save money. With the exception of the financially educated, customer’s are only interested in saving money now, as in today, not over the lifetime of the unit. And this is where the disconnect is, the HVAC contractor is looking to save you money over the life of the unit, not up front. And if you do the math, you save more money in the long run due to reduced operating costs and increased efficiencies, upgrading from a 15+ year old unit to a modern unit. And then you can start to venture into solar and inverter driven heat pumps if you really want to maximize your savings over the life of the equipment.
First thing I’d do before touching the power wires is verify no power is there with a meter or a voltage tester. Wrong breaker flips happens all the time
Thought the exact same thing when I saw this
I replaced my furnace this last spring. Added duct dampeners and feet under the furnace. The new furnace was shorter than the old one. Night and day on the sound. Much much quieter. Cost me about $1400. I installed a 96% furnace and a concentric vent with dampeners in that price. Included is the cost of the duct work and a manometer. No AC though.
Supper easy. After I finished mine I did a friends with him as well. His cost $1600. But he went from a 80% to a 96% so it had more piping for the venting. But that was easy since it was against a basement wall. So just up about 4 feet and out.
Amazing. Thanks so much for sharing. I’m sure you are a mechanically minded person and were safe while doing this. And you got a nice outcome as a result. Make sure and subscribe to our channel and comment on our videos! We highly value your comments and experience with diy things :) cheers
@@diyhvacguy If you can it would probably help your viewers if you showed how to make a duct dampener from a roll of duct dampener stock. Just need a bar fold and hand seamer. Simple to make and quick. You can buy them premade on EBay but they are pricey and may not be the right size.
I had to resize my ducts also since they were not the same size. A video on doing that would be nice too. Both mine and my friends had to be resized as well.
He was quoted $5,400 to just replace the furnace. This did not include upgrading to a 96%. Just dropping in a replacement 80%. The cost difference in the price for going 80-96% was only about $300. I am sure he has saved that $300 already this winter in propane cost.
In the dead of winter, late Jan 2020, Our boiler water jacket broke open and so it was done (Same time Texas was hitting their deep freeze in the south). Our boiler was likely the original= 40+ years old. I misread its condition otherwise I would have replaced it myself in a summer. So, we called the 1st company--they told us 24 hours later they do not do boilers!! So, with a 24 hour delay, I had to call another firm. Finally, after a week in the cold, our boiler was replaced. The firm did a lousy job by my standards and I ended up redoing most of the connections myself in summer. Plus, since they did not adjust the gas pressure, the boiler started kettling. Wish I had done it myself even in early Feb. What a joke for $5,000. The boiler itself only costs $2,000.
What a blessing this guy is, thank you so much for sharing, I installed a boiler in for my brother, after getting quotes over $10k, crazy, super simple, boiler plus parts under $3k in total. Plan out, take your time, don’t rush anything, and buy quality tools from the money savings to do job easier and better for yourself.
Amazing. Thanks so much for sharing. Love to hear success stories. In addition to what you listed, learning and developing an awesome skill set is so gratifying. Cheers
I need to do this and was thinking of doing it myself. Thank you for the info.
I dont know code in your area but I believe you missed the debris trap on the end of the gas line. You should have put a T with a short nipple and cap to the bottom and then attached your gas line on the side. That way if there happens to be anything come through the line it will go straight down to the trap and not into your furnace.
Yes I corrected the drip leg and am doing that on all installs now. If you’d like some help with locating the right equipment feel free to email me at diyhvacguy@gmail.com Cheers
I agree with most of the comments here. To be fair I'll never touch the gas line myself but have a professional do this. The issue is some pros over charge for these replacements. I've seen quotes of 4000 labor which is insane. As for me, these units are quite simple, and many times a simple repair is all that's needed but they'll up sell you to full replacement. Bad for the environment and your wallet!
A simple ignitor failed, it's a $40 part but the local tech said well, you never know when other stuff will fail, you might as well replace the whole thing!
Yea 4000 is actually on the cheaper end here. For a very basic 80% furnace you are looking at between 6-8k! 😵💫
@@diyhvacguy that's just the labor.. But if you shop around you can get basic furnace for under $2000
Excellent video, keep them coming, very well explained, I appreciate videos like yours and you trying to help and educate people, don't listen to the haters and yes people should use common sense and only do what they are capable of. 👍good job.
Thank you so so much. I really appreciate your comment. Cheers friend
Great video. Wish I had seen it 20 yrs ago when I did mine. Getting ready to do it again. I installed a Gibson with half hp blower motor, 80 % eff. 5yr warranty. Cost then $499. Also installed Gibso AC. The blower motor bushing failed at yr seven. Replaced the motor but the plastic drip pan melted. Fortunately, I was able to repair drip pan without removing plenum. At yr 16 the igniter stopped working. Fortunately I was prepared for that and had a backup in house. At yr 18 the relay that starts the blower failed. Decided to replace the whole circuit board because my supplier had a new one for only $125. Unfortunately the drip pan melted again. Got it repaired again. Why do they make the drip pan out of plastic anyway? I'm looking for good sources to purchase another unit. Not picky on brands. Will have to decide if I should install a heat pump instead of just an AC. Living in Minneapolis it is often below 30 degrees from Dec thru March.
Hey thanks for sharing. If you’d like more information on the right equipment you’d need feel free to email me at diyhvacguy@gmail.com and I’d be happy to point you in the right direction. Thanks, Dave
Share a tip with you. Put a balloon over the gas line , sometimes 2 to 4 psig gas pressure is hard to sense. Also unions are easy to determine the direction. One side is closed and one side is open- no flange- righty tighty -lefty loosey
Awesome thanks for these pointers! You are amazing.
Inches, not pounds
@@v0d7l3 And pascals and pounds per square inch
Very helpful video..... I need to replace my furnace ! My gas supply to furnace has a dirt trap (pipe extend down) past Tee to valve & connection to furnace....Its req'd by my Utility Co.
And am also a do it yourself guy, but training and experience make the difference
Great job, thanks for sharing.
Of course!
I’m glad I found your channel. The furnace in my grandma’s house will not start. I noticed a brown wire outside of the furnace. The furnace was installed, back in 2008, but my grandfather hardly used it. He loved his wood heater. Is the brown wire for the thermostat? Thanks!
Yea the brown loom is either for your thermostat or it goes out to your condensing unit outside.
@@diyhvacguy Ok, Thanks! I’ll keep you posted.
Fantastic video. Thank you!!!
Of course! Thanks for watching!
I replaced my 60 year old furnace and added ac myself a few years ago. Moved the system from the hallway to the attic, replaced all the ductwork and registers. It took a weekend and a few hours after work each night and it wasn't tough at all. It was me and my two boys. It's easy when you read the instructions that come with the equipment. No need to hire those rip off ac guys. They're all crooks.
Great informative video! Thank you!!!
WOW ,,, Great video. Knowledge is power for a homeowner I put like from the third second I know you from other videos.
Gas stop valve needs to be replaced if a homeowner cannot shut it off by hand (without tools). Also gas flex connectors are for moveable appliances only ( clothes dryer, range) Use only 26 gauge smoke pipe, not 30 gauge heat pipe. Aluminum tape gets heat stressed and will fall off with time, better to metal in new panels and seal properly with RTV or sealant.
My basement flooded and furnace went under. Luckily i have basement flood insurance. 12k policy. Hvac guy showed up, saif it would cost 11,500 to replace but he was giving me a deal. I looked up the units he would install and they were 3500 all together so he wanted 8k to install.
Always check that there is no voltage even though you have the breaker off before you begin disassemble!
good video very informative , thanks
Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers
I'm just imagining the sheer balls I'd need to have in order to do this myself. Like what would've gotten into me that got me thinking I could pull this off? Bravo, man. Some can-do stuff there, sir. You should see if you can put them Wagos on your Amazon Affiliate thinger.
On a horizontal Union if the open end threads are on the right you pull up to loosen if there on the left you push down to loosen works every time. Of course vertical work’s the same.
Good video ! Only major problem I see is it’s not safe or to code to run 115volt / High voltage through the same penetration as a Gas Line ! HUGE no no !!!
Also Making an 115volt electrical connection / electrical connection under a Gas Line exposed , another HUGE no no !!!
Condensate pump should have a Pigtail put on it & plugged into a 115 volt receptacle / outlet.
Much Safer & easier to Replace diagnose , maintain, replace etc.
Just unplug & remove for cleaning & safety while servicing. It’s safe & to code.
Hardwiring is not safe or to code without a service disconnect for condensate pump.
Noted. Thank you so much for the constructive criticism. How would you do the outlet? I’ve wired my furnace to have a switched outlet with a pigtail, so I’d venture to say I could do the same thing, except use the outlet for the condensate pump. Thanks again for the pointers. Much appreciated! I’ll make each install better and better until they are all perfection! Haha cheers
@@diyhvacguy
Put a duplex receptacle in box. 20 amp if 20amp breaker & wire. if wire not rated for 20 amps. Replace breaker. Size breaker to wire size.
12 ga wire - 20 amp breaker.
14 ga wire - 15 amp breaker.
Breaker protects wire.
Fuses protect equipment.
Pigtail on furnace.
Pigtail on condo pump.
Plug them in. Done !
Me - 41 years In Hvacr. Refrigeration specialist.
As a professional hvac installer I have a few questions
1 where is your gas drip leg
2 why are you using appliance line instead of black iron gas pipe
3 why no romex connectors for high voltage
4 why didn't you fix the a/c drain no trap and why is the drain warmer so close to the vent pipe
5 Why did you leave that old out of code gas cock
I appreciate the feedback, this is one of my earlier installs, I’d be curious to get your feedback on the last replacement we did and documented. I included the drip leg on that one and will on all future replacements. The flex line is code here if that’s what you meant on the gas. I’ve also changed to doing a junction box to adapt the romex to mc wire and I will run that to the new power location. I’ve also started putting bushings in that knockout where the wires go through, I don’t think I included that in the last video though.
My goal is to just make each replacement a step up from the last so please feel free and leave some feedback on that one. Thanks a million, Dave
great video on the install. modifiying the air return box was a bit of work, also did you have to lengthen the air plenum at the coil ? i recently had both the a/c and furnace replaced at the same time because they were both 25 years old. the a/c guy said i could just do a/c now but i thought while they were here just to do both. i live in california and now furnace must be a low nox unit. i used rheem products. 1 thing i noticed is they didn't screw down the exhaust duct exiting the top of furnace? thanks
Yea I’ve seen that a lot. It’s just sitting there waiting to get bumped and knocked off. Yes, I used some sheet metal transition pieces on the bottom. My next install video will be much more detailed on the sheet metal transition. Thanks for watching!