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Hi, all. I have 2 main sources of heat at my house (just outside of Keene): a pellet insert in my living room fireplace, which is great about 90% of the time, and a forced-hot-air oil furnace that I use when winter temps get insanely low or when I have to go out of town. The oil furnace died back in January (yes, we're talking >8 months ago now), and I had a contractor come to check it out. They were supposed to get me a quote ASAP, but since oil was my secondary source of heat (and they knew that, since I buy oil from them), I guess they didn't think it was urgent.
I've had 2 more contractors come in, take measurements, etc., etc. And I am STILL waiting for even ONE quote on replacing my oil furnace, despite numerous calls, emails, etc.
I have many, many thousands of dollars put aside for this ... yet no one seems to want to take my money. What the heck?
I am at the point where I may just buy an oil furnace from Home Depot and then hire one of "their" guys to install it. Yeah, that's desperation time ... but if the furnace costs ~$2,000 (which is about what I've seen so far), then how much more would it cost to install?!
Ductwork, etc. seem to be fine -- at least no issues reported by the 3 contractors I've had so far. Just a very old furnace (probably 25 years old, at least) that needs replacing.
Any suggestions? Again, I'm in the Monadnock Region, not in Keene but around there.
This is life with contractors these days. They have too much work and not enough workers that want to work in these industries.
I went through this a couple of years ago for someone to put a roof over my deck so I could convert it to a covered porch. Many contractors never even returned my calls. After a while, I eventually got a few people to come over, got two quotes, went with one but he never returned my calls or emails. One guy that came over never even gave me a price. What a waste of time. Back in 2009 they would have been lining up at the door for my money, but they are living large these days. They can pick and choose what they want to do.
Trying to get someone to come do preventive maintenance on my whole house generator now. The guy that installed it doesn't do service anymore and referred me to an electrician who does it for him. Called him and he told me to call back and leave a voicemail with all my info and he'd get to me in a few weeks. That was well over a month ago and I've heard from and seen nobody. I'm about ready to at least do the oil change myself.
But we have plenty of philosophy,political science, English, and women's studies majors at least. I'm sure they'll all get jobs that pay better than HVAC techs or electricians as they're paying back their student loans (sarcasm)....
Sorry I can't help, but at least realize you're not alone in trying to secure a contractor in these boom times. More HS grads need to take electrician and HVAC apprenticeships....
Thanks, Steve ... but holy crap! It's been more than EIGHT MONTHS since the first contractor came, and more than 2 months since the other 2 came. And still, nothing.
I KNOW they can get very busy, which is why I started asking about the furnace months in advance of actually NEEDING it (which will be probably late October for me -- which is now only 2 months away!).
Have you asked your oil delivery company if they do installations or can make a referral? Seems like they would have a vested interest in the process!
Yes, my oil company (Discount Oil in Keene, a major company around here) was the first company I called. They're the ones who came in JANUARY. Almost eight months later and still no quote, despite numerous calls and emails from me.
OP, I just read this entire thread to my husband as we enjoyed sitting on our back porch and watching the birds at the feeders.
His opinion is to go to Home Depot, buy a really good quality furnace and have them install it. It'll get the job done and they will do an adequate job. He is on top of this kind of stuff, so worth listening to.
Good luck. Let us know how it works out for you, if you are able.
OP, I just read this entire thread to my husband as we enjoyed sitting on our back porch and watching the birds at the feeders.
His opinion is to go to Home Depot, buy a really good quality furnace and have them install it. It'll get the job done and they will do an adequate job. He is on top of this kind of stuff, so worth listening to.
Good luck. Let us know how it works out for you, if you are able.
Honestly, I'm at the point where I may very well just DO this. My biggest reservation is that I think Home Depot has something like a 30% upcharge when you hire "their" installers (which are really independent contractors -- you just have to GO through HD). But I have more than $7,000 set aside for this! The oil furnaces I've seen on sale at HD (or HD online) are in the $2,000 ballpark and I can't imagine that installation would be more than $5,000, since the ductwork etc. all seem to be fine. (I actually originally thought the furnace itself might cost $3,500-$4,000, which is why I set aside >$7,000 total -- but the furnaces I've seen that you buy yourself -- i.e., NOT through a contractor -- are much less.)
Is your husband in the HVAC business? (Not sure what you meant by your statement that he is "on top of" things like this.)
In any case, thanks for posting ... but what a frustrating process!
No, he is not in the HVAC business, but he does all the maintenance on our house and knows alot of this type of stuff. He never installed a furnace, but he cleans ours. Mostly I just meant he felt that the HD guys would likely install it without any problem.
Keep in mind that they may get busier as it gets colder.
Last edited by LilyMae521; 08-31-2017 at 06:40 PM..
I'd go talk to home depot about their process and pricing. Replacing an existing furnace does not need much ductwork or piping normally, so it would be straightforward. I've been told in the past that a swap-out is usually a one day job. Beats me how they quote thousands in labor for a one day job.
I'd go talk to home depot about their process and pricing. Replacing an existing furnace does not need much ductwork or piping normally, so it would be straightforward. I've been told in the past that a swap-out is usually a one day job. Beats me how they quote thousands in labor for a one day job.
I am definitely going to do this. Actually, I wish I had done it today as I am sure they are going to be mobbed this long weekend.
RE: the prices, you are right, I can't understand the charges either. I had the furnace replaced at my last house (I still own it but it's now a rental), and the total was about $5,000. I can't imagine that the furnace itself cost more than $2,000 (it heats 1,520 square feet in a pretty open floor plan), and it did take 1 day to install. I am sure they had some parts etc. too, but $3,000 worth of parts and labor seems a bit nuts for a 1-day job.
I did call a 4th company today, and they are coming next Friday to look at my furnace and give me an estimate. They've been in business almost 100 years and have a good reputation in the area, although I've never used them. We'll see how responsive they are ... and if their prices are better than HD's!!
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