BigWaylon
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(May be the wrong section to post in, as I'm not sure how many non-DIY members browse the DIY section...but maybe they see it in the New Posts)
I'm not even going to attempt to claim I'm a jack-of-all-trades. But, I do often have more time than money, so I at least attempt to do things myself. And am successful enough that my wife is surprised when I can't fix whatever it is.
That's one reason I like the mix of people on this forum, and am thankful YouTube exists. I can usually find somebody that's been there and done it.
Now...the reason for my post. I'm under contract with a local HVAC company and it includes two visits a year to inspect heat in the fall and air in the early spring, to make sure each system will be ready.
They came about 10 days ago and their one recommendation was to replace the hot surface ignitor. But, he said it was something they didn't carry on the truck, and when it went bad it may take them a couple days to get one...so I should replace it proactively. Also said the office would call me with a quote.
It's the same guy that's been here several times, and so I asked him exactly what the part was called. He said "oh yeah, you're a DIY kinda guy, right?" Said go get the model number, search it out online, and swap it out.
So, I took the cover off the furnace, found the piece with a part number clearly marked right on it, and checked online. MSRP was $30 or so. Decided to check eBay, and a guy had one listed as unused, taken off a new piece of equipment. The pic even showed the little bracket was still attached. I contacted him to confirm it was indeed new, and included the bracket.
Total price: $14.11 shipped
Quote from HVAC: $238.17
I asked for a parts/labor breakdown and the reply was they were a flat rate company and didn't give quotes that way. I simply declined the replacement.
One knob to remove the cover. One screw that held the bracket in place, and one connector plug. <3 min start to finish.
I'm not even going to attempt to claim I'm a jack-of-all-trades. But, I do often have more time than money, so I at least attempt to do things myself. And am successful enough that my wife is surprised when I can't fix whatever it is.
That's one reason I like the mix of people on this forum, and am thankful YouTube exists. I can usually find somebody that's been there and done it.
Now...the reason for my post. I'm under contract with a local HVAC company and it includes two visits a year to inspect heat in the fall and air in the early spring, to make sure each system will be ready.
They came about 10 days ago and their one recommendation was to replace the hot surface ignitor. But, he said it was something they didn't carry on the truck, and when it went bad it may take them a couple days to get one...so I should replace it proactively. Also said the office would call me with a quote.
It's the same guy that's been here several times, and so I asked him exactly what the part was called. He said "oh yeah, you're a DIY kinda guy, right?" Said go get the model number, search it out online, and swap it out.
So, I took the cover off the furnace, found the piece with a part number clearly marked right on it, and checked online. MSRP was $30 or so. Decided to check eBay, and a guy had one listed as unused, taken off a new piece of equipment. The pic even showed the little bracket was still attached. I contacted him to confirm it was indeed new, and included the bracket.
Total price: $14.11 shipped
Quote from HVAC: $238.17
I asked for a parts/labor breakdown and the reply was they were a flat rate company and didn't give quotes that way. I simply declined the replacement.
One knob to remove the cover. One screw that held the bracket in place, and one connector plug. <3 min start to finish.