Another Goodman GMP-075-3 problem - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

rhinoguy · 02-07-2007, 10:14 PM

This one is in MY house! I usually work only on the controls of furnaces since they give a lot of trouble and are easy to fix. However, mine is being a pain. The center burner (of three) blows some of the flame back into the control area. The flame rollout switch promptly opens. This I understand! I was told there is a crack in the heat exchanger. I took the thing out (surprisingly easy) and the crack seems to be in the face plate that the three exchangers are attached to. There also appear to be a few of those rings missing from the holes in the exchangers. Like seven, but not on the central exchanger.
Here is where the politics of the situation come in. Goodman will replace the part for free! Sort of. They will only give the part to a licensed HVAC guy. Not general contractors. I don't know any licensed guys. Can I get someone to braze the holes so they don't need rings? I know a guy who can do that. The unit as a whole looks clean as a whistle, no burn marks or rust anywhere.
Or do I just try to make friends with an HVAC guy?
Rhino Guy, taking care of little old ladies for twenty years!

mdshunk · 02-07-2007, 10:23 PM

Rhino... not shure where you're at, but in many states, there's no such thing as a "licensed HVAC guy". (except for the EPA refrigerant cert). Call their bluff.

rhinoguy · 02-07-2007, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdshunk

Rhino... not shure where you're at, but in many states, there's no such thing as a "licensed HVAC guy". (except for the EPA refrigerant cert). Call their bluff.

Goodman (on the phone) said it's a liability question. Jerking my chain? BTW, I'n Greensboro, NC. We have a Johnstone supply in town, the Goodman distributor.

#CARRIERMAN · 02-07-2007, 10:51 PM

Hi rhinoguy

Mdshunk is right on with his response. If Goodman gives you any more crap about not being a dealer. Ask them why then do they sell direct to the public. I would be interested in hearing that response lol. Anyway follow Md's suggestion, they are full of crap, you own the equipment and its your warranty not the dealers.

Good luck
Rusty

rhinoguy · 02-07-2007, 10:59 PM

I think I will just mosey over to Johnstone and see what they say. Thanks guys!

rhinoguy · 02-12-2007, 09:32 PM

I took the advice to just not let them cheat me. I went to Johnstone, showed them the serial number and they brought the part out of the back. No questions asked! Everyone was suitably impressed that the original lasted fourteen years. The guy I talked to said when the waranty runs out to come back and he will gladly sell me a new furnace, any of several makes. He said Goodman makes a decent cheap furnace, but their customer service line is "less than stellar".
The cute part was when I tested. I flat forgot to WASH the exchanger before putting it in. When I lit the furnace the smoke near killed me! And all the smoke alarms had a heart attack. But the weather today was a fluke 62 degrees so I just let it run with the doors and windows open.

Thanks again!

FemaleAstarCO · 02-23-2007, 12:28 AM

wow good for you. Our Johnstone wont sell to anyone without a license. Our state requires more information about you and testing to become a Mechanical Contractor than you need to get married. Good luck with that unit.

Mike.GCOC · 03-02-2007, 09:51 PM

I've had problems with Johnstone also. I'm a licensed GC in SoCal that's certified to do HVAC. They won't sell HVAC stuff to me without an HVAC specialty license. This is stupid because I just go to another dealer and show my license and "Universal" cert and they sell to me -- no problem...Johnstone simply loses business.

BTW- In the state of Calif. there is a specialty license for HVAC it's a C-20 license; electrical is a C-10 license. I've been told by a guy at Johnstone that they only sell to C-10 and C-20 contractors.

FemaleAstarCO · 03-05-2007, 11:38 PM

Hey Mike in Colorado its a different license in each county. I hold 6 its stupid because some of them I had to test again however its the same info I have tested on.

Mike.GCOC · 03-06-2007, 12:12 AM

Wow, that does seem ridiculous. In Calif. it's only a state licensing entity-- the catch is that they make you responsible for learning any county and city codes wherever you work. It's not too bad though, most cities are pretty good about answering any questions.

bradee · 12-02-2007, 04:16 PM

This is for Rhinoguy.... I have a Goodman GMN 100-5 which I know has a crack heat exchanger as it has all the tell tale signs that you have mentioned in your thread. I just want to know if how did you take out the heat exchanger. I have a 90+ % furnace with a primary & secondary heat exchanger. Any suggestions pointers is highly appreciated.thanks,
Brad