Unregistered said:
I have a Carrier gas furnace with a sealed combustion chamber. I need a new inducer motor and can't seem to buy one myself. I have been told that I am not allowed to buy parts to do this easy replacement myself. I must call an EXPENSIVE repairman. The stated reason is that only a licensed technician can do this safely and effectively.
This really smells like B.S. One needs a license to be a plumber or an electrician, yet one can go to a supply shop to buy parts. Driving a car is dangerous, yet I can replace my own brake pads. I have enough sense not not mess with gas, refrigerant, or anything else beyond my skills. But I am not even allowed to replace a motor? Surely, there must a source to acquire this part. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
The HVAC industry has manipulated the rules to artificially eliminate competition. It is quite un-American. This tells me that the DIY's are more competition for contractors than they are for each other. I welcome your responses and look forward to somebody proving me wrong.
Wow! Someone isn't getting enough sleep. Your post is riddled with things I'll enjoy addressing:
1. Who tells you you can't buy parts? It's not the contractors that control the parts distribution process, or even influence the attending policies. Your animosity towards contractors is misplaced in that regard. Your gripe is with the equipment manufacturers and distributors.
2. Without some objective means of comparison, the term 'expensive' means nothing more than "more money than
you want to pay" - unless of course you have been divinely appointed sole abrbiter of the value of the repair.
3. There are widely accepted standards and regulations for the operation of motor vehicles by which both law enforcement agents and the motoring public at large may judge your driving skills. I do not accept the premise that you are inherently qualified to do your own brake work. By what objective standard may your skills be measured. If I were king of the world, which regrettably is not likely to happen, you would not be doing your own brakes unless you were willing to accept any and all liability associated with the performance of such (maybe not even then if you didn't ask nicely).
4. The HVAC
industry? The
rules? There might be some merit to an argument that equipment manufacturers do not want Harry Homeowner working on something that the manufacturer must warrant, but the "industry" is not some homogenous group meeting in smoke filled back rooms trying to figure out how to ensnare the consumer in some elaborate, global, price fixing scheme. You're obviously confusing the HVAC industry with either the Council on Foreign Relations or the Trilateral Commission (maybe both).
5. Ask any HVAC contractor if there's a shortage of competition. I dare say you'll discover that there isn't. But if you're convinced that there is a lack of competition then maybe you oughta' grab some biscuits and jump on the gravy train - what with all the skills you have and everything.
6. On the matter of working with natural gas - again I would ask, how should I measure your "sense"? I'm quite comfortable doing gas pipe work. Do I have less sense than you? By who's measure?
7. By your writing you seem like a 'regular' guy - somene I'd enjoy having as a neighbor. I find it hard to belive that you don't know some tradesman that can buy it for you. A plumber, A/C guy, electrician, something like that? Have you asked around yet? I buy my proprietary furnace filters (can you believe it) through a ductwork contractor I know. Maybe 'google' electric motors?
Good Luck
