train blower wheel replacement question

5 years ago

sorry if this ends up being a double post somehow mine seems to have gotten lost.

Dad's trane heat pump is 10 years old and he has had a local trane authorized dealer come out twice a year ... I suppose clean it check voltages etc etc... they never found any issues until this year just as he's out of warranty.

The tech who my dad said has never been out before noted the unit was suddenly not level ...my Dad notes the unit has not moved or shifted or changed in 10 years! The tech also said the blower wheel is dirty. He said leaving it go could cause it to be unbalanced and ruin the motor. He also said he could clean it for about $200 but the risk and doing that was again an unbalanced wheel that could ruin the motor and he couldn't be responsible for that. His $700 recommendation was spending wad getting a new wheel and for to level the unit.

My dad questioned why in less than six months the unit suddenly became unlevel and the blower wheel could have gotten so incredibly dirty that it suddenly needed to be cleaned when no mention of this was ever made before. He said the text just shrugged his shoulders and left.

I don't want to see my dad taking advantage of and I'm uneducated about all of this. Does any of this sound correct? fishy? If he's been having them out twice a year hundred dollars each time shouldn't they have been keeping the unit clean? I'm not sure what to make of all this...

Thoughts.....

I actually suggested he call the local utility UGI have them come out inspect the unit check its condition clean it for $99 and then buy a parts and labor contract for a year from them for $200 to a lay his fears.

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Comments (5)

PRO
Austin Air Companie
5 years ago
I'm not there so I can't be 100% sure, but it sounds like a snow job.

I've replaced blower wheels, but only because they were blown apart / or starting to be blown apart. (severe noise).

It's something that doesn't happen that often. I may have changed maybe 10 wheels in about 26 years of running HVAC service.

I service the Katy, Texas area.
tigerdunes
5 years ago
One time I agree with Austin...I would decline that tech’s advice especially if condenser is operating OK....if you are still concerned, get a second opinion or better a PM without mentioning the blower wheel and see what if anything is found.

BTW, twice a year service is ridiculous....

TD
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Bob F
Original Author
5 years ago
thanks guys....it dawned on me that I have the same system my dad has purchased maybe six months after he got his so it got me thinking about mine hahaha.

I think he should get a second opinion too and see what they say. I did not like the fact that the gentleman suggested that by cleaning it it could somehow become unbalanced and ruin the blower motor. it feels like it should just be left well enough alone.
Bob F
Original Author
5 years ago
oh yeah, in fairness I'm not sure they were cleaning the unit twice a year I'm not sure exactly what they were doing twice a year LOL. Dad said they did something outside and they looked at the inside and checked the voltage and make sure numbers were okay. I assumed for what he was paying it was being clean but maybe not.I think he said they changed the filter each time.
mike_home
5 years ago
Now that the warranty has expired, tell your dad to wait until next year and hire a competent and honest HVAC company to do his annual maintenance. He does not need to pay for a second opinion now.

It is sad this company took money twice a year to inspect a new furnace they installed and now that it is out of warranty have to come up with reasons why parts need to be changed.