Homeowner gets $1,400 furnace labor estimate despite no confirmed fault under either warranty

"After the flames were re-aligned, the CO readings dropped immediately."

A homeowner with two warranties was still facing a large labor quote to replace a furnace part, even though neither inspector had confirmed the part was defective.

What happened

High carbon monoxide readings prompted the replacement suggestion. In Reddit's r/hvacadvice, the homeowner said CO levels were above 580 when the system was running on high burn.

The first technician suspected a hidden crack in the heat exchanger but could not prove why the CO levels were so high, so the homeowner sought a second opinion. That technician also believed the heat exchanger might be the issue, but a stripped screw complicated the inspection. The original poster said each company blamed the other for the screw problem.

"What are my best next steps? Replace the heat exchanger and hope that fixes the problem?" they asked. "They are quoting me $1400 for 2-4 hours of labor."

More context

Since the second company had not installed the furnace, it would not perform warranty repairs under the manufacturer's coverage. The homeowner hoped their $5,000 appliance warranty might still apply if they could identify the failed component.

"Did any of them put an analyzer on it and do an actual combustion test?" one commenter asked. Another suggested a third opinion and speculated that the gas valve might be the cause.

What happened next

The homeowner said they did seek a third opinion, and that technician quickly found the problem. "Clocked it immediately as flame impingement," they shared. "Re-aligned the flames and CO levels plummeted right away. So grateful for this technician."

When replacement is the better route, Palmetto's Comfort Plan includes $0-down options that can cut heating and cooling costs by up to 50% and provide 12 years of free maintenance. Combining efficient electric HVAC with solar may also help control utility spending.

EasyHome's free solar comparison tool can help homeowners review installation offers and find the best deal.

More examples

Other homeowners have also run into expensive HVAC repair quotes while trying to use warranty coverage.

• A homeowner questioned nearly $2,000 in labor for warranty furnace work that technicians described as brief.

• A first-time homeowner was hit with a $2,300 bill despite warranty coverage after a 15-month-old HVAC system failed.

• A landlord challenged a $1,400 warranty coil bill for HVAC work done without approval.

• A homeowner expecting a $149 AC diagnosis was faced with an additional $600 fee.

• In Cleveland, a two-year-old AC stopped cooling, leading to a $2,800 repair quote despite warranty coverage.