Rant: The local HVAC people suck.....

[The Stigenator]

I have no heat (as I've turned it off) because the draft inducer motor of our lennox 12gcs036-x system has a nasty rattle. I am not worried about the temprature as I am quite comfy with a sweat shirt on and what not.. but these guys who installed it initially said had the parts, now they dont. Now want over 600 for it, but mind you do not have the part.

ugh! Its a flocking ripoff, and they wont tell me the part number and nor would lennox. I guess they dont want consumers replacing stuff, i understand but seriously, how hard can it be. Its right in front.

Kill power to unit, turn off the thermostat, turn off gas at the unit, undo the screws, remove the old wires, put new gasket, redo screws and wires.. 30 minutes tops.

 

[Vette73]

What is the Model number and serial number? You can find the specs online and get the part you need from several places.

 

[The Stigenator]

What is the Model number and serial number? You can find the specs online and get the part you need from several places.

Model Number is: Lennox 12GCS036X-75
I dont have the serial, i need to get to the roof to get that one. Its not on the original waybill.

I have not been able to find the specs or the part from online. I believe its 115v 35amp (its on a 30amp breaker). Edit, i think its 220v now..

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Most towns have appliance shops that will set you up. Bring cash, as they usually want an account setup etc etc etc with a credit card.


Pull the motor and bring it with you. You might have to mod the motor shaft if it's not OEM

 

[The Stigenator]

oops its 220v as per specs that i just found online, so that is part of the equation i guess.

 

[Vette73]

Model Number is: Lennox 12GCS036X-75
I dont have the serial, i need to get to the roof to get that one. Its not on the original waybill.

I have not been able to find the specs or the part from online. I believe its 115v 35amp (its on a 30amp breaker). Edit, i think its 220v now..

That model does not come up anywhere, even lennox's site.

http://www.lennox.com/products/

Write down all the info from the service tag (model, serial, etc...) and post that when you can.

 

[The Stigenator]

guess im going up to the roof. I hate going up there..i'll be back in a bit.

 

[alkemyst]

dude if you can't get the basic numbers off the unit, how do you think you will be capable of replacing parts?

 

[thedarkwolf]

I had the same problems a few years ago. I was able to find the model number but nobody would sell it to me, had to have a contractors license to buy it. I took the whole motor and fan to an electric motor repair place and they rigged a different motor with the same specs up to work for me. Think it cost me $120. The direct replacement motor was around $250.

 

[The Stigenator]

Marlin, these are the links to teh unit.

http://www.hvacpartsshop.com/12GCS%20Series.pdf
http://www.lennox.com/pdfs/manuals/Lennox_10GCS-12GCS_Manual.pdf

 

[Vette73]

Combustion Air Blower/Inducer

is that the part you are speaking of?

I have found this so far...
http://americanhvacparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MOT74K77&Category_Code=

Cheaper than $600, $280, and looks like it replaces many different 12GCS models...

Replaces Inducer Blower Motor Part Numbers: 702110126 7021-10126, 74K7701, CAR74K77.

Used in Equipment Models: 10GCS036X-75-1PA, 10GCS, 12GCS, GCS26, GCS29, PGE10A, PGE12A series units.

It fits the 12GCS. Still having a hard time with the model number but I think I have it now.

Also don't replace till you can remove the old one and make sure that is the problem. Could be something got in there, loose screw, etc...

 

[edro]

My main blower motor died. They wanted ~$750 to replace it, $500 was for the motor.
I took it out myself, found the HP, voltage, etc.
I found a drop in replacement from Grainger for $80.
It took about 15min. to swap out the bolts and splice the wires.

If you can get the motor out and detach it from the blower, you can probably find a replacement for very cheap.

Good advice from Marlin about making sure that's the problem.
It would really suck to get a specialty motor and it not even fix your problem.

 

[The Stigenator]

Thanks marlin, Well i am not removing anything until i know. But I do know its the problem you can hear it everytime the thermostat requests heat. The first thing that comes on is that draft inducer motor (loud rattling noise while it spins) and then the burners kick in, and then the blower. The house is heating but it rattles it so much i hate turning on the heat. Its a comfy 55 in here, a bit chilly but its not too bad. checked the part numbers, the units are available online, nobody here locally has it (called a few places).

I am going to go up and just check the thing. I am killing the power to the unit right now, heading up in a few. Post pictures once i get back .

 

[KK]

my inlaws have a lennox, biggest piece of crap I've seen so far. That model number looks like theirs, theirs has the AC and furnace all in one unit. So far they had to replace the main board, heat exchanger(was covered under warranty but the labor wasn't, ran 500 to install), and some pressure switch that detected whether the induction motor was on.

 

[Vette73]

Thanks marlin, Well i am not removing anything until i know. But I do know its the problem you can hear it everytime the thermostat requests heat. The first thing that comes on is that draft inducer motor (loud rattling noise while it spins) and then the burners kick in, and then the blower. The house is heating but it rattles it so much i hate turning on the heat. Its a comfy 55 in here, a bit chilly but its not too bad. checked the part numbers, the units are available online, nobody here locally has it (called a few places).

I am going to go up and just check the thing. I am killing the power to the unit right now, heading up in a few. Post pictures once i get back .

Thats why I want you to remove the motor first. Could be a loose fan or soemthign just came loose (bolt etc...) and is in there. Might be simple.
If you remove it spin it around and see if the bearings are going bad and look inside the housing to see if it has been hitting something.

Should be a easy fix if that is the problem.

 

[edro]

What the hell? This thing is on the roof?
I guess you don't need full size furnaces in LA.

 

[The Stigenator]

Well I made my trip upto the roof and back safely. I noticed one thing, the control panel is is 'sealed' in the sense, i think I have to remove screws to get to the burner / panel. Its not something that just comes out.

 

[KK]

What the hell? This thing is on the roof?
I guess you don't need full size furnaces in LA.

If this unit is like my inlaws, Its a big unit about 6 x 6 by about 3 feet tall. Nothing is inside.

 

[DrPizza]

Not sure if you're able to work on it yourself. I just had a blower motor on my coal stove start squealing and grinding. Ended up taking the motor off & tearing it apart. It's supposed to be permanently oiled. Yeah, right. Took about 20 minutes to tear it apart & remove the shaft so I could get to where the oil should be, but now it runs better than it has over the last 2 years.

 

[The Stigenator]

I could work on it myself, i have the skillz to do it. Its just a pain in the butt. I have CES this weekend so earliest i can probably do is next week. Tomorrow I am leaving for vegas.

 

[Sea Moose]

You crazy mericans with your furnaces.

Everything here is heatpump or cooling only. Gets too hot to have furnace arrangements

 

[alkemyst]

my inlaws have a lennox, biggest piece of crap I've seen so far. That model number looks like theirs, theirs has the AC and furnace all in one unit. So far they had to replace the main board, heat exchanger(was covered under warranty but the labor wasn't, ran 500 to install), and some pressure switch that detected whether the induction motor was on.

how do you have their model number memorized in your head?

 

[KK]

how do you have their model number memorized in your head?

I've had to order parts(the main board and that suction switch) for it in the past. I don't know their exact model number right now. theirs was either the 10gcs or the 12gcs, both units use the same manual.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Is this it?

http://americanhvacparts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MOT74K77&Category_Code

Pretty expensive even on-line!

Good luck!

 

[Mike Gayner]

You crazy mericans with your furnaces.

Everything here is heatpump or cooling only. Gets too hot to have furnace arrangements

Indeed, must suck to live somewhere you need a furnace.