Corrosion on burners for a RUUD Achiever 90 plus gas hot air Furnace

newinnj

I have a RUUD Achiever 90 plus gas hot air furnace. No issues and it's a backup furnace. A radiant floor heating system is the main heating system. A tech came out to do servicing and he said there is corrosion in the burners and he recommended in replacing the furnace. The first question I have is based on the pics does it look like corrosion (it does to me) but is it enough to say replace the unit. Thanks in advance.

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Big Ed_4

How old is the furnace ?

mattmia2

I can't tell anything from those pictures. Obviously the HX and burners are steel and are going to rust when you heat them. If it isn't perforated or thin it isn't an issue. If the passages in the burner are clogged with rust then it needs to be cleaned out but they don't need replacement unless they are structurally unsound. If it isn't drafting right that can cause corrosion outside the heat exchanger where it shouldn't be but that is an installation issue, not an issue with the appliance.

newinnj

20 years light use especially in the last 10 years. Hardly used in the last five. Here is pic on stats.

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newinnj

If I turn off the furnace and flip the "kill" switch Is it all right to open the furnace cover and take a look with a flashlight. I see corrosion but it looks light to me. Here is the furnace.

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EBEBRATT-Ed

Likely nothing wrong with it.

newinnj

Well I had a radiant heating system overall done. The installer mediocre to say the least. Then I found this website. Ezzy from this site is now in charge of the system. It's in good hands. The AC and furnace is serviced by an outfit which I am not getting a warm and fuzzy on. My feeling I have to find someone else for the furnace and AC.

Big Ed_4

The environment were the unit sits ? Is it dry ?

newinnj

The unit sits three feet on slab higher than the garage floor. The garage is below grade from street level. So in winter no joke its at time 20 degree warmer than outside. Low side in winter is about 40 degrees. Summer time its about 60 - 70 degrees even on hot days. However the humidity outside is what's in the garage.

SuperTech

A furnace like that will often get condensation forming in the air intake pipe during the summer and sometimes it will drip on the burners, it can cause some issues that can be handled by regular maintenance. Some manufacturers recommend a drain tee on the intake pipe. I can't tell anything from your picture but I doubt it's anything serious. The combustion test results don't look terrible. I bet you were dealing with a sales tech who was chasing a commission.

Big Ed_4

I would fire it up and check the heat exchanger and then make a decision ….

newinnj

The furnace works and never has given a problem. Is there anything I need to keep an eye for on the heat exchanger.

Long term I do have a primary floor heat radiant system and I really don't need the furnace except for the air handler. On another site "Fitter" said to turn the gas off and just use the handler. That works. However long term I would need just an air handler and everything tidied up since a home inspector may not like the furnace lying around as an air handler. Any ideas.

Big Ed_4

If the heat exchanger has a hole ,replace it … If the fire changes when the fan comes on indicates a hole .. Not a job for a home owner without the test equipment and knowledge for 100% test .

newinnj

ok doke thanks for the tip. I do have a backup solo fellow and I think it's time to get him on it as the main guy.

I do need a long term solution. That will be the tough one to figure out.

Big Ed_4

Check it to be safe and you have good odds….

mattmia2

see who @EzzyT knows.