Hello,

I have two questions. I have a Tempstar gas furnace that has a intermittent smart valve issue. It sometimes goes days and works fine and others, it will not open the main gas line. I get an orange glow from the ignitor, but the gas never comes on and the cycle ends after a few tries. I have a quote of $500 to replace the smart valve and ignitor assembly. Sound resonable?

Also, I have dual zone and my upstairs unit is the one with trouble. I live in North Carolina (night time temps of 30-40), and so far, the upstairs holds at the thermostat setting of 69, even when the upstairs unit is not running properly. I am wondering if this is inneficient to let my downstairs unit carry the load. I know I have to get he upstairs repaired eventually, but am I running in an inefficent mode by letting the upstairs heat from the downstairs unit? Downstairs thermo setting at 70.

Thanks,
Joe

If you can maintain a tempature of 69 degrees upstarris using your furnace that supplies the downstairs and the downstairs living area does not get uncomfortable from being over heated then I would say that you are saving fuel and therefore money.

In my area we have some temps in the one digits lows and most of my customers only use the lower heating to heat their entire home. The heat just naturally rises and as long as it has a stair well to rise into it should work well. And like you say you will have to get the unit seen about some time so why not make it at your next scheduled time to have the furnace serviced. Could save a service call.

$500 sounds high to replace the valve unless it is really a very smart valve. An intermittent is likely to only get worse. Could go out in the coldest weather all winter. You have checked all the wires going into it to make sure they all make good contact? I can't give you a site, but poke around the net and see what you can find one for. Can't be too much of a job to change. If you find one, and need help installing it, post back.