400K BTU Gas Heater Rebuild or Replace?

[TX_Pool_Rookie]

Hey TFPrs -

We inherited an old Teledyne Laars Lite 400N-B when we bought our new house in North Texas. Previous owners absolutely failed to keep up with basic care and maintenance. I was able to keep it structurally sound through the freeze, but it's a ways from being in working condition. I would really appreciate some opinions from follow users on cost/benefit of seeking parts and DIYing this heater back to working condition or biting the bullet for a new heater. Hint: spouse is not enthusiastic about dropping $3K-$4K on a new heater.

Known Issues:

• The heat exchanger tube assembly is shot (tubes warped, heat transfer coils completely filled with soot and misshaped.
• Igniter needs to be replaced
• Water Temp Sensor shot
• Limit switches shot
• Ignition Control Assembly (maybe needs to be replaced)

What seems ok:

• Water flow system
• headers
• gas line plumbing
• Burner Tray Assembly

Thanks for your input!

DEK

 

[ajw22]

I have not gone through pricing all the parts you listed. My personal limit for repair versus replace is 50% of the new cost. If the repair approaches 50% of the new cost I replace the device.

You can keep dropping money into repairs of an old unit but it can become a money pit.

I doubt it makes economic sense to throw money into the old heater.

 

[JamesW]

It's not worth renovating.

I would guess that it's more than 25 years old, but that's just a guess.

How old is it?

 

[TX_Pool_Rookie]

I have not gone through pricing all the parts you listed. My personal limit for repair versus replace is 50% of the new cost. If the repair approaches 50% of the new cost I replace the device.

You can keep dropping money into repairs of an old unit but it can become a money pit.

I doubt it makes economic sense to throw money into the old heater.

Thanks, Allen. That's a good rule of thumb and maybe even more so for newer units. New Heat Exchange Assemblies seem to around $1,300 today. So that part alone is probably getting close to the threshold.

 

[TX_Pool_Rookie]

It's not worth renovating.

I would guess that it's more than 25 years old, but that's just a guess.

How old is it?

Hey James. I think it's a '94 model. These older models (like older cars) are easier to keep nursing along with fewer electronics and programming. I was entertaining a fantasy that I might be able to get another season or 3 out of it before justifying an upgrade.