A lot more than it will cost in the summer!
Did it here in Atlanta last month $5300
EnergyStar = doesn’t work that well, but you’ll think it’s a green feature and not complain.
plan on $5000
Most companies will come out and give a free est.
May want to go that route
25 yr life is very impressive!
What brand gave you that? (realizing that whatever brand that is has been cheapened up drastically since then by MBA consultants).
Instead of asking here, get real quotes from several HVAC guys.
Check your local calendar.
Home Show specials could save you beaucoup $$...
...if it’s not terminal...
Not sure about your area but our Costco here periodically has a rep from a local company (don’t recall if it’s Lenox or Carrier) either in the store or on your way out or a “kiosk” with brochures as you leave (where they have ones for window coverings, garage doors, countertops, etc.).
not sure about HVAC, but I know my sister got a great deal on flooring through Costco - it was an independent contractor (hired through Costco) that did the installation and he was fabulous.
How about you call local HVAC companies for an estimate-
This is a Conservative Talk forum...
You can always get free estimates from outfits like Sears and Home Depot. Here’s how they often work:
The Sears estimator comes to your home, inspects everything and then gives you a detailed pep-talk about how the new equipment is __ % more efficient than the older models. And besides, the wonderful new equipment has umpteen other benefits.
Finally, he gives you a cost estimate. Let’s say it’s $7500. But he says that if you will sign on the dotted line today, you can take advantage of a special promotion, and get the installation for only $6500 — and you’ll have 24 months to pay.
You say, “Give that to me in writing, and let me research it for a few days.”
He says, “I’m glad to give it to you in writing, but the promotion expires in two days.”
He then goes back to his computer and says, “Oh, I just got a notice that there’s a new sale, and you can get the installation for only $5500. But only if you sign and make a $1000 deposit today.”
At that point, your spouse chimes in and says, “Hey, honey, that’s too good a deal to pass up. The regular price is $7500, but we can get it for $5500 if we go ahead and accept it right away.”
Exhausted by all this back-and-forth, you surrender, sign on the dotted line and give Sears a check for $1000. The estimator gives you ten pages of paperwork and says a scheduler will call you shortly.
Later in the day, you go to your computer and research the same equipment you’ve just bought from Sears. Amazon has it for $3000, with free shipping if you join Amazon Plus.
You call a local installation company, and they quote an installation price of $1500, plus cost of local permits.
So you call Sears to cancel your purchase. They say, “Sure, you may cancel. But you lose your deposit.”
In other words, you’re gonna pay another $4500 to get the installation, whether you buy from Sears or from a competitor.
Bottom Line:
Beware of the high-pressure sales tactics used by the big companies like Sears, Home Depot, etc. No matter how smart you think you are, they encounter “smart” prospects like you every day — and they can often pull the wool over your eyes!
As an aside ask about a piggy back system, that is a heat-pump combined with a gas furnace. It could save $ in operating costs in a few years enough to justify the extra $1K cost. (at least it does in my area)
You may want to have existing duct work cleaned/vacuumed out by professionals. Makes a BIG difference especially in older homes. Amazing the stuff that comes out! Prob $600 for your size home. Well worth it.
freepmail for you
Is your A/C unit a space-pack system, separate from the furnace? Or, is it part of the entire system? Have you thought about zoned systems? HVAC contractors not only look at square foot estimates but also degree-days in your part of the country. When I was in architecture school, we had to work out optimal BTU output through a series of calculations (now offered in many construction software packages).
My parents’ 60 year-old boiler was working fine but we replaced it in an attempt to conserve energy. The new boiler’s performance is stellar, cutting winter heating bills by more than half even with old, drafty windows. However, I miss the sturdiness of the old boiler.
One of the most efficient sources of even heat is a radiant floor heating system. The Journal of Light Construction has had numerous articles over the years about radiant systems. As an architect, I was leery at first but designed a system for clients in a loft condo to augment the forced-air system that existed; their feet always felt cold. They have been really enjoying it, especially this year.
A friend of ours works in the industry and swears Bryant is the best, and the brand he would use in his own home. But it’s not cheap.
I wouldn’t trust Sears with anything after they told me I needed new brakes for my car when I knew they were only a month old.
Also make darn sure the company you hire is bonded. Ask for their bond number
then call the city to check up on it for being current. Any company who refuses
or distracts from offering you that number by request cannot be trusted, period.
The Bond amount should be well over the amount of the job you are seeking. That's your
insurance that the job will be done right, and completed after they take your deposit.
And read their contract! $50 will get an attorney to look it over for you.