Posted on 07/27/2011 11:38:26 AM PDT by WHATNEXT?
I agree with all the comments. 15K seems unbelievably high. I replaced two furnaces last year, for a total of about 5K. The new units were Carriers. So far, no problems.
(Note: I didn’t have to replace the air condx compressors. They probably would have doubled my cost.)
Tranes tend to keep running forever. So in years past, their reputation has been much better among the pros. But Carriers have gotten a lot better. I don’t think you’ll go wrong with either.
This includes some rebates.
go into your furnace (first shut down the circuit breaker) remove the wiring into the motor, and remove the motor. Then go online to mcmaster carr, find the motor and buy it. It will arrive in a coupla days. Install the new motor and you are on your way to cool.
A very good friend in the business swears Bryant is the best for reliability. He’s been installing and repairing furnaces for 20 years.
Tried angie’s list?
avoid craigslist. :-)
I’m a big Costco buyer but can’t find anything at their web site on whole house heating and air. Where would I find it?
A good heat pump with zone controls (where and if it advantages you) is both expensive and cheaper than a simpler inexpensive unit.
In the long run, the higher efficiency of the higher end zone controlled heat pump systems save you month after month. I spent the $15k on a highish end Carrier during a remodel 4 years ago. It costs a LOT less to operate in the winter than the propane unit my neighbor installed in his brand new similar square footage house next door. Enough less to pay for the difference in install costs after not very many years.
I am not sure how much benefit in cooling would be had - we don’t need AC but maybe 5 - 7 days a year. Heating is where the cost is in my location.
I did the math and figured to wear it out. SO it was the right answer for me. I intend to stay in this house for a long while. Higher efficiency pays me back in lower monthlies.
What brand of heat pump did you buy?
I had installed a Trane 6 years ago and not at all happy with it. Secondly, if someone is charging you 15 grand they are ripping you off. Should not be more than half that amount even if you are replacing heat pump and furnace.
In December we replaced a heat pump. Went with a 16 SEER Goodman/Amana model (Not as good as Carrier or Trane but a LOT less expensive.) 2 1/2 ton unit good for up to 3000+ sq ft home. Cost installed was just over $4300.
$15K seems way way way high. Consider going straight heat pump with a variable speed indoor unit. (Especially in a mild climate where heat pumps are really efficient to operate.) It runs at 1/2 capacity most of the time and has been very cheap to operate and winter heating was a lot more comfortable than was the unit we replaced. (Blows out warm air, not lukewarm air)
Best advise I can give is shop around a lot. We saw quotes as high as 12K and went with the 2nd lowest quote.
Previous heat pump unit lasted 19 years.
Wow...that’s impressive.
The three heat pumps we had were all different brands but none lasted more than 6 years. Each replacement was around $5,000.00 so they became a very expensive heating system. And we never really cared for the heat they produced. The gas furnace was much more comfortable.
Really! We’ll check into it.
Might check into what tax deductions you can get. There was a significant offset in 2010 for installing energy efficient appliances. Not sure when or if it ended.
FWIW: Currently A/C 2400 sq. ft. of living space. Unit works hard six months of the year A/C, and about four months of morning only heating. Spring, and Fall we have a couple of months reprieve from A/C & heating costs as we can open windows for air, otherwise too extremely hot, or too cold in the mornings.
The unit is Central Air “Whirlpool” originally installed with the house out here in the sticks in 1987, and we are on propane tank.
I would imagine it would cost us less energy costs to modernize, but we keep thinking this current unit will die, and then we will get new, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO it keeps on crankin’, so we don’t.
Like I say “for what it’s worth”. NOT recommending “Whirlpool”, as I don’t know enough about the topic, but am just relating our experience. Still going strong after 24 years. Who knows, maybe a freak unit.
We live in the mountains of western NC. Two years ago January-maybe 3, we replaced a 10 year old heat pump with a Carrier. Our house is about 1900 SQ. Ft. and we payed about $10,000 for the Carrier. The house is abot 13 year old and we enlarged the unit from the previous one which was just on the edge for size of house. It’s been fabulous. Someone else mentioned getting a good installer is crucial and it was. The installer- owner was bright and knowledgeable and always available when needed. That price included an electronic air cleaner and a humidifier. The unit truly keeps the dust down and the marvel of summer air-conditioning is that when we open up in the morning to get fresh air in or at night, when we turn on the air-conditioner, it almost immediately takes the humidity out of the air. We didn’t buy the top of the line but at that time it was the next to the top of the line. Hope this helps. When we had ours replaced in a relatively mild January, We felt lucky since the following winter nobody could have gotten up our icy mountain and we would have been in real trouble.
Tax rebate amount was reduced from $1500 in 2010. I think its only $500 right now and the minimum rating that qualifies for a heat pump is 16 SEER.
Your energy utility may also have rebates for both smart thermostats and high efficiency units so check into it. Your state may also have tax credits.
As a lot of other posters said, shop around. Get two more bids.
Carrier and Trane are both excellent brands but there are others.
You said your heat pump lasted six years? That’s not right, you may not want to do business with whoever sold you on that deal because heat pump warranties are usually 10 years.
Any-who, the heat pump/propane system is a little exotic. It will lower your bills but you may or may not want to make the extra investment.
Some questions to ask the installer and yourself:
What is the payback in years for the system?
How much longer will you be around?
Is the house otherwise well insulated and draft free?
How is the duct system?
What is wrong with the current furnace?
If they say the heat exchanger is cracked, make them show you with a carbon monoxide detector.
Maybe you can have the furnace repaired for a few hundred dollars.
Maybe you can have a reasonably priced furnace installed for about $2K.
So, 10,000 for your units. We don’t have the summer humidity that NC would have. Winter heating is important here.
Thanks for your information.
I just bought a building that heats with k1 and monitors and Toyos. I have a four thousand sq ft home and if I were to do int over I would do something with them instead of a main boiler.
I have to agree with other FReepers on a couple of things. Who does the installation matters. Also, this price seems WAY high. We had TWO complete Trane systems (both heat/AC) installed seven years ago for less than $13K. That included doing some extra “stuff” to the system we wanted done. Both are fairly large units, because it’s a big house. Trane is a great brand, and we love ours, but they are a little noisy, if that matters to you.
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