new air conditioning project/ any advice? (1 Viewer)

[prosopis]

So I do live in the Sonoran desert where temps are well over 100 in the summer. About 18 years ago I disconnected the air conditioner from my home as we could not afford the electricity. I did put in a swamp cooler which is awesome until the humidity hits over 10% which does happen here. I will say it gets miserable here when the humidity goes up, especially for sleeping.

While it was not perfect we did manage to make it through all these summers. We have reached an age where I am better off economically, air conditioning is more efficient hence cheaper (at least that is what I am being told), and we just can't take the heat anymore.

This all leads up to me having a new system put in. I have had a few quotes and I have more scheduled. I have been surprised by the wide range of these quotes. How can there be a $5,000.00 difference between companies?

I am just wondering if any one here has experience and advice with a project like this.

I live in a 1500 sq ft manufactured home.

I have also asked for recommendations on facebook for my area.

 

[ChiefD]

I can help you. PM me the quotes and I can let you know what is fair and what is not.

Been in the business for the last 14 years or so in sales, marketing, and now as a service manager.

 

[prosopis]

I can help you. PM me the quotes and I can let you know what is fair and what is not.

Been in the business for the last 14 years or so in sales, marketing, and now as a service manager.

I will do that and thank you so much!!!!!

I have one and maybe two guys coming out tomorrow. I have had Riteway come out through Costco. They were pretty high. I need to find the estimate and I will PM it to you. I believe it was $12,000.00 using a lennox.

 

[ChiefD]

I will do that and thank you so much!!!!!

I have one and maybe two guys coming out tomorrow. I have had Riteway come out through Costco. They were pretty high. I need to find the estimate and I will PM it to you. I believe it was $12,000.00 using a lennox.

12k for a 1500 square foot house is insane. 
 

What city are you in? I may know a company around where you are.

 

[eoMMan]

Our system for a smallish 3/2 concrete single family home was about $5k roughly 9 years ago. I believe it's a Carrier. I do remember a couple other quotes coming in for a few grand more at the time. Definitely get at least three quotes. I know time has passed but $12k seems really high.

 

[ChiefD]

Our system for a smallish 3/2 concrete single family home was about $5k roughly 9 years ago. I believe it's a Carrier. I do remember a couple other quotes coming in for a few grand more at the time. Definitely get at least three quotes. I know time has passed but $12k seems really high.

Yep. A house of that size should be $6500 or so. We can do a nice furnace and AC here in KC for that price.

 

[belljr]

I will do that and thank you so much!!!!!

I have one and maybe two guys coming out tomorrow. I have had Riteway come out through Costco. They were pretty high. I need to find the estimate and I will PM it to you. I believe it was $12,000.00 using a lennox.

Watch out for the extra shovel in his quote

 

[belljr]

So chief how bad did I get screwed

South Jersey close to Central 2100 sq ft

Furnace new exhaust

Energy efficient a/c stupid heat pump

Energy efficient Water heater with new exhaust

New attic and garage insulation....

 

[bcat01]

Might be worth looking into adding more insulation to cut energy costs.

 

[Ron Swanson]

So I do live in the Sonoran desert where temps are well over 100 in the summer. About 18 years ago I disconnected the air conditioner from my home as we could not afford the electricity. I did put in a swamp cooler which is awesome until the humidity hits over 10% which does happen here. I will say it gets miserable here when the humidity goes up, especially for sleeping.

While it was not perfect we did manage to make it through all these summers. We have reached an age where I am better off economically, air conditioning is more efficient hence cheaper (at least that is what I am being told), and we just can't take the heat anymore.

This all leads up to me having a new system put in. I have had a few quotes and I have more scheduled. I have been surprised by the wide range of these quotes. How can there be a $5,000.00 difference between companies?

I am just wondering if any one here has experience and advice with a project like this.

I live in a 1500 sq ft manufactured home.

I have also asked for recommendations on facebook for my area.

Do you need new ductwork? 12k seems insane.  I regularly have 2.5-3 ton units with strip heaters installed for about 4k, ut that is using the existing ductwork. That size unit should roughly handle 1500 square feet.

 

[ChiefD]

So chief how bad did I get screwed

South Jersey close to Central 2100 sq ft

Furnace new exhaust

Energy efficient a/c stupid heat pump

Energy efficient Water heater with new exhaust

New attic and garage insulation....

How much?

 

[belljr]

How much?

You tell me....

 

[ChiefD]

You tell me....

I don’t do insulation, so I can’t help you there. I would also need to know what efficiency furnace and air they put it. Could  be a pretty wide discrepancy there.

So just with mid-level efficiency, we would probably be at:

Furnace and Heat Pump - figure around $8500 to $9000. We don’t do too many heat pumps anymore since natural gas is so cheap here. Plus, the life expectancy of a heat pump is about 8 years less than an AC, so you would replace it again alot quicker than an AC. 

Water heater - we don’t do plumbing, but we will install one from time to time. We would probably be less than $2000 depending on what you got. 

 

[belljr]

I think I have a heat pump lol 

It was 10k

I feel better haha

 

[SWC]

I can help you. PM me the quotes and I can let you know what is fair and what is not.

Been in the business for the last 14 years or so in sales, marketing, and now as a service manager.

you are a good dude keep on keepin on take that to the bank brohan

 

[prosopis]

I had two companies come out today. I am awaiting their quotes. 

 

[The Z Machine]

@ChiefD is legit.  Gave me a good recommendation in my area and validated the quotes.

 

[Osaurus]

$12k is way high for that square footage

 

[prosopis]

Still waiting for quotes and setting up others.

Questions for ChiefD -

What should I look for in a company?

One company talked to me about putting in a 5 ton coil and blower but using a 4 ton air conditioner, does that make sense?

 

[prosopis]

ChiefD I tried to message you with location and companies I have contacted. It says you can't receive msgs?

 

[ChiefD]

ChiefD I tried to message you with location and companies I have contacted. It says you can't receive msgs?

Oops, sorry about that.

Cleared some messages out - you should be good now.

 

[prosopis]

Oops, sorry about that.

Cleared some messages out - you should be good now.

I sent you a msg about my first quote. For anyone interested it was $9,976.00

 

[top dog]

Have a 1500ish square foot home. Had a new Carrier 2 1/2 ton unit and a high efficiency carrier furnace this year. Was about $9000.  It was a 13 SEER AC unit and a 96% efficient 2 stage furnace.   For reference.  Ohio.

 

[prosopis]

I can help you. PM me the quotes and I can let you know what is fair and what is not.

Been in the business for the last 14 years or so in sales, marketing, and now as a service manager.

What do you think of a Rheem 4 ton 14 seer package gas/electric unit install for $8,994.00

Some duct work added, cooler removed, drywall where current furnace is.

 

[ChiefD]

What do you think of a Rheem 4 ton 14 seer package gas/electric unit install for $8,994.00

Some duct work added, cooler removed, drywall where current furnace is.

Rheem makes pretty good equipment.  I like it better than that combo you had before. 

As far as switching to the packaged unit - really nothing wrong with that. Should work just fine.  I'd probably get one more bid if you haven't already and see what they come up with. If they don't bring up the package unit idea, mention it to them to see what they think.

Edit to add: that price seems fair to me, without seeing all the particulars.

 

[E Street Brat]

@ChiefD  

I'm thinking of moving my outdoor unit from the back of the house to the side*. Can ya ball park what that might cost.  

* I want to expand the size of my porch and get the noise further away from my bedroom window,

 

[ChiefD]

@ChiefD  

I'm thinking of moving my outdoor unit from the back of the house to the side*. Can ya ball park what that might cost.  

* I want to expand the size of my porch and get the noise further away from my bedroom window,

Depends on how far it is. It takes a lot more than you think. You have to pump the unit down, then usually run new refrigerant lineset and wiring to the new location. Then you have to charge up the system.

So your cost will vary how far away it is from the original location. 

This project could range you anywhere from $500 to $1000.