AC Replacement Cost?

[car54]

One of my tenants called last night...NO A/C!

So, my guy went over today and the condenser coil was bad but too old to get a replacement, so he replaced the entire outside thingie....condenser and compressor. The A-coil inside was fine so it stayed. New Trane 3.5 ton condenser unit...$1600 installed.

Per my guy's advice, I always go for the low to mid-range efficiencies....the super high efficiency units are TOO complicated. When (not if!) those fancy circuit boards burn up....you will spend everything you saved on electricity and then some getting the damned thing fixed. Plus the super systems require a compatible A-coil, so today's fix would have cost another $800 to a grand.

As it is, the 13 SEER unit I had installed is far, far more efficient than the 20+ year old unit that it replaced. Tenant will notice a significantly lower electric bill.

edit to add: don't let your dog pee on the condenser! That's what we think happened to the old coil...pee is corrosive!

[scottfs]

Anyone have any info on the breakout between the AC unit/material cost, markup, and labor cost?

[saganista]

Originally Posted by ACWhite

For people asking about 2 systems, the Realtors call this "two zone" cooling and heating.

Yeah, and it's something to talk with an HVAC guy about if you're doing remodeling or otherwise have an opportunity to make changes. We have reorganized into four heating zones and two cooling zones, and it ends up making a noticeable difference cost- and comfort-wise.

[Yankeesfan]

Thanks, this is all helpful.

[oneasterisk]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I didn't use an established company. My husband is an electrician on commercial jobs and he knows many other tradesman so a commercial HVAC person who does residential work on the side bought and installed the system. It comes with a 10 year warranty. If anything happens with it, I can get him back or I can call a local company.

My furnace is gas.

Thanks for the feedback. I was surprised it was so cheap.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by oneasterisk

Thanks for the feedback. I was surprised it was so cheap.

Actually, I didn't find it to be that cheap. I think I got a *fair* deal; i.e., I didn't get ripped off and I didn't get over on anyone. Based on my co-worker's quote she just got and some of the other things posted here, I think $5,000 seems fairly standard for an HVAC replacement. Of course, the attic work did jack up my price a bit but it still seems sort of comparable.

[nholdman]

My condenser in the outside unit for my 2nd floor AC just went out last week. I got a quote of $3000 to replace the outside unit only using freon like the existing system. He said that installing the attic unit later would run about $1800. These components have a 5 year warranty. The option I went with was to replace the outside and attic units and switch to R22 for $5300. This system has a 10 year warranty. I have used this same HVAC company for years and they are very good, honest, and reliable. When the condenser wires burned up a month ago and then again 2 weeks later, they wouldn't charge me for the second visit to make a second repair even though the condenser was bad and the problem was not due to their work. Not sure where you live, but the company I use is Dodson Heating and Air Conditioning in Purcellville. They are a family business in operation for many years.

[car54]

Originally Posted by nholdman

My condenser in the outside unit for my 2nd floor AC just went out last week. I got a quote of $3000 to replace the outside unit only using freon like the existing system. He said that installing the attic unit later would run about $1800. These components have a 5 year warranty. The option I went with was to replace the outside and attic units and switch to R22 for $5300....

I hope that's a typo....R22 is being phased out after 40+ years as the refrigerant of choice.

The new stuff is R410A. It is sold under various trade names. Trane calls it "Puron", other makers call it other names, but it's all R410A.

Look on the condenser cabinet, near the refrigerant ports....there should be a sticker that says which gas in in the unit.

[nholdman]

You are right - it is a typo - getting rid of R22. Getting R410A.