Living with no A/C (apartment, rental, how much)

[MustangMommy]

We are buying a house in south east aurora and our close date is in the middle of August. The only downside of the house is that it does not have central A/C.

We have been in Colorado for about a year but we have AC in our apartment.

I'm looking for some advice on weather we should spend the money on getting central AC installed ( and what the approximate price might be) or if an attic fan ( I think that's what it's called ) works well enough to not need to spend the money this year.

[davebarnes]

A/C one room.
It is cheap.

I would learn about air flow and what windows to open/close when.
While the cost of central A/C is $5K+, it is the operating costs that will kill you over the long haul.

[Teckeeee]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

A/C one room.
It is cheap.

I would learn about air flow and what windows to open/close when.
While the cost of central A/C is $5K+, it is the operating costs that will kill you over the long haul.

That's what we did this summer AC for bedroom, but 5k Dave? I have quotes of 3-4k for 2500sf. And yes our house didn't come with AC when we bought it, but it seems to get hotter every summer.

[MustangMommy]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

A/C one room.
It is cheap.

I would learn about air flow and what windows to open/close when.
While the cost of central A/C is $5K+, it is the operating costs that will kill you over the long haul.

We wouldn't be cooling only one room though. We would need to cool at last three rooms, more if we had guests. We would be getting AC eventually, I just don't know if its worth it to spend the money at the end of August or if its going to cool down fast enough to wait until next summer.

[Teckeeee]

Originally Posted by MustangMommy

We wouldn't be cooling only one room though. We would need to cool at last three rooms, more if we had guests. We would be getting AC eventually, I just don't know if its worth it to spend the money at the end of August or if its going to cool down fast enough to wait until next summer.

If you are 2 story like we are wait and buy offseason and leave you windows open up top.

[MustangMommy]

Originally Posted by Colorado xxxxx

If you are 2 story like we are wait and buy offseason and leave you windows open up top.

Does your house have an attic fan? They are new to us and we don't know how we'll they work.

And we are in a two story, about 2500sqft like you.

[Teckeeee]

Originally Posted by MustangMommy

Does your house have an attic fan? They are new to us and we don't know how we'll they work.

And we are in a two story, about 2500sqft like you.

No but my neighbor has one. You run it in the morning suck in cool air and close windows. We have been planning no selling and not look to put more money into our home.

[flyonpa]

Cost of the system will depend on how much need to be done. If the home has forced hot air system, its a relatively easy retro-fit.

For reference I just replaced my A/C unit in atlanta (so the heat load is different) put in a 2.5 Ton system $2800 (2nd floor of a 2300sq home, in GA we have 1st floor units and 2nd floor units due to the heatload and floor zoning) , A 'new' system will require piping of about $600 more to get the refrigerant to A/C unit, and PVC drain to remove the consideration from the unit. If the ducting for the heat can be re-used. If they have to run all the ducts, you are added probobly 1K more to the cost.

One option is zone units that can cool 2 or 3 room only. LG Art Cool Ductless Air Conditioner Heat Pump 12,000 BTU :: LG Ductless Systems / Art Cool :: AC 4 Life, Inc.
Have no experince with them.

When I live in colorado years ago only had two window units in the rental home I had, One in the Bedroom (worked fine as long as the door was closed) , and 2nd in living room (did not work well, as there was no way of containing the A/C in the living room, and it would attempt to cool the halls, kitchen. But it took a little edge off the room, but not much.

[bluescreen73]

If you're building new and don't want the A/C right away, you might want to check to see if the builder has an A/C rough-in option. If they do, get some quotes from HVAC companies for how much it would cost with and without the rough-in already done. It may save you some money to have the rough-in done.

[MustangMommy]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

If you're building new and don't want the A/C right away, you might want to check to see if the builder has an A/C rough-in option. If they do, get some quotes from HVAC companies for how much it would cost with and without the rough-in already done. It may save you some money to have the rough-in done.

It's a resale home but does already have forced air for heating. Anyone know the cost to add AC to this?