My sister needs a new AC unit .. question?

[Robinrs]

in the HEAT of summer her air went out on her. The service guy says she needs a new unit, the one that's outside. She had to go to San Francisco so she leave ME... ... to check the web or hit the phone to compare prices, etc...

I have NO CLUE where to start???

Anyone out there with any experience on these?

 

[wdw4us2]

Talk to friends and find out who is a reputable A/C dealer.

We are fortunate that the person who handles the A/C where my husband works also has his own business on the side. He has been taking care of us for about 8 years. Before that, we were at the mercy of different companies who would tell us every year we needed to replace something when it wasn't necessary.

If no one can point you in the right direction, check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure your sister doesn't get ripped off.

 

[Tiggeroo]

how old is her unit? is it one a builder put in. Recently they upped the minimum SEER (efficiency rating) to 13. This will be a bit of a problem for those who have units with lower seer. Your inside and outside unit need to match. DH says some big companies bought up all the remaining units lower then 13. This will make replacing an outside unit more expensive for some folks.
If you just need an outside unit for approx. 2200sf home I'm guessing around $1500. Get referrals and get maybe two or three prices. You might be able to get the price over the phone if you know the size and seer rating. If you have to go with the higher seer and replace both pieces there are rebates available if you deal with a company who can do the paperwork.

 

[lowie]

in the HEAT of summer her air went out on her. The service guy says she needs a new unit, the one that's outside. She had to go to San Francisco so she leave ME... ... to check the web or hit the phone to compare prices, etc...

I have NO CLUE where to start???

Anyone out there with any experience on these?

i say go with the easy route.. go to home depot, order what she needs (they'll know what it is) have them install it, get interest free financing. call the local electric company and see if they are giving any rebates for energy efficient models

 

[Robinrs]

Wow, Great advice! At least I will SOUND like I know what I'm talking about!

Robin

 

[Serena]

I'd have someone else check it and make sure it needs a new unit. More than one estimate. It could just have a leak or need cleaned, unless that's all been checked.

 

[Robinrs]

I'd have someone else check it and make sure it needs a new unit. More than one estimate. It could just have a leak or need cleaned, unless that's all been checked.

She's already had it checked out by two sources, both agreed it was gone. She bought the house 2 years ago but the AC unit was the original, at least 25 years old.

 

[Evil Queen]

I'd have someone else check it and make sure it needs a new unit. More than one estimate. It could just have a leak or need cleaned, unless that's all been checked.

I'm not sure about out there, but here locally there are many companies that will give free 2nd opinion estiments, so grab those yellow pages and check some of those out. Just have your paperwork to prove you have had the first estimant done.

I'm having problems with mine and finally found a coupon online for a 18 point AC tune up for under $40.00. Including adding the freon (well 2 lbs.). If the tech feels there's more to it than that, he won't do the tune up, will tell me what's wrong, give me an estiment, but still only charge me the $40.00 for the service call.

I did check them out with BBB and the only 1 complaint they have in the last 36 months, has been resolved in the last 12 months, so.......here's to keeping my fingers crossed.

Look for deals, they are there. Plus, I got some good facts on what may be causing it (thanks fellow Disers), I like to sound like I know what I'm talking about.

 

[grimley1968]

She's already had it checked out by two sources, both agreed it was gone. She bought the house 2 years ago but the AC unit was the original, at least 25 years old.

It's not surprising the unit is shot, then. We had to replace one of our air units last summer, and it was maybe 23 years old or so. We still have a smaller unit about 25 years old that operates our upstairs. It will have to go in the next 3 or 4 years, I'd say.

Be prepared to spend at least $3,500, if you have to replace the indoor unit as well as the compressor outside.

Newer units, I think, use Puron now instead of freon. It's supposed to be better for the environment.

We spent about $4,500 and got one that (sort of) controls humidity levels in the house. That makes a nice difference. It's not a humidifier/dehumidifier, but basically uses the fan to blow humidity in/out depending on the season. Ours also has variable speed fan settings, so if it has to heat or cool the temperature by, say, only one degree, it will only blow the fan just enough to accomplish this change. It's more efficient than the fan going full bore to cool or heat one degree, when that speed should only be used if you have to heat or cool 2 or 3 degrees at once.

Our electric bills went down maybe an average of $50 or so since we installed it. It's not as much savings as I'd hoped, but it counts. Our old unit was on almost constantly and still couldn't get our air the way we needed it. This one is much quicker to heat/cool, so it can shut itself off more of the day, unless the temperature outside is at an extreme. With outside temps right here now in the upper 70s for highs and 50s for lows, it's not on all that much.

Next step for us, hopefully, in the electric company battles: tankless water heaters!