OT Air Conditioner Died Help

[nepean]

Well our 24 year old central a/c is dead. I have called around today for estimates and there is a $700. price spread. Has anyone replaced their a/c in the past year and if you did which brand did you go with? Also , with these new SEER ratings did you just go with a 13 or did you go higher? If you don't mind a rough estimate of cost would be helpful so that I can compare.
It was so hot here in Ottawa today I know that I have to get it replaced.

Thanks

Nepean

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

A response from my dh who works for a company that deals with selling the a/c units to the people that install them.......

there are only a handful of manufacturers of A/C units, refer to it as a private label offering to differenciate by dealer. Seers refers to the efficiency of the unit and the bare minimum in Canada now is 13 Seer. The higher the seer the more cost effective your unit will be. The only other factor is the # of tonns required based on the size of house. Pricing is very difficult to quote but installed will run between $2500 to $3200. Also due to the age of the old unit, ask about replacing the "A" coil which fits inside the furnace.

 

[drag n' fly]

If it helps to know with pricing we just had home depot install a 2 and a half ton 14 seer trane central air. Our house is 1600sq ft not including the basment anbd I believe it was about 4200.00. The new central air is much more energy efficient now and a programmable thermostst helps with costs savings also.

 

[nepean]

We ended up buying a Heil 2 1/2 ton for $3600. at Costco. It comes with ten years parts and labour and if the compressor breaks they just replace the whole unit. It is a 15 seer. We already have a high efficiency furnace and programable themostat. Hopefully with the two we hit 12.5 EE rating and will get $400 back from Ontario Power if not it will be $250. Costco backs the guarantee not the installing company.


Nepean