WWYD: Central Air Conditioning

[bicker]

Thanks for the info. You touched on one of the critical aspects for me: Not only don't I know anyone even remotely mechanically-inclined, but even if I did, me helping that person would doom the effort to failure verging on catastrophic. By all rights, if I were to ever change my own oil, it should obligate me to put out a statewide advisory.

A lot of folks around these parts don't realize the value of priority service, until they're stuck waiting days for repair. I suppose if you could fix stuff yourself, without causing a meltdown, it wouldn't be as critical, since the number of times you'll be in deep trouble will be minimal.

 

[Nancyg56]

Don't get thrown by that: The service contract for that first year should be really cheap, essentially the cost of routine maintenance on the system (cleaning out the humidifier, replacing damper motors if they break again, etc.) The unit is under warranty from the time it is installed until the warranty period is over, so that cost doesn't hit the service contract until after the warranty period is over.

That really gets to one of the important pieces of info I need: When is this puppy going to fail?

Okay, I got it. Your service contract will go up after the first year so that figure is really not really the one to consider.

I very seldom replace something in anticipation that it will fail unless there is an indication that it is getting to that point. You have maintained your unit, it is running well. You know that you have purchased timely service int eh event it quits. I would run it another year and see how i does. Watch your utility bills to see if it is running more to maintain a comfortable temperature and if it seems to struggle to maintain that temp and then reevaluate next year.

 

[bicker]

You've hit on another bit of info I don't know: Is there potentially a significant impact (reducing) in energy cost between a 12 year old compressor and a new one?

 

[joviroxx]

You've hit on another bit of info I don't know: Is there potentially a significant impact (reducing) in energy cost between a 12 year old compressor and a new one?

Not sure about the compressor itself, but a 12 yr old condensing unit might have about a 10 SEER. A new unit with a higher SEER CAN save you a significant amout in energy costs.

We bought a house with a perfectly good 10 SEER unit. We are in the process of changing it out for a 16 SEER (probably didnt need more than a 14). Between the energy savings, electric company rebates and federal tax credits, this new unti will pay for itself rather quickly.

 

[bicker]

What's a "condensing unit"? Even the service company is only recommending that we consider replacing (just) the condenser itself.

 

[joviroxx]

What's a "condensing unit"? Even the service company is only recommending that we consider replacing (just) the condenser itself.

Its the unit outside. In this terminology its pretty much the same thing. Are they recommending to change the entire outside unit? The only thing is you have to match the air handler (inside) unit to the outside unit. So I changed both.

Don't quote me and if Im wrong, someone please correct me.

 

[bicker]

What I've been told is that the tax credit requires replacing the whole system, not just the condenser.

 

[Nancyg56]

What I've been told is that the tax credit requires replacing the whole system, not just the condenser.

I believe that you are correct. My son does not qualify because he was just replacing the condensor and when he ran the figures the credit did not justify replacing the entire unit. We will see if he feels the same way in June as he felt in November when he had his unit serviced.

 

[Green Tea]

I installed my system 16 years ago and have never had a service call, so I would pick #4: Drop the contract and pay as you go for repairs as needed.

 

[bicker]

Yeah, that's not an option. Thanks though.

 

[golfgal]

To me it doesn't make sense to spend $3000 to save $650 (or whatever the plan costs). You can probably have an energy audit done through your gas or electric company and they should be able to tell you if you will save money with a new unit. I don't know what the difference is between the "condenser" and the "unit" is either. To me they are the same thing.

 

[bicker]

Option B is looking stronger and stronger.

 

[java]

Am I correct in assuming that over the past 12 years you have paid over $7000 in a service contract on your AC system?
I am currious because I live in the North East and have never even heard of an AC contract. My friend is an AC contractor in NYC- so if I have a problem he helps me out but they've never been anything major- more things like- wrapping a tube. $3 fix.

So I guess I can't say what I would do since I wouldn't do any of your options.

That being said if my system was 12 years old I would keep paying the service contract at this point if I had been paying it all along.

 

[Bob NC]

........ and the hot water heater.......

This could be part of the problem. Why in the world are you heating hot water?

 

[bicker]

Am I correct in assuming that over the past 12 years you have paid over $7000 in a service contract on your AC system?

Not just the a/c... that includes a whole host of other facilities. It also includes priority service, where they basically drop everything (including sending a repairman to your home, perhaps) to answer our call. I think I relayed earlier our personal experience with this, i.e., the difference between waiting two weeks for repair and waiting two hours for repair.

My friend is an AC contractor in NYC- so if I have a problem he helps me out

And if I had a friend like that, it may not be an issue for us. There is really no way for me to imagine how it is being you, with the friend you have, and how that would affect my wife and I. It doesn't really matter though. We all live different lives.

So I guess I can't say what I would do since I wouldn't do any of your options.

I suppose the question is, "What would you do if you were me (with all of my circumstances and therefore one of these options must be the best option).... ?" I understand all the issues that direct us to the place where these three options are the only viable ones, so I don't need help with that part of it. What I need help with is understanding which is the best of the three options described above.

 

[Green Tea]

I suppose the question is, "What would you do if you were me (with all of my circumstances and therefore one of these options must be the best option).... ?" I understand all the issues that direct us to the place where these three options are the only viable ones, so I don't need help with that part of it. What I need help with is understanding which is the best of the three options described above.

Huh? I suppose I just need help in understanding you.

I don't "get" spending $7000 as mentioned by someone above to insure you have quick service. If you offered a HVAC tech a small part of that to come quickly, (if you even ever needed it) they'd be there in an instant. Especially in the first year, unless you are buying some off brand unit that comes with zero warranty.

 

[bicker]

Explaining the value of a whole home service contract to someone who doesn't see the value in it is like trying to explain to a meat-eater why you're a vegetarian, or trying to explain to an Atheist why you believe in God. ... or trying to explain to a person who does not consider it rude to tell guests to their home to remove their shoes why you feel it is rude, assuming you do. (But that's a different thread.)

The help we need in making the decision is the help that can be provided by people who are able to understand it as a given that a service contract is worthwhile.

It must be great to live in a place where you can get quick service without having a service contract. I wish I lived someplace like that.

There is no cost for covering failures in the new unit in the first year. I tried to explain that but perhaps not well enough. The price you see for that first year is for covering all the other things included in the service contract.

 

[sbell111]

If your AC contractor can't make a service call within a day or two, you are working with the wrong company. If they wanted me to pay them monthly for the benefit of them showing up timely if I ever needed them, I would laugh in there face, if I were you.

There are several AC contractors in your area and times are tough. I have little doubt that I could find a good company to show up timely. A quick google search supports both of these points.

Still, you should do whatever makes you and your husband happy. It would be pretty elementary to simply do the math and find the best answer.

 

[Feralpeg]

The contract includes service and repairs on the whole system, including the dampers (for which we've had a lot of repairs needed over the years), the whole house humidifier (ditto) and the hot water heater, and included priority service, which is what accounts for the difference between having to wait two hours for a repairman instead of two weeks.

I have no doubt that the prices are very good for the service provided. If I did have any doubt about that, then I would have asked about that. I've done my research on the company, and have worked with them, and gotten incredibly good service from them, for twelve years.

I'm only trying to figure out whether there is a real advantage of one of the three options over the other two. It could just be that all three choices are equally good. That would be good info, too.

I also have a service contract on my system. It is well worth the money I pay to have it serviced twice a year and know that, should I have a problem, I will get quick repair service. In Florida, during the summer, you don't want to be without air conditioning for an extended period of time and the companies here are VERY busy.

 

[Nancyg56]

Huh? I suppose I just need help in understanding you.

I don't "get" spending $7000 as mentioned by someone above to insure you have quick service. If you offered a HVAC tech a small part of that to come quickly, (if you even ever needed it) they'd be there in an instant. Especially in the first year, unless you are buying some off brand unit that comes with zero warranty.

I do not have a contract on my system but I purchase my oil and have my burner serviced (no contract) by one company. I do not shop around for oil. My AC did not turn on the first time I wanted to use it two years ago. Nothing. The condensor was running but the air handler was nto sending cool air. On Saturday afternoon at 4 PM I called our oil company and within an hour had a repairman. He would not have come if i had not had my oil company, who is is contracted to, call hom and authorise the visit. This was the first hot day of the season and there were no repairmen at that time on a weekend.

Have I spent a little more on oil on occasion? Maybe. Could I have shopped around and waited until a repairman was free? Sure. For my family, the money spent was worth it for that visit.

I know that some folks have problems with service contracts but that is a personal decision. I use them on my major appliances. My DH uses them on his equipment and tools that he expects to use a lot. THere are some appliances that have never needed that visit but if I added up the amount used on service visits just in my kitchen vs what I spent on the contract..................they made no money on me. Foe me the money is worth it. For others, perhaps not. For me, remaining loyal to my oli company and paying them to service my unit may cost more occasionally but whe they repairman shows up quickly it is money well spent IMO.