The AC guys were here, they put in a new capacitor but it did not help. 85 bucks service charge, but I get that back when they install the new AC unit $6,408 (if I pay by check instead of credit card $6,608 if I pay by credit card) less a $270 rebate from APS (our electric company). That is for one with a heat pump, however I may be able to get one for a bunch less with only heat strips, price to be e-mailed to me tomorrow. Since the winters here are fairly mild, I don't see any advantage to a 20% less heating cost when my electric bill is so small in the winter.
The old air handling motor is burning up slowly but surely so they are coming to replace it tomorrow. It stinks to high heavens in here from the motors heat. I hope the motor lasts the day because it is 103*F here outside under my awning (that means out of the direct sunlight) and probably 125*F on my roof. If I did not run the AC unit today it would be a hundred degrees inside the house in a few hours. Someone has to stay inside the house in case the motor quits, and the wifey beat it outta here because of the smell. So I'se it.
That seems high. How many sq ft do you have? Is it the outside unit your replacing or the one in the attic? I must say, I will never do a heat pump ever again. The damn things are noisy as hell when the heat is on. I hate them. I'd rather pay a higher electric bill than mess around with a heat pump. Not so sure they are really any better anyway. I have gas heat and I'm loving it.
Do you have electric fans in the attic to pump out heat in the attic? I have one and I really think it makes a difference. I may add another one next month.
Hook, I live in a tiny mobile home called a "Park Model" it is made especially for an RV park which is what I live in. My home is only 400 sq ft. The AC unit is all in one, heater, air handler, and AC unit the whole thing sits on the ground in back of my house. Each lot in our community is warantee deeded to each lot owner and is titled to each individual owner, same as normal real estate.
I could get a cheaper unit, but it is a hundred+ degrees every single day here between late May and mid October, so I am opting for the better quality unit with a 10 year warantee. My AC unit is also my winter time heater, so that is one reason it is more money, I also live in a mobile home so it has to be especially made for the higher fan pressure needed to force the air through smaller ducts. The one he priced is also a heat pump. I may be able to get a significant price reduction with just added heat strips. Which will do us very well here in the Arizona Desert. It gets below freezing very rarely here, and only in the darkest hour of the night, and is usually 60-70*F later in the day all winter long. So I think the heat pump is overkill, since my highest electric bill in winter is $60-$90 a month.
The way I look at it is; The thing is warranted for 10 years, so I am only paying six hundred bucks plus a year for the AC unit.
Still seems expensive... maybe the market is different out there since it is a "must have" item.
$5,638 out the door for the new unit with heat strips instead of the heat pump, and $400 for new ducting, the old ducting is 13 years old and only 4 R value the new will be 8 R value so it will be a good savings in heat/cooling loss for the extra $400
Howie it is because the air handler is inside the unit, not up in the attic or garage, and I think I am paying a bit more for the company I am working with, they are probably making a premium profit on the thing, but I live in a place where my house would be uninhabitable all summer long, and my AC company is one whose Techs are not on commission, all employees are salary paid, well trained and the company is customer service oriented. I could probably get a cheaper unit for about 4 grand installed but not me. This is a must do best quality purchase for us. Air conditioning is absolutely necessary in my house in the summer, or it would not be habitable so I am buying a Payne by Carrier AC unit. You buy Paul Reed Smith guitars, and pay a premium for those. I won't spend more than $500 for any guitar because I can tweak them to sound as good and play as well as any expensive guitar, in the same sense, I am doing the same with my AC unit buying the best option for long term summer comfort.
People actually die from heat related stroke in their homes in the summer here if the AC goes out, they simply go to sleep and never wake up. How much is that worth?
I don't know anything about those then. Other than it seems pretty expensive. ;D
Did you replace it yet or are you being spit roasted ? There are certain things that you have to spend top dollar on and this sounds like one of them !
It is priced in line with the other reputable guys. My friend had his done a few years back and he paid almost what I am paying. I got new ducting as well R-8 instead of R-4 and the old ducts are 13 years old and under the mobile home so I better get it all done now instead of being cheap (stepping over a half dollar to save an nickle).
Jon — Jun 11, 2013Did you replace it yet or are you being spit roasted ? There are certain things that you have to spend top dollar on and this sounds like one of them !
They are supposed to be here no0w, no show so far between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM they said and it is just after one. My old AC unit is running as smooth as can be for now, they put a band aid on it yesterday, and it is working well as is. But it is time to get a new one, they last for 10 to 15 years here and mine is 13 years old.
The house is cooling, and since they could not get the AC unit without heat pump the gave it to me for the same price as the less expensive unit. In other words I got the one with the heat pump for the price of the one without.
Good deal. Happy cooling!
Good if your happy. But.....fuck a heat pump. ;D
