need central air install advice

[1 FMF]

any you bozos install central air or have knowledge related to the topic?
I just had a salesman from sears quote me $11000 for a 1.5 ton unit. Since he was a salesman I got few specifics and too much finance with sears 12 months no interest you don't pay anything b.s.

I worked for my neighbor who's business was HVAC and I installed this junk for 2 summers years ago. If I knew where to buy the stuff I'd do it all myself over the winter, minus the big electrical work. I'm going to need 200 amp service and the fuse panel maybe relocated which sucks.
What I'm hoping to find is what price I can expect to pay for a good condensor and air handler. I get rebates on carrier products so I want their stuff. And my house is a 1987 colonial, and I only want the 3 bedrooms upstairs getting vents, with air handler in the attic. Real simple install. There's no good way to run duct to the downstairs nor do I want it.

Ceilings are 8 ft,
Master bedroom = 210 ft^2 (12x17.5)
Spare bedroom 1 = 180 ft^2 (18x10)
Spare bedroom 2 = 162 ft^2 (13.5x12)
master bed bathroom = 50 ft^2 (7x7)
upstairs hallway bathroom = 50 ft^2 (7x7)
upstairs hallway where stairs are, approx 48 ft^2 (8x6).

I'm plan is for cold air from upstairs will flow downstairs, in addition to a large downstairs window unit I'm keeping, will cool the downstairs nice. Right now the 1 window unit downstairs is perfectly fine.

Once again, i'm telling the so-called experts to f.o. and turning to google

... and you guys

 

[Slick 55]

That sounds very high. I had a 15.5 Seer, 3 ton Carrier Infinity system including gas furnace installed for around $9,000. The only way to really know if it is sized correctly is to have a Manual J load calc done. Here is a link with a TON of info.....

http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1

 

[brianl703]

I got a 10 SEER 2-ton AC unit and a 48,000BTU 80% AFUE gas furnace installed (replacement for 30-year-old unit) for $2000 about 3 years ago. It's a Trane.

 

[The Critic]

Had a 5 ton? (will double check) American Standard High-Efficiency A/C unit installed, along with a new furnace and all new ductwork, with three zones, for $15K last year.

 

[tdpark]

Sears is a ripoff, I got a quote it was crazy high. Stay away from sears. Get a local independent if you can.

 

[chas3]

you can look at www.grainger.com for pricing on systems. they dont have carrier but it would give you a ballpark. search for split system. a 1.5 ton condensor and evaporator coil should be about $1500.

is everything going to be in the attic or are you going to mount the condensor on your roof?

 

[drm7]

Sounds very high. I just built a new 2-story house and I have 2 units. 2.5 ton for main floor & basement and a 1.5 ton for upstairs. It was a complete install including duct work. SEER 15 Trane units. About $11,000 all total.

 

[Slick 55]

I should add my install price included adding some ductwork for a new addition. A co-worker was telling me he was quoted $4,000 for a 13 seer, 3 ton Carrier system (A/C only).

 

[Islandvic]

Make sure it is a 13 SEER unit and not left over models.

13 SEER is now mandated by the govt to be the minimum energy rating for new units.

$11 gr is way to much, unless a lot of custom work has to be done to install the duct work.

Is all the ducting going to be in the attic?

I live in South Texas where labor is real cheap. Unless the dud from "This Old House" is doing th einstall, even with yankee pricing, that is way to much.


I suggest to have a high efficiency air filter installed (Honeywell or SpaceGuard accordian style filter). These dudes cost $30-50 a pop to replace but they last 6 months minimum, you can vac them out and make them last longer, and it will keep the coils, ducts, and the rest of the house cleaner.

 

[tom slick]

check out www.hvactalk.com
it's the BITOG of HVAC and it's mostly pros hanging out there.
stuff I've learned from that forum;
the amount of hot and cold days per year, insulation rating in the walls/ceiling, and which walls face south all play into a proper calculation for how much tonnage you need.
an oversized a/c unit is worse at cooling the house then an undersized unit it.
cheap is never the way to go.

 

[Al]

If at all possible install a return upstairs and one downstairs. Make it so you can close them off separately. They should each be prolly 400 sq inches each. Locate them as high as possible.