The only thing that is copper is the line set. Pretty much everyone has gone to aluminum coils for evaporator and condensers.Copper are prices are crazy high right now.
That will drive the price up considerably.
The only thing that is copper is the line set. Pretty much everyone has gone to aluminum coils for evaporator and condensers.Copper are prices are crazy high right now.
That will drive the price up considerably.
I don't work on residential and or newer equipment much anymore.The only thing that is copper is the line set. Pretty much everyone has gone to aluminum coils for evaporator and condensers.
3000sqft with an average home build quality. As I said the current unit must run nearly 100% of the time whenever it gets above 85F but it still can maintain 68F at the temp. By 90F the best it can do is 70-71F and by 95F it’s 72-74F inside.A 4 ton unit in MA? You must live in a mansion!
Do you have a Costco membership? Go through them to get a quote from an installer.
Yes, I would like to add Heil to the list. We have two units. Main floor just AC, second floor heat pump.This seems very high -- central MA so heat isn't the big issue....is it electric heat or gas?
To be honest, the "no-name" I have had great service from the "no-name" brands like ComfortMaker, Goodman, etc. Once you slap the Trane, American Standard, Lennox, Rheem, Ruud, Bryant, etc name on it the price increases exponentially.
You are comparing apples to oranges. You're situation is totally different from his and that was from four years ago. Labor and especially materials have gone up since then. Now, that 50k probably would be a bargain now.I got a quote to add ductwork and central heat/AC to a 4 family apartment building I had that was built in 1925. It was about $50,000 and this was 4 years ago. Just for a point of reference. That was 4 separate units, lots of gas line and electrical work as well as new ductwork.
20 degree difference should be what comes out of the vents, so if it’s 72 inside, the air out of the vents should be around 52.3000sqft with an average home build quality. As I said the current unit must run nearly 100% of the time whenever it gets above 85F but it still can maintain 68F at the temp. By 90F the best it can do is 70-71F and by 95F it’s 72-74F inside.
I believe I read somewhere that a 20F difference between outside and inside is ideal and the current unit seems to do just that.
No don't do that. Costco overcharges where the final price is essentially a wash vs competitors.A 4 ton unit in MA? You must live in a mansion!
Do you have a Costco membership? Go through them to get a quote from an installer.
You could pay an energy rater to perform a highly accurate load calculation and that way you'll nail down capacity. Labor is higher in MA so I suspect there's where you'll find most of the price difference.Hey everyone,
I know there are a billion factors that go into a project like replacing an existing A/C but I'm just trying to ball park it here. I replaced an A/C in my previous house and the quotes ranged from $3500 to not kidding $20,000. This process is worse than buying vehicles because there are so many costs I don't have access to easily.
House is a colonial built in 1987 in central MA. Fairly large SW facing expsure with skylights. Current unit is a 4-ton Rheem installed in 1994. Works well but getting up there in age. At 85F it will cool to 70F but it runs 19-20 hours out of the day. Once you go above 85F outside the inside temp starts creeping up. On a few 95F days it mainained 72-74F. No hot or cold spots and the ducting seems well done and does not need any changes. A/C is in the attic, it's a huge open space that's well lit and easy to work in and it's accessible with folding stairs in the hall. Today the temp was about 65F up there.
First quote is simply to replace air handler, replace unit outside A/C, run a new line set, and dispose of current equipment. No other changes needed. Proposed equiment is:
126B - Bryant® Preferred™ - 4 Ton 16 SEER Residential Air Conditioner Condensing Unit Model # 126BNA048000
FX4D - Bryant® 4 Ton Residential Fan Coil High Efficiency Multipoise Air Handler Model # FX4DNF049L00
Equipment + installation $11,456.00. I think there's a $300 federal tax credit available.
Seems very high considering I think this is low to maybe mid-tier equipment - A/C is only single stage and air handler is not variable. Any help interpretting and/or working my way through this is much appreciated.
It's been a few years so I may not remember this correctly but I believe when I did the A/C in CT multiple installers simply said a well designed A/C should be able to maintain the house 20F cooler than the outside air - none of them spoke about the actual temperature of the air coming out of the vents. Maybe that was just for the NE? I agree, in Arizona if it's 115F I would not be happy that it was 95F inside.20 degree difference should be what comes out of the vents, so if it’s 72 inside, the air out of the vents should be around 52.
Here in AZ it’s 115 degrees outside and we keep the house in the low 70s, so a 40+ degree difference.
Your A/C must not be running very well.
We had an A/C installed last year through Costco. Price was the same as another installer but warranty is longer and the equipment isn’t bottom of the barrel like the other company I called.You could have an energy rater perform an accurate load calculation and then shop based upon that. I suspect a 4-ton is oversized.
No don't do that. Costco overcharges where the final price is essentially a wash vs competitors.
Excellent point. The difference should be 15 to 20°. I’m about 18. When I say the difference, that is the temperature difference of the air going into the intake and coming out of the vents. More or less the temperature of the house not the temperature of the outside air. During the summer I actually put a remote temperature gauge right inside one of the vents to check the system.20 degree difference should be what comes out of the vents, so if it’s 72 inside, the air out of the vents should be around 52.
Here in AZ it’s 115 degrees outside and we keep the house in the low 70s, so a 40+ degree difference.
Your A/C must not be running very well.
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/qa A lot of people who frequent this board are located in New England. You'll get an answer fast.Second quote is essentially the Bryant same equipment for $8135 for the 4-ton. He did mention I may want to consider a 3.5 ton to dehumidify better.
I asked him about variable speeds fans and 2-stage condensers and he said the quoted air handler is 5-speed and he said if I really wanted variable speed then he'd recommend a Bosch heat pump system that is currently giving a rebate of $1,000 per ton and because they only come in 1-2 and 3-5 ton even if it's setup as 3.5 or 4 ton you get the $5K rebate which pays for the upgrade. He's putting that together for me now. He claimed he just put two of these is his house.
Anyone know anything about Bosch A/C or heat pumps?
You are comparing apples to oranges. You're situation is totally different from his and that was from four years ago. Labor and especially materials have gone up since then. Now, that 50k probably would be a bargain now.
Second quote is essentially the Bryant same equipment for $8135 for the 4-ton. He did mention I may want to consider a 3.5 ton to dehumidify better.
I asked him about variable speeds fans and 2-stage condensers and he said the quoted air handler is 5-speed and he said if I really wanted variable speed then he'd recommend a Bosch heat pump system that is currently giving a rebate of $1,000 per ton and because they only come in 1-2 and 3-5 ton even if it's setup as 3.5 or 4 ton you get the $5K rebate which pays for the upgrade. He's putting that together for me now. He claimed he just put two of these is his house.
Anyone know anything about Bosch A/C or heat pumps?
Ive installed one, they use the same inverter technology as ductless units (mini splits). Haven't heard much about them besides that, the unit i put in worked fine, the quality of the air handler cabinet and condenser cage and panels looked basic, i was expecting better quality for it being 20 seer i guess. Unfortunately I don't have any input as far as durability and performance yet, maybe someone else here does.Second quote is essentially the Bryant same equipment for $8135 for the 4-ton. He did mention I may want to consider a 3.5 ton to dehumidify better.
I asked him about variable speeds fans and 2-stage condensers and he said the quoted air handler is 5-speed and he said if I really wanted variable speed then he'd recommend a Bosch heat pump system that is currently giving a rebate of $1,000 per ton and because they only come in 1-2 and 3-5 ton even if it's setup as 3.5 or 4 ton you get the $5K rebate which pays for the upgrade. He's putting that together for me now. He claimed he just put two of these is his house.
Anyone know anything about Bosch A/C or heat pumps?