Would you order your HVAC direct to save ???

[PhillyJoe]

Sometimes I get my own car parts and have the mechanic do the repairs. Lots of people do.

I need a new home hot air furnace and I'm converting from oil to natural gas unit (gas line already available 3 feet away). Call the first company and the estimate for a 96% two stage 75k btu is a little over $6,200., Rheem model 96xyz., installed. Includes fresh air piping and a code required new chimney liner. One day, two man job, includes removing old heater, 10 year warranty.

On ebay, there's a hvac wholesaler who sells that unit, Rheem 96xyz, for $1450 shipped. New, full warranty, hundreds of happy customers. Allowing $2500 for install, remove, liner and piping; I'm at $4,000.

Does it make any sense to buy my own parts and hire a contractor to install? Rheem will warranty unit for 10 years with a copy of installer's invoice showing a qualified hvac person installed unit.

Since our a/c unit is 10-12 years old, thinking of buying the matching a/c compressor/ coil unit for another $1,000. I think I would still be ahead. My involvement would appear to be taking the unit(s) from the curbside delivery, checking for damage and putting the unit in the garage for the installer.
Has anyone done this? Seems to make too much sense.

 

[Donald]

Why aren't you getting a modulating/condensing gas hot air furnace? If so I thought the exhaust was via PVC pipe to the outside not up a chimney.

I think your approach sounds reasonable, but find an installed BEFORE you order one.

I am looking for everyone but me to switch to natural gas or propane and then home heating oil will be super cheap.

 

[zzyzzx]

I would do it. Then remove the old unit, yourself as well. Then get someone else to do the sheet metal/install/startup.

 

[Kawiguy454]

find a local AC guy to do a side job on a saturday... just make sure he has the tools and is skilled.

 

[CourierDriver]

If you have a technical school in your area that teaches HVAC, some schools will send the senior students and the instructor will come out to do the install for student experience and the instructor can sign off on it sometimes, but you will have to call them. Sometimes the instructors just do the job themselves on the side. Just call and see.

 

[sicko]

Make sure to check around first, some places wont install a unit unless it was purchased through them.

Call some other companies and negotiate, you can probably get it down to $5k (just a guess). The nice thing about having a local company do it all is that if you have a problem they send a guy right out and will take care of it for you, so you don't have to deal with all the warranty stuff.

Also, when getting quotes, look at the model of units they're talking about and check the manufacturer's website. There are rebates on furnaces/AC units all the time. It might knock a few hundred or more off your total price.

 

[Vern_in_IL]

Many if not all units require CERTIFIED Dealer trained installers, or you VOID the warranty!

 

[Alfred_B]

Here is a direct seller of furnaces. Check with them for more information as to what makes sense to do.

http://www.alpinehomeair.com/proinstallation/default.cfm

 

[Cutehumor]

There are HVAC techs with youtube channels who say do not buy a/c online to save money. They caution you will have no warranty unless a certified installer does the job. Even if you found a licensed person to do it as a side job, will this same person do the same warranty work 5 years later??

 

[Jarlaxle]

You could say the same about buying one through a contractor!