My air conditioner blew up...

cytech · 05-23-2007, 05:19 PM

So last night my air condesor unit blew up and I had someone come over to take a look today and it was my worst fears. It needs to be replaced. Kinda ticks me off since the unit that blew was a lennox and was only 7-10 years old. But they came back to me with a price of $1135 for a new one.

I have never shopped for a new air condensor before so I was wondering if anyone that has or maybe if we have a HVAC guy around here if they could tell me if that is a good price or what I should expect to pay. The uni is for a house that is around 900 sq. feet so I don't need a really big one or anything.

Any info I can get before I call to shop around for prices tomorrow would be appreciated.

cytech · 05-24-2007, 08:20 AM

so no one sells HVAC systems or has bought one recently....

Cyclone62 · 05-24-2007, 08:27 AM

so no one sells HVAC systems or has bought one recently...

Sorry, I haven't used an Air conditioner for 4 years.

ColoradoClone · 05-24-2007, 08:27 AM

I can't tell you about fair A/C prices, but I too would be interested in talking with an HVAC expert if there is one here. I'm in the process of finishing my basement, and plan on running the supply and return lines in a week or two.

Can anyone here take on those questions?

jtdoyle1 · 05-24-2007, 08:28 AM

I'm in ankeny and got a new high effeciency air conditioner and furnace (Trane) a year ago from Bell Brothers in Des Moines. I looked mostly at Carrier, Trane, and Lennox. I haven't heard the best things about Lennox's reliability lately.

The $1135 sounds about right for a lennox. I found around here that most places were pretty comparable with each other on similar products. The brand and effieciency will affect the price the most, but the higher priced ones usually have a longer warranty.

Also if you get a high efficiency a.c. you might be able to take advantage of tax credits and/or rebates from your electric company (alliant or midamerican energy).

Cyclone62 · 05-24-2007, 08:30 AM

Also if you get a high efficiency a.c. you might be able to take advantage of tax credits and/or rebates from your electric company (alliant or midamerican energy).

I'll second that. My parents have been doing that a while in CR with their heat/air.

brianhos · 05-24-2007, 08:31 AM

Is that all air conditioners are?? I was always thinking they were around $4k. I just built a new addition that is 500 sq feet. I am worried my current crappy AC unit will not properly cool the entire house, so I was considering getting a new one. I will have to check into it now, I just figured it was too expensive.

DaddyMac · 05-24-2007, 08:36 AM

I'd say that's in the ball park for a condenser only - brand name.

I put a whole new system in back in '01 for 1150 sq/ft. It's Armstrong which I think is the knock off for Lennox and the whole cost was about $3K, I think.

Again, 6 years ago and not brand name. I'd say 1135 sounds pretty reasonable.

jtdoyle1 · 05-24-2007, 08:39 AM

I think after the tax credits ($350) and Reabtes from midamerican ($750) I paid around $5000 for 95% Effecient Trane furnace and 14 SEER Trane AC includes everything replaced and installed.-not to mention my utility bills are a lot cheaper.

cyclonekj · 05-24-2007, 08:42 AM

My old house (about 2100 conditioned sq ft) needs a complete new system-- gas furnace and central air. Any recommendations on who to buy from in DSM and what brands to look at? Ballpark on cost? TIA

DevilDog · 05-24-2007, 08:49 AM

We replaced our old gas furnace and a/c unit back in december. We put in a 2 stage heat pump and electric furnace and couldnt be any happier. We now are gas free in the house and dont miss high energy bills. I would highly recommend this as opposed to putting gas furnace and a/c unit back in. We also got a York unit and have college mascot panels on it. So Cy and Herky or on the outside of the house. I know I know my wife is the enemy so we had to put it on.

travman23 · 05-24-2007, 08:53 AM

Don't mind me asking but why did you have the AC on last night? It was like 70 degrees and even cooler than that overnight. Sorry, just had to ask as I haven't even turned my AC on yet this year and it's been warmer than it was last night to tempt me a few times.

cytech · 05-24-2007, 08:58 AM

I have been doing some calling around and it sounds like the quote I got yesturday was a really good deal compared to what I am hearing from all these other places. I keep getting 1800-2800 for just the condensor unit on the outside.

Another thing for people to think about is always geothermal heating and air. My parents own a storage garage facility here and town and we installed this for climate controled area there, and the tax breaks you get are pretty hefty to help cover up front costs.

That isn't really a option for me but it is something others may want to look into.

cytech · 05-24-2007, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by travman23

Don't mind me asking but why did you have the AC on last night? It was like 70 degrees and even cooler than that overnight. Sorry, just had to ask as I haven't even turned my AC on yet this year and it's been warmer than it was last night to tempt me a few times.

well my AC had not worked at all so far this year, and I had someone come out to service it and they found some burnt up wires that they replaced. That got the unit working for a day and a half before it burnt up and completely died. So I wanted to turn it on and use it for a little while while I was relaxing lol sue me

cyclonekj · 05-24-2007, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by DevilDog

We replaced our old gas furnace and a/c unit back in december. We put in a 2 stage heat pump and electric furnace and couldnt be any happier. We now are gas free in the house and dont miss high energy bills. I would highly recommend this as opposed to putting gas furnace and a/c unit back in. We also got a York unit and have college mascot panels on it. So Cy and Herky or on the outside of the house. I know I know my wife is the enemy so we had to put it on.

Have heat pumps become inexpensive enough to be viable in Iowa, where a furnace is also required? Why the move from gas to electric? Gas wins in any comparison I've seen, even with the relative increases in natural gas prices.