Should I replace furnace and AC together?

[cyfanbr]

Seen some good house threads in here lately, so figured I’d start another one to check CF’s pulse on my situation.

We moved into a new house in January. Furnace and AC are from 1995, so 30 years old. Couple of weeks ago AC stopped keeping up due to a leak on the condenser. Technician was able to weld on the coil, but did his best to “patch” it up with foam spray. If the leak is small then it may be fine for years, but I have a feeling the issue will be back later this summer or next year at the latest. Anyhow, I have them coming back late this afternoon to look at my system and give me a quote. Options may be.

1) Replace coils on the unit.

2) replace the AC entirely (pretty sure the current unit is also undersized for the house).

3) replace furnace and AC due to their age and if you are going to do one May make sense to just do both so that one unit is not new and the older is 30 years old.

Thoughts?

 

[NWICY]

Seen some good house threads in here lately, so figured I’d start another one to check CF’s pulse on my situation.

We moved into a new house in January. Furnace and AC are from 1995, so 30 years old. Couple of weeks ago AC stopped keeping up due to a leak on the condenser. Technician was able to weld on the coil, but did his best to “patch” it up with foam spray. If the leak is small then it may be fine for years, but I have a feeling the issue will be back later this summer or next year at the latest. Anyhow, I have them coming back late this afternoon to look at my system and give me a quote. Options may be.

1) Replace coils on the unit.

2) replace the AC entirely (pretty sure the current unit is also undersized for the house).

3) replace furnace and AC due to their age and if you are going to do one May make sense to just do both so that one unit is not new and the older is 30 years old.

Thoughts?

CF smartass answer, build new, pay cash, don't worry about it.
Real answer as long as the unit keeps up replace coils and keep rolling.

 

[SCNCY]

I’d try and get quotes for options 2 and 3 and see what’s the best value for you. I would tend to be on option 3 as the units are old and you may find something that’s more efficient than what you have now. So potentially money savings from that.

 

[cydnote]

CF smartass answer, build new, pay cash, don't worry about it.
Real answer as long as the unit keeps up replace coils and keep

contrary to my "don't fix if it ain't broke" attitude about smaller appliances and other issues, my response would be: "Bite the bullet".
Advances in technology and efficiency in HVAC are significant in the past 30 years. Replacement costs most likely won't be cheaper in the future. Replacement parts may not be available on older units of this age.
There won't be a lot of satisfaction in telling anyone the unit lasted 32 years instead of 30, and you can schedule the replacement at your convenience rather than scrambling for a fix on a 100 degree day or a 20 below night.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Here in Omaha they offer some good rebates if you replace both in the spring. I had both replaced in March of 2020 and got $2k off.

I was in almost the same situation, I could have spent about $1,400 to replace the leaky A-coil on a 22 year old system or just bite the bullet and get it all replaced.

 

[cydnote]

Ha Ha!
posted simultaneously and two votes for "bite the bullet"

 

[cyfanbr]

I’m leaning towards bite the bullet and get it done on my own terms as well. Better to do it as a planned job than as an emergency as some of you have said. Reasons I’m leaning that way.

Units are 30 years old. Newer units are much more efficient. Not sure it makes sense to have a new AC only with a 30+ year old furnace attached to it. Pretty sure current AC is only a 2 ton unit (I’ll check a bit later). House is 2700 sqft, so assume the unit should be more like a 4 ton unit.

 

[Agclone91]

At 30 years of age I would just do both. Chances are you'll get a better deal and could end up replacing the furnace next year anyway. Only thing I can guarantee is you will NOT get another 30 years out of the new units

 

[JM4CY]

I’ve said it a billion times: ask around for someone you trust, find a guy who works for one of the big dog companies but moonlights, pay him cash and do both. You likely will save 10k if not more. This is the way.

 

[cyfanbr]

I’ve said it a billion times: ask around for someone you trust, find a guy who works for one of the big dog companies but moonlights, pay him cash and do both. You likely will save 10k if not more. This is the way.

I work professionally with the company that is looking at it. Didn’t ask for any favors, but pretty confident they will try to give me as good of a deal as they can. I’ll get a couple other quotes just for piece of mind of course.

 

[Agclone91]

I’ve said it a billion times: ask around for someone you trust, find a guy who works for one of the big dog companies but moonlights, pay him cash and do both. You likely will save 10k if not more. This is the way.

Unless you're actually close friends with the the person moonlighting, these relationships seem to be getting harder and harder to find. I think those folks are getting paid well enough these days that they're less willing to risk losing their job for the side income. Additionally, the folks that actually do have a guy are less willing to give up names.

 

[CYdTracked]

Probably not that time of the year where companies are offering a 2 for 1 deal where if you buy a new AC or furnace you get the other for free. If the units are 30 years old you got a really good run out of them and I would just bite the bullet and replace both and make sure the systems you replace them with are sized appropriately for your home.

I didn't replace my HVAC units at the same time but I was in a different situation as the previous home owner seriously neglected maintenance so had to replace a 10 year old furnace when we moved in that an inspection discovered some bad heat exchanger seals then 5 years later the AC eventually got to the point where if we didn't address it the coils were just going to drain all over the new furnace we had put in and start to damage it too.

 

[flycy]

Unless you live somewhere the heat never runs, I would definitely do 3. About 8 years ago I replaced the AC only when the evaporator developed a leak and replacing just that was near the cost of a new unit due to the cost of older freon. It was also a heat pump, so the heater had very few miles on it. I also dumped the heat pump as it never was a savings. I think Iowa is too cold for an open air heat pump. I figured being used all year was a portion of the reason it failed in just 12 years. Knowing the quality of HVAC in the last few decades with all the China parts, it was probably just par for the course.

 

[qwerty]

Yes. We are doing that exact thing also (and our's are also 30 years old). New furnace and AC for $11,000. I was going to pay cash, but decided to write a check instead.