Central air conditioning $$$???

[kubmech]

Here's the scenario..........
2000 square foot house
Ranch built on a slab
Heat ducts built into the floor
Contractor recommends complete seperate system (condensor, air handler [installed in attic] 10 drops run with insulated flex duct, electric run to an existing panel with relatively easy access. (I understand and agree with this part)

The system will be a 2 1/2 ton 14 seer unit.

Attic is open and the job looks pretty straight forward. I have been to sights on the net to price components individually.

Contractor is Sears (Kenmore), I asked for a breakdown of individual component prices but so far his line is they don't give the breakdown that way it's priced for the total job.

Total quoted price is $9100 minus 600 for current "campaign" which brings me to $8500. I think this sounds pretty steep, I have'nt had other estimates yet but will.

If anyone could provide more insight I would appreciate it /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[JJT]

kubmech,

How many quotes have you received? Something this size you should shoot for at least 3. In my last house I had 2 quotes from Sears and there was a 20% variance, tried the local HVAC guy and he couldn't compete with Sears.

On the current house we added a 5 ton unit at build time for less than $2500. That was at cost and was 8 years ago.

$9K seems extremely high. Where do you live?

JJT

 

[Egon]

Kubmech:

I can't help with the cost range but could suggest a few more qotes from properly registered insured contractors.

You did not get a break down as then you would have information you need to purchase equipment, find installers and piecemeal out the work to more than one contractor.

Egon

 

[tc35dforme]

Location, location, location.....where are you ???

If you are in the New York metro area, I'd say you have a deal....

Seriously, more than one quote is required....a 14 SEER unit is pretty high efficiency and is a bit pricey. If your in a marginal area ( short cooling season ), perhaps a 12 SEER will pay-off in cost savings up front.

High efficiency is only highly efficient when its running !! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

In New England, we can often budget $ 3000 / ton for residential and be safe. That's without electrical, which could run $ 500 - $ 700. The prices do run wild though....a one man show will be a lot less than a SEARS affiliated contracting firm, but the installation may suffer. Just be sure you limit the length of the flex. duct. We try to keep lengths below 7' to limit the pressure resistance to airflow. The new fans just can't push very well. We hate to see 25' lengths of flex all over the attic. That's often a problem.

 

[Chuck52]

I'd echo the comments on the flex duct. My SIL does sheet metal work for HVAC and recently replaced most of the flex duct in the attic of the house they just bought. Very much improved air flow. Perhaps if he didn't make his own the difference in cost would be big?

Chuck

 

[BillyP]

I replaced my 2 heat pumps last year. One was 2 1/2 and the other was a 1 1/2 ton. Both are 12 SEER. I already had the duct work so all they had to do was replace the inside and outside units. Total price was $4,000.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

I just had the HVAC systems in one of my clients homes seiously revamped. This is a new home, comming on 3 years old and due to te incompatance of the original contractor, we had to have all 3 heating and A/C systems reworked. The homeowner invested approx $15,000 into this revamping.
Two of the Largest problems were not enough air return capacity and WAY to much flex duct used. During this revamping the contractor removed 1 piece of flex duct that almost 30' extra in length then it needed to be.
I learned alot about the do's and don'ts and shoulds and shouldn't of HVAC systems.
So from what I have learned, be very careful of how much flex duct is used. Make sure that rigid duct is used as much as possible and keep yoour flex ducts as short as possible.
Also prvide plenty of cold air return back t the system.
Thats my 2 cents worth.

 

[kubmech]

Thanks for the input guys, I'm in central New Jersey. I've been running a window unit in the kitchen for years, it always kept the house pretty cool. What do you think about the lower priced option of running an A coil in the exsisting furnace and using the ducts in the floor? I know it's not the ideal way to do it but that qoute is 4000 bucks less. I will get more estimates, I just didn't expect that kind of price /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I almost feel like I'm installing Mercedes seats in a Yugo. Thanks again for the help............

 

[JDgreen227]

That quote seems very steep to me, we had the best Lennox gas furnace (75,000 BTU) their premium two ton air conditioner with a 13 SEER rating, a Pureair cleaner, a humidifier, brand new metal duct work for a 1500 square foot addition with additional registers for the entire basement, and several installations of venting for waterheater, gas dryer, gas piping for new range, dryer, furnace, water heater.

Completely installed, permits and all, for $11,700 minus a $1000 rebate. Our contractor did not break down the cost.
Listen to what others say about using flex duct for air distribution, it's a poor method, fast and cheap maybe, but not good. Restricts the airflow, and is hard to clean if that ever needs to be done.

Get some more estimates, I think the one you got is too high.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Have you looked a split duct system. I have had several installed in clients homes for reasonable money.
The systems are available with upto several wall units all operating off of 1 compressor of large enough capacity.
The last quote I received for a 2 wall unit / 1 compressor $2800 / $3200 as I recall