Heat Pump help... Olympia Washington

[ultrarunner]

I got a call from my property manager in Olympia WA saying my 12 year old Heat Pump compressor went out and $4,100 to repair or I can have a new unit put in for $9,000 less a $1,000 high efficiency rebate.

I've put in a lot of high efficiency central furnaces in California and never spent more than $1,200 for material... also several full HVAC systems with ducting and electrical and never paid more than $3,000 for the best units doing the labor myself.

Unfortunately, I am 800 miles away and have no heat pump experience...

I put in a call to the contractor that supplied the estimate for details as to what exactly is being replaced, brand of replacement, etc... also called a couple of other contractors I found in the phone book last Friday morning... no responses so far.

Are air-sourced heat pumps really this expensive?

Seems like the price quoted is more in line with ground-sourced pumps?

Any thoughts on adaptive recovery thermostats?

 

[mjarrels]

Re: Help... Heat Pump went out in Washington State

No... but your 800 miles away. 800 miles allows for a bit of price gouging!

mark

 

[KTurner]

Re: Help... Heat Pump went out in Washington State

Are heat pumps really this expensive?

Two years ago, we replaced our ~24 year old heat pump with a 19 seer/variable speed air handler and had the ductwork replaced (2300sqft single story w/crawl space). Total bill, just over $14k. Had several different companies come out and give us quotes. If I remember right, this was the middle price and the other two were plus or minus a thousand or two.

Can you believe the old 6seer had a sticker on the side that said high efficiency?

Keith

 

[Ken]

I got a call from my property manager in Olympia WA saying my 12 year old Heat Pump compressor went out and it will by $4,100 to repair or I can have a new unit put in for $9,000 less a $1,000 high efficiency rebate.

I've put in a lot of high efficiency central furnaces in California and never spent more than $1200 for material... also several full HVAC systems with ducting and electrical and never paid more than $3,000 for the best units doing the labor myself.

Unfortunately, I am 800 miles away and have no heat pump experience...

I put in a call to the contractor that supplied the estimate for details as to what exactly is being replaced, brand of replacement, etc... also called a couple of other contractors I found in the phone book last Friday morning... no responses so far.

Are heat pumps really this expensive?

ultrarunner If you have experience in installing a/c or attaching duct work to existing units the Heat pump is the same .
The difference takes place in outdoor unit where switching valves control the direction of Freon
Also your purchasing experience with a/c dealers possible able to get one wholesale .
I used to put in Train units and Freon is in out side unit so install inside it and connect tubing to units and open the shut off valves and enjoy.

Now if in a State where they think no one except the local union can install or it takes some one who has attended special schools and know latest methods maybe let them. but it sure sounds like a high price to get exchanged.

My unit failed 2 years ago and since I'm getting old and long in tooth decided to have new installed almost $4,000 for complete unit 3 ton. material and labor
Check some else for second bid.
ken

 

[CliffordK]

Is this a house or a commercial building?
Typing "heat pump" into Google, and there are numerous ones in the $1000 to $3000 range.
Plus installation, of course.

For a while I had a house 2000 miles away. I got tired of being charged $100 to change a light bulb.

No doubt your tenants won't like being left without power, but it is now 60 degrees in my house in Oregon without heat. Quite acceptable, and much cheaper than firing up the central heating.

 

[ultrarunner]

That's what I'm thinking...

If I can get get away, it is well worth buying a unit here and making the drive to install it.

The price seems about double... unless I am missing something.

Would be nice to actually be able to reach someone rather than just saying OK... take care of it and bill me... which isn't in my nature.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's a single family home outside the city limits so natural gas isn't an option like here in the SF Bay Area.

The unit serves the main floor and walk-out basement floor space.

Upstairs has an all electric heat only furnace

 

[clemsonfor]

try to get a goodman unit and quote, I paid $3000 for my 3ton units and they cary a 10 yr warrenty

 

[Bird]

try to get a goodman unit and quote, I paid $3000 for my 3ton units and they cary a 10 yr warrenty

I don't know when you had that done, but that's sure a good price. Next month will be 3 years since I had my 13 SEER Goodman heat pump installed. Everything was new, inside and out, Freon lines, thermostat, etc. except it uses the old ductwork and of course the electric wiring to the unit. But mine cost about $6,000. And yes, it has a 10 year warranty, although I think that is from the company that installed it instead of Goodman. But several months after it was installed I also went with a maintenance agreement with the company, and yes they told me it really wasn't necessary. But I pay them $12 a month and I've never needed to call for any kind of service, but they call me each Spring and again each Fall to make an appointment to come inspect and check everything.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm taking notes for Monday morning...

The message I left the contractor is I have some questions to help me understand if I'm missing something...

The $9,100 quote is plus tax, less a $1000 energy credit which brings up another question.

I've read the fine prints on energy rebates and often they do not apply to a home that is rented... the home owner must also be the one with the utility account in their name...

To me, 9k is a very significant cost to replace what was state of the art 12 years ago.