Anyone Get New Heater/AC recently

[Racerx2oo3]

I'm looking to replace the heater in my house and add A/C at the same time. Anyone recently do the same? I'm looking for info on prices and how happy/unhappy you are with the brand you installed. Also if anyone used a nationwide installer (home depot, sears, etc.), I'd be interested in hearing if you were satisfied.

The house is ~1300 sq ft, with 7 rooms that need heat/ac vents. I'm probably going to replace the existing overhead ductwork as well.

Thanks

Sean

 

[SIFU1A]

i'm gonna have to replace the outside compressor on my house before too long and have had a couple of guys look at it, both to replace just the compressor and the whole shebang, 2K or so for the compressor, about 5K for evrything IIRC, my house is 2700sq ft though.

 

[yooperman]

Just had a Lennox installed. Works great, highly recommended. I priced around quite a bit, got four different bids. There was $1200.00 difference between the high and low bid. I Ended up going with the second lowest bid, it was a small family owned company that has been around for 40 years. I have found the large volume companies are usually the highest priced.

-Mark

 

[gbaker]

I'm looking to replace the heater in my house and add A/C at the same time. Anyone recently do the same? I'm looking for info on prices and how happy/unhappy you are with the brand you installed. Also if anyone used a nationwide installer (home depot, sears, etc.), I'd be interested in hearing if you were satisfied.

The house is ~1300 sq ft, with 7 rooms that need heat/ac vents. I'm probably going to replace the existing overhead ductwork as well.

Thanks

Sean

Why do you want to replace the ductwork? Is it metal or fiberboard. Are you increasing the capacity of the unit?

 

[Racerx2oo3]

Why do you want to replace the ductwork? Is it metal or fiberboard. Are you increasing the capacity of the unit?

From everything I've heard, it seems like it is recommended to replace the ducting when replacing the heater. The exisisting duckwork is flexible ducting.

Sean

 

[Gollnick]

Look at a continuous-flow water heater instead of a tank. Aside from the joy of endless hot water, it just makes no sense to keep fifty gallons of water hot 24/7. The new tankless heaters are really very well-developed.

 

[Racerx2oo3]

Look at a continuous-flow water heater instead of a tank. Aside from the joy of endless hot water, it just makes no sense to keep fifty gallons of water hot 24/7. The new tankless heaters are really very well-developed.

I've heard Tankless water heaters are very nice, however, I was asking about a furnace rather than a water heater.

Sean

 

[Bufford]

I had a Kerr high efficiency oil furnace using a beckett burner installed in 2001. This unit is a backup for the wood furnace. The overall combustion operation of the unit is very good, and uses very little oil compared to oil furnaces of 10 years ago.

But....... I keep burning out the primary control for the burner. Luckily I have a 10 year all inclusive warranty. I know all the repair men by first name as they keep coming out to replace the control. The last one worked for 5 months or about a quarter tank of oil. They replaced the unit several times. I recently added a surge suppressor to the fuse pannel for the whole house, but I just had another primary control burn out yesterday.

They are looking into it, but I am going to make the folks tear the whole unit appart and find out what is causing this. Failing that I will have it replaced with high effieciency propane.

 

[gbaker]

From everything I've heard, it seems like it is recommended to replace the ducting when replacing the heater. The exisisting duckwork is flexible ducting.

Sean

Ok you have a smaller house so you can use flex duct w/o problems. Do look at the following workmanship items since the most skilled guy probably won't be doing the duct install.

1) Connections: check for leaks at diffusers esp. but at the AC unit as well. I'd check 30 days after the work as well.

2) Make sure the duct connection to the diffuser is crimped which would reduce airflow.

Can't help much on brand. They change to fast. Check on the warranty. Does it cover the whole unit or just the compressor. Does it cover freon replacement in case of a leak.

I would avoid the spline fin condensing coil type units Trane made. Not sure if they're still using them or not.

Do you have airflow problems to your knowledge? Does it seem hot or cool in some areas vs others in the house?