HVAC Replacement Cost question

what brand?

I replaced a 2.5 ton and a 4 ton last year for ~10k each for Carrier.
I could have talked them down but I didn't try as they could be there the next day.

Same company gave me a quote for the 3 one a few weeks ago (also a 4ton Carrier 16) for 7500.

what size is your current system? When it was 110F and high humidity, was it running non stop during late afternoons/early evenings or was it cycling on/off?

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I believe it’s a 3 ton 10 seer now. It does cycle on and off but I set the temp a little higher (like 75) throughout the day while we’re home so that it doesn’t run non stop. To answer your question, it probably would run non stop if it was just set a couple degrees cooler. We turn it down around 68-69 at night and it cycles then too

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75F is supposed to be the design temperature when user preferences are not known. So you aren't out of the norm with regards to that.

Sounds like your existing system is definitely more than adequate in capacity if not a bit oversized. You won't want to go any larger. If any HVAC company tries to sell you something larger, immediately dismiss them.

It is actually good for the system to run nonstop when outdoor temps are above design temps. When it is 105F, a system should be running non stop. You'll get better efficiency and better dehumidification. Starting/stopping puts more wear and tear on a system than running. Eliminating starts/stops extends equipment life.

If you want to figure out exactly how big of a system you need for your usage, take some measurements next summer when it hits peak summer temps (I'm guessing 105F+ for you). Measure how long the system runs in minutes and how long it is off in between cycles. This will give you your duty cycle/capacity usage.

For example, if during the late afternoon it is running 25 minutes, then off for 5 minutes, take 25 and divide by 25+5 (so 25/30). This would equate to 83% usage. 83% of 3 tons would be 2.5 tons. That would mean you could actually save some money and step down to a 2.5 ton system.

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My HVAC system is about 17 years old. Runs fine but I just started getting quotes on replacing it when that time comes. House is ~1450sq ft, your basic 3 bed 2 bath etc. I have a reputable company in BR service it twice a year and asked them for a quote

3 ton, 14 seer unit- $7,800
3 ton, 16 seer unit- $10,200
Duct work is fine considering it’s age but they wanted another $3,000 to do that as well
Otherwise, this would be for the whole system. Seems high but it’s only my first quote and I’ve never done this before. Is that too much to pay for that?

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does your butt hurt? because they are raping you

thats way more then the actual cost it should be.

a decent name brand system like lennox or trane is going to cost $1500 per ton or in your case $4500 - $5000 and all new ductwork costs $400 so add labor and you should be paying no more then $1000 to replace all the ductwork.

you might like the service from that company but dont use them for a replacement system unless you like over paying

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I believe it’s a 3 ton 10 seer now.

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If you're going from a 10 seer to a 14 or 16 seer, you need to make sure your HVAC guys look into increasing the diameter size of your copper. If you keep your copper the same size, you really won't gain the full benefit of the efficiencies that newer units provide.

disclaimer: I ran into this problem upgrading from a 2.5 ton to a 3 ton, and also 4 ton to a 5 ton. It seems my builder went the cheapest route possible on the copper on the initial install. My house is only 14 years old, so you may or may not run into this issue.

Also, you may want to check out Goodman. They are made in Houston now, and are offering the best warranty in the business. Here is a site that provides wholesale pricing to the public -- may give you an idea how good your quotes really are: ACWholesalers

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Sorry forgot to mention, it’s Ruud

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Just installed a Ruud 2.5 ton unit, seer 16. Electric heating. Air handler and condenser unit was a round $2800. Duct work was around $500. I installed everything and had a friend hook you the condenser.

I was quoted around $7800 by two different people for the job.

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Here’s what I recommend, take a morning or afternoon off of work. Call 4-6 AC guys about a week prior and tell them you are trying to have quotes given to you on X day and set them all to come 30-60 mins apart. It takes about 15 mins to quote at most. They mostly want to get a visual and make sure you aren’t under or over sized and see if there’s anything else that sticks out.

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That's what i did. My system was 18 years old and finally dying.
I got 6 quotes to completely replace a 5 ton and 4 ton unit and the duct work and adding two new intakes.

I got those 6 b/c the first quote i got was $18k and I thought it was ridiculous.
Of the next 5 quotes i got, the cheapest was $18k for 14 Seer, $22k for 16 Seer, and i ended up paying around $26k for 17 Seer variable speed units b/c they had 7 year financing at 0.9%.

The other reason to get 4-5 quotes is because it weeds out the bullshite. One guy probably says something that another disagrees with, well you’ll get enough opinions to generally figure out the truth or what is best.