Ac price check help

Replaced a 4 ton unit a couple of months ago

New unit is a Carrier 4 ton 16 seer. Completely installed and fixing some ductwork it came to 13k.

Prices are a good bit higher than last year.

How old is the air handler and furnace? I’d replace the whole system for the additional $2.5 K - you are only going to get 16 SEER efficiency if the entire system components are a ARHI matched system and that includes condensing unit, coil, air handler/blower/furnace. You can’t go by the SEER rating on the condenser alone.

$9.5 K is not a bad price for a Trane 16 SEER complete system - I was quoted about $10,500 for that same system 3 years ago this month, and prices have increased significantly since then. But as stated multiple quotes is always a good idea assuming you have a working system and have time.

Your current system 5-ton or they trying to up size you? Big unit - how many square feet of conditioned area are you cooling?

Wouldn’t have thought 16 SEERs existed 30 years ago - if so had to be top of the line. If your air handler/furnace is 30 years old I’d replace the whole system. Though gas furnace components last longer than the outdoor condenser and inside evaporator coil, the heat exchanger is only warranted for 20 years so I’d guess you can’t have much life left in it - they can rust out, produce Carbon Monoxide (CO) with potential health safety issues. If they are replacing like size for like size and the old unit worked well for you, you should be good.

Wow 30 years I think this AC paid off!

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Also was mislead years ago apparently on seer and poster above is correct. Looks like model number HS16 is either 10 or 11 seer. Might rethink replacing the whole system now. Going to get another price and confirm what I was quoted last night

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I was pretty sure 16 SEER wasn’t available back then. You can go with a 14 SEER for a cheaper price, but if this is your forever home you’ll likely recover the higher cost + of the 16 SEER after 7-8 years from energy savings. But if you plan to move within 5 years, you might be better off with the 14 SEER as you won’t recapture the higher cost of the 16 SEER for your remaining tenure in the house.

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thats in line with the two quotes i got a month ago on a 5 ton in houston. 2 stage unit was another $4k.

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Who did you go with and do you have any recommendations for companies/techs in Houston? Mine should last through the summer but might bite the bullet and go for it during the winter (when its hopefully their down time and slightly less expensive) because I know I'm on borrowed time.

Seems like an ok price, especially since you mentioned you have no cooling and young kids. I paid $7,100 for a 4 ton unit with a new gas furnace and air handler last October. So a more efficient and slightly larger one I'd go with it.

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Thanks for the responses. Going with whole new system. Right at $9,000 all in. Includes a temporary condenser they are putting in now W quntil they can get to the full install Trane 5 ton 16 seer gas heat

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Sounds like a good choice - good they can get you up and running without the full install. You mind sharing who/company you are using in BR - I’m replacing my system this winter and I’m compiling names that others are using/recommending.

Tech got temp condenser installed by noon and temp has gone from 81 to 73 already. Maybe I could talk them into just leaving the temp condenser for a small fee!