re: HVAC Replacement cost

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Northshore

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Give Eagle AC a call.

You really haven’t provided enough information on your quote - did they quote a single stage unit, two stage unit, multi-stage system - big difference in price depending on the equipment. Does the quote include replacement of ducts or retaining the existing ductwork?

Understand this, if the existing duct work is sized for a 4-ton unit, upsizing the equipment to a 5-ton unit without upsizing the duct work will still only provide 4-tons of cooling capacity.

If one peruses professional HVAC forums experienced HVAC techs almost universally state the most common issue they see with individuals having home comfort issues associated with cooling is over-sized equipment (tonnage) with under-sized ducts, and rarely is the equipment (tonnage) under-sized. Duct work sizing and installation is every bit as important, likely more so, than equipment tonnage in dealing with home comfort issues. An older home - your comfort issues in summer could easily be associated with insulation, or lack thereof, a leaky house envelope, etc. and not an undersized compressor & evaporator coil.

If you are having home comfort issues, before shelling out $20K for a new HVAC, you’d better off to pay several hundred $ to have a comprehensive home energy audit conducted which includes a manual J, manual D, and manual S to determine proper sizing of equipment & ducts, supply & return, for your individual house.

FWIW, I replaced my single stage 4-ton unit HVAC system 3 years ago (Baton Rouge) - no change in existing ductwork other than adding 1 additional air return - with a 4-ton single stage Trane - cost was $13.5K. I got 4 quotes from reputable small and medium size companies, and all 4 quotes were within $1K of each other. Prices of HVAC equipment with the new federally mandated refrigerants have significantly increased in the past several years.

I really trust Eagle too but that quote seems high, half the stuff itemized is included in most installs.
Like I said, I would get multiple quotes and when talking to the different installers, ask them about variable speed vs. single speed units for your application. Also ask them how long it would take to recoup the cost difference between the variable speed vs. single speed. Some installers recommend smaller ducts for the variable speed unit, find out of that is necessary for your home. I'd give Berner A/C a call just for another quote.

BTW, the 10 year warranty is usually on parts only and you still have to pay for labor.

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American Standard and Trane are among the highest reliability units (3rd and 5th best) and the highest owner recommendations in the Consumer Reports subscriber surveys. I've had Tranes for the last 30 years.

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Just my opinion as an owner of two piece of shite Tranes but I’ll never own another one. I’ve replaced multiple coils on both units and Trane is one of the shittiest companies I’ve ever had to deal with especially after they voided the warranty for a failure to register and I had to pay out of pocket for a coil on a 4 year old unit.

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I've purchased two in the last 35 years. Never had an issue with anything but the occasional capacitor.

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I can’t keep coils alive in them. Ever since their coil class action they’ve all been trash. 2 houses, 2 units by different installers, brought out other techs to make sure it isn’t an install problem and they just keep failing. I’ve spent at least one night sweating my balls off every summer because of an a/c failure since we put our first Trane unit in.

You should get that done for 10-12K...

The big box AC companies in the area are way over charging....find an independent small honest guy....that is who I use.

Last 5 ton outside unit replaced, 4500$ all in....2 years ago.

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When did you put that one in?

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2018 in the current house and 2020 in the rental. 2 coil failures in the house and 1 in the rental.

We were in the same boat. Upgraded with 2 units and duct work for a much more favorable price.

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Eagle is who the quote is from

Here is more info included in the quote:

5 Ton 19 SEER Heil Air Conditioning and Gas Heat System (Variable Speed Compressor)
-Install a new pan and stands.
-Install a float switch in the drain line.
-Install a float switch in the drain pan.
-Install a new plenum and properly seal it to the coil.
-Install new collars dampers and properly seal it to the plenum.
-Seal the return plenum to the furnace.
-Properly connect the vent pipe for the furnace.
-Install a new Ion WiFi thermostat.
-Install a new electrical whip for the outside condenser.
-Properly connect the the drain and gas lines.
-Install new condenser pad.
-Properly connect the high and low voltage wiring.
-Pressurize the system with nitrogen to check for leaks.
-Properly charge the system with freon.
-Test heating and cooling.
-This system comes with a 10 year warranty on the parts, coil, and compressor when registered and a 10 year NO HASSLE replacement warranty if there is a leak in the coil or if the compressor fails.

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I got the 17 SEER two stage unit from them, which my numbers were based off. Your quote is obviously in line with what they quoted me last year for the same product, but the guy they sent out didn't think the extra cost for the variable speed unit was worth it for my house. They are a great company to do business with and stand behind their work.

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5 Ton 19 SEER Heil Air Conditioning and Gas Heat System (Variable Speed Compressor)

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You’ve been quoted a top of the line variable speed unit. When I was making my decision on a single stage, two-stage and multi-stage (variable speed compressor) the variable speed units were $4 to 5 K higher than single stage systems, which account for 80% +, of residential HVACs in the USA - that alone would account for a good bit of the high cost.

What about the labor warranty - I see that is not mentioned in the additional information you provided. A standard HVAC labor warranty is 1 year, possibly 2. They might be including a 10-year extended labor warranty in the quote you received which would typically add $2-3K to the cost.

Variable Speed Compressor HVACs can provide superior comfort when installed properly and duct work must be “perfect” to gain full benefit from those systems, and they are more complex units, more electronics, expensive parts, ……more things to break and go wrong compared to either single stage or two stage systems. For that reason spare parts are not usually carried on the service trucks and often are not in stock at the HVAC supply houses & have to be special ordered - difference in having your HVAC fixed that day vs having a wait a week or 2 for the repair in the heat of the summer. So, just another thing for you consider when getting quotes & making a decision - ask these questions of any HVAC contractor you are getting quotes from.

In my case If I were building a new house, new duct work, etc. I would go with a variable speed, variable capacity HVAC system as you were quoted, but for a change out in an older home, retaining existing duct work, as I did, I chose to stay with the simpler single stage system, using the cost saving to improve attic insulation, air envelope sealing, etc.