Any advice on a home A/C unit?

[camaross]

I have a townhouse with 1800 sq ft. The basement is an additional 900 sq ft. My current A/C is still running OK, but it is kind of noisy. It is the same age as my house, i.e., 17 years old.

Is it time for a new unit? I definitely don't want it to break down on the hottest day. Plus, I heard that the new units can save money on the energy bill, so that it will pay for itself over the long run?

What's a good brand that offers quality and competitive pricing? A "Craftsman" brand will be good enough for me, I don't want to pay for a "Snap-On" price (my tools are mostly Snap-On though).

Many thanks!

 

[smokey0810]

I’d call out a reputable HVAC company to look at it. You’re probably going to have to replace the furnace along with the A/C unit.
We’ve got a carrier unit running our main ac and it works great.


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[camaross]

Thanks! Glad to know Carrier works great for you.

Is this something I can DIY with basic hand tools?

I’d call out a reputable HVAC company to look at it. You’re probably going to have to replace the furnace along with the A/C unit.
We’ve got a carrier unit running our main ac and it works great.


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[99LeCouch]

Poke around Alpine Home Air's site. They go into more detail on how to DIY.

 

[sixty4]

I have a townhouse with 1800 sq ft. The basement is an additional 900 sq ft. My current A/C is still running OK, but it is kind of noisy. It is the same age as my house, i.e., 17 years old.

Is it time for a new unit? I definitely don't want it to break down on the hottest day. Plus, I heard that the new units can save money on the energy bill, so that it will pay for itself over the long run?

What's a good brand that offers quality and competitive pricing? A "Craftsman" brand will be good enough for me, I don't want to pay for a "Snap-On" price (my tools are mostly Snap-On though).

Many thanks!

Middle of the road Ruud would be my choice. After 17 years based on your time you plan to stay and the seer rating you would be ahead. Bad time to call around though looking for estimates going into the heat of summer.

 

[Oggy]

If you plan to go DIY, I would first look into what an HVAC guy will do after you've done what you can do. ie will they charge the system if they didn't install? Will they evacuate the refrigerant if they're not replacing the equipment? Not every contractor will finish a DIY install, as there remains a level of liability.

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[Mr. Roboto]

Goodman is the "Craftsman" of AC units I'd say. I put one in 2 years ago to replace a 25 year old rheem that was still running, but looked like this on the inside. I've been happy with the proce/performance of it so far, but time will tell. It does come with a 10 year warranty, though.

 

[camaross]

Sounds like this is not something I want to DIY.

If you plan to go DIY, I would first look into what an HVAC guy will do after you've done what you can do. ie will they charge the system if they didn't install? Will they evacuate the refrigerant if they're not replacing the equipment? Not every contractor will finish a DIY install, as there remains a level of liability.

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[smokey0810]

HVAC work can be pretty involved, so it’s more than just removing the outside unit and reconnecting it. Also, the condition of your furnace will matter also, and compatibility of said units. If it’s not something u need ASAP, I’d wait til fall when the HVAC guys slow down and take it from there. There are some environmental issues to deal with in regards to Freon, and home safety issues with regards to setting up your furnace properly, especially with carbon monoxide. And as someone stated, many places won’t warranty or work on a DIY install, cause the company will say it was not properly installed.


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[camaross]

Many thanks for the advice!

Looks like it will be a good idea to hire a pro to do the work. I'll see if I can get a good quote then. Otherwise, I'll wait until fall.

HVAC work can be pretty involved, so it’s more than just removing the outside unit and reconnecting it. Also, the condition of your furnace will matter also, and compatibility of said units. If it’s not something u need ASAP, I’d wait til fall when the HVAC guys slow down and take it from there. There are some environmental issues to deal with in regards to Freon, and home safety issues with regards to setting up your furnace properly, especially with carbon monoxide. And as someone stated, many places won’t warranty or work on a DIY install, cause the company will say it was not properly installed.


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[SGKent]

depends where the noise is coming from. Could be a loose fan blade or bad fan bearing. Could be a worn out compressor. We recently had the compressor on our 15 year old carrier unit replaced and it is quiet again like it was when new. The first system lasted 25 years. This one is at 10 so I figure there is 10 years left. My neighbor has had 3 systems in the same time, and none works as well as mine have. The cost to replace the compressor was about 1/8th the cost of a new system had we gone that route instead.

 

[99LeCouch]

The compressor fan on our A/C sounded like a plane engine. It kicked the bucket one very hot day. The replacement motor was much quieter, where the compressor was louder.

 

[Showkey]

A companion thread:

Replace Home AC Unit Proactively or Wait for it to Die?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=425107

 

[hobie1dog]

28 years as a commercial hvac/refrigeration mechanic. You do not have the necessary tools or knowledge to DIY.

Buy a Trane if you can afford it, next choice is a Lennox, last choice a Goodman which still works great but of lesser quality. Get several estimates.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

28 years as a commercial hvac/refrigeration mechanic. You do not have the necessary tools or knowledge to DIY.

Buy a Trane if you can afford it, next choice is a Lennox, last choice a Goodman which still works great but of lesser quality. Get several estimates.

X2 on the above. Over 30 years in the industry. Don't get anything with microchannel condenser coils. They frequently leak and aren't worth the extra 2 or 3 SEER. It will take years to pay off the difference in initial cost, too.

Tommy

 

[camaross]

Many thanks for the advice!

Will it be cheaper if I order the A/C and heater myself and then hire a pro to do so? Or it is better to get everything as a package from someone?

What's the approximate labor rate for installing a pair of A/C and natural gas furnace?

28 years as a commercial hvac/refrigeration mechanic. You do not have the necessary tools or knowledge to DIY.

Buy a Trane if you can afford it, next choice is a Lennox, last choice a Goodman which still works great but of lesser quality. Get several estimates.

 

[engineer2]

I have a fair amount of industrial refrigeration experience from the "old days" and have most of the tools (but no recovery machine or license). This is a job I would leave to the pro's, especially the sheetmetal magicians. The trouble-free longevity of your HVAC system depends greatly on how well it was installed. The guys who do HVAC for a living probably know things we would never think of.

There is a decent website that tells it like it is. If i can find it, I'll post a link.