Heil 16 Seer & First Company Air Handler

[Sarki]

Any help greatly appreciated.
Need to replace a 14 year old Frigidaire 10 Seer 4 ton central AC system. Surprised at how pricey this system is. Anybody familiar with these components please share thoughts on quality and pricing.
Heating coil quoted as well since existing hydronic baseboard system (Buderus oil fed boiler) just can't provide enough heat during cold northeast winters.
Even without heating coil, $9K surprises me based on equipment quoted.
Thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[yeldogt]

It's a little unclear -- first why can't the baseboard system heat the house ? not enough liner feet? Obviously, the boiler is big enough as they feel it can run the coil?

The air handler is VS -- + it's going to have to work with the boiler -- so that adds costs.

Is the 16 a two speed ? With oil you should be looking at a HP

 

[Sarki]

It's a little unclear -- first why can't the baseboard system heat the house ? not enough liner feet? Obviously, the boiler is big enough as they feel it can run the coil?

The air handler is VS -- + it's going to have to work with the boiler -- so that adds costs.

Is the 16 a two speed ? With oil you should be looking at a HP

Most likely not enough linear feet of baseboard. 16' four panel slider on gable end and lots of glass coupled with 18' cathedral ceiling. No more area for additional baseboard. Considering swapping baseboard for high output baseboard.
Priced out Mitsubishi heat pump but that was even more$$$

 

[Sarki]

Was also quoted a Mitsubishi system as detailed with 3.5 ton air handler and 3.5 ton Hyper Heat heat pump.
Trying to educate myself and make the best decision here so any help is appreciated.
Both systems priced way above what I expected. Was thinking $6-$7.5K but these prices are almost double.
Take a look at the Mitsubishi quote.

 

[eddieK]

Was also quoted a Mitsubishi system as detailed with 3.5 ton air handler and 3.5 ton Hyper Heat heat pump.
Trying to educate myself and make the best decision here so any help is appreciated.
Both systems priced way above what I expected. Was thinking $6-$7.5K but these prices are almost double.
Take a look at the Mitsubishi quote.

Unfortunately, these are today's prices. Just like cars prices are way way outside what they should be, thank your government for their excessive regulations.

14 years is not long enough, is it being replaced because it has always been undersized?

I highly suggest you do not choose a system based upon the final price (cheaper equipment). It's already going to be more than you want to pay. Your system if it is maintained (regular filter changes at least) and is quality, should last you 25 yrs. and be very quiet. First company is NOT a high quality brand.
Personally, I think wifi is silly in a home you live in, too expensive for a feature that is not necessary. In a remote rental, yes, it makes sense.

Rheem, Lennox or Trane. Nortek is the company now selling/managing Frigidaire, not high quality.

 

[Jackfre]

Rinnai EX38C. Direct vent, 2.5" hole through the wall for the vent. Modulates from 13,500-38,000 btu. modulating blower. built in programmable stat. Given that the unit will run all winter, as long as there is a 13,500 btu load against the space you get constant air circulation. Post a picture of the space showing the glass wall and the two adjoining walls.

 

[mrpizza]

Damn, those are some high prices.

 

[Sarki]

Damn, those are some high prices.

Yup, crazy high prices to me as well. Friend in another part of the state just replaced their central AC system with a Raheem 5 ton unit at cost of $8K. Their house about 2-3X bigger than mine. Don't quite understand the pricing to replace mine, no way can spend $11K.

 

[Sarki]

Rinnai EX38C. Direct vent, 2.5" hole through the wall for the vent. Modulates from 13,500-38,000 btu. modulating blower. built in programmable stat. Given that the unit will run all winter, as long as there is a 13,500 btu load against the space you get constant air circulation. Post a picture of the space showing the glass wall and the two adjoining walls.

Snapped couple pictures of gable end wall with 16' slider and other glass. House is 26'x45' with open floor plan and 18' cathedral ceiling.
Only have 35' of hydronic baseboard in the entire living/dining/kitchen area combined. 3 small Bedrooms and small bathroom on separate zone with their own baseboard-no issues as they heat up nicely even in dead of winter.
Above is the reason for the heating coil being quoted with the replacement ac system. The thinking is the heating coil will supplement the lack of enough baseboard in the open area of the home and help with winter heating.
Still $11K is tough to swallow especially when the original Frigidaire central ac install (10 SEER, 4 ton) was $5.5K.

 

[yeldogt]

You are asking for more then just an AC switch out -- you are adding a couple K worth of coil control and plumbing to get that extra heat. That's part of the extra cost.

I guess you don't have natural gas? If oil is correct --- having the HP for the shoulder season is a good idea. I'm assuming now you have an air handler w AC only?

How does the AC currently work? -- do you get enough cooling to that room ... humidity control?

Was the hyper heat going to be without the coil?

Is there no way to add any kind of additional radiator -- IE going with some sort of Runtal?

Not sure why jack is saying to add a tankless -- you have a boiler already. To bad no radiant in the space -- that's the ticket

 

[Sarki]

I agree extra cost for the coil but still seems steep considering coil looks to be adding an additional $1500, why the standard ac portion so expensive.
Correct, no natural gas. Have 275 oil tank in crawl space.
Also correct, current air handler is for ac only. Air handler also located in crawl space.
Current ac system did cool house and remove humidity with little issue prior to refrigerant leak.
The Mitsubishi system quoted on the proposal did not include a coil since it is a heat pump system.....at least that is my understanding from the proposal.
There is a small area wher I could add another 5' or so of baseboard. Was also thinking replace existing baseboard with high output baseboard which would maybe help the enough with the heating aspect and allow me to forget adding a heating coil and just replace with standard central air system.....makes sense?

 

[mrpizza]

Find yourself a dealer with better products and the ability to spell. And not charge 500 for a wifi thermostat. Thats a few hundred too high.

That proposal leaves a lot of room for interpretation. In other words, they will verbally promise all kinds of good stuff then install the bare minimum ****, and you cant do anything because it wasnt in writing.

Your quote needs to be line by line, item by item, with the model numbers and everything. If they cant do that then they are hacks.