danski0224
Well-known member
Interesting. Never would have guessed.
I've not been asked about my HVAC from my insurance agent.
What should I do? 10 SEER A/C refuses to die.
- Thread starter HoosierBuddy
- Start date
I've not been asked about my HVAC from my insurance agent.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It came up with my latest renewal. I have an original roof and one out of three hvac systems is also original (22ish years). Both were noted as problems with getting competitive quotes.
Maybe it's not universal, but considering the cost of hvac systems, a failure could be a claim for many people.
I'd love to be able to exempt stuff like that. I have no desire to insure wear items from the effects of wear. If a tree lands on top of all three of my systems, that probably justifies a claim, but not one just failing from age
Yeah, a catastrophic event warrants a claim but not age. I‘m very hesitant to make any claims after hearing stories about insurance companies dropping clients.
I didn’t ask GJ for opinions on what I should do….
reader2580
Well-known member
The average homeowner doesn't have the tools, skills, and access to refrigerants to do their own A/C repairs or installations. I certainly possess none of the three. The legal (and correct) way to do things requires a recovery unit, vacuum pump, gauges, and other tools that are not cheap. I guess these days you can go with Vevor for a recovery unit I guess for a lot less money.
I don't know that I would ever pay for the tools by doing my own A/C repairs or installation. I am on my second house and neither has ever required a single repair on the HVAC system. First one was twelve years on an R-22 system that was new when I moved in. This house has an R-410A system that is ten years old that was also new when I moved in. (House had electric heat and no A/C so I added duct work, furnace, and central A/C before I moved in.)
I am considering getting an EPA cert just so I can scrap copper without a $250 per year scrap copper license.
reader2580
Well-known member
Why would insurance care how old your HVAC is? I don't know that my homeowner's insurance company has ever asked about age of my HVAC. Roof yes, HVAC no. Homeowner's insurance isn't going to cover HVAC replacement if it fails unless you pay extra for some sort of HVAC coverage. They generally will pay if it is destroyed by weather, tree falling on it, or a power surge/lightning strike.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I am not in insurance, just sharing what I encountered at my latest renewal
fitter30
Well-known member
Energy star tax rebates are here now but don't know when Trump will cancel them.
OP
HoosierBuddy
Well-known member
83% Say ride it until it dies. That's a pretty convincing vote.
And who says we can't get people to agree on ANYTHING anymore?
And who says we can't get people to agree on ANYTHING anymore?
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
So what are you replacing it with?
aggie113
Well-known member
Sorry, no time to read through other replies. This may be the last chance for awhile to get some tax break on a new higher SEER/heat-pump unit if that matters. For me, I plan to replace a 12 year old system on the other side of the house with something newer that can use a heat-pump for main heat and use the available propane for emergency heat. This is as much for energy savings as much as anything else as I'm putting solar up and this HVAC is a big draw on the load right now... load that I can move over to a second mini-split in my garage 
pcmeiners
Well-known member
With the DIY installation of 1 minisplit or AC unit you could easily pay for ALL the tools you need as to installation labor/inflated cost of a supplied unit cost savings by a "professional".
Do you want to see how much a 10 SEER unit mini split cost to run compared to the newest units? I know you referred to an AC unit, but why get an AC unit when a minisplit does more. Furthermore, SEER is an overrated efficiency number, HSPF is the much better number to go by for heating which is the more important for most most of the USA
SEER Energy Savings Calculator for Air Conditioners
Use our free SEER Energy Savings Calculator to instantly see how much energy you save by upgrading to an air conditioner with a higher SEER / SEER2 rating.
www.seerenergysavings.com
Mini Split SEER Savings Calculator (+Operating Cost)
How much can you save with a more efficient mini split ductless heat pump? Will choosing a higher efficiency be worth the extra money? This calculator gives you clear, accurate results about costs and savings. Note for calculator: This calculator is based on EIA Residential Electric Rate...
www.pickhvac.com
ericm
Well-known member
The problem with "run it until it fails" is that it will fail on the first day of a long hot spell. Lots of A/Cs will fail then and the HVAC techs will be busy. You'll have to buy whatever is in stock at whatever price the HVAC company that you can get to come out is selling it at. In the mean time, every day your house is getting hotter and hotter.
You should also have the ducts re-sealed and re-insulated if they're accessible. Duct sealing and insulation is poor now and it was worse 30 years ago. Plus there's 30 years of stuff failing. You probably lose a lot from the ducts.
You should also have the ducts re-sealed and re-insulated if they're accessible. Duct sealing and insulation is poor now and it was worse 30 years ago. Plus there's 30 years of stuff failing. You probably lose a lot from the ducts.
danski0224
Well-known member
Impossible.
red
Well-known member
Tough decision . . .
Real question is the quality of the equipment that your buying?
I believe most trades people would agree that the quality today is NOT what it was just a decade ago. More efficient in terms of energy usage, but for durability that's another issue.(whatever you install will not last for another 30yrs IMHO) And all the "new" freon that is being used now is questionable.
So time is on your side. Allow these new units to prove themselves, personally I try to never buy 1st generation.
Had this same dilemma, 14yrs ago my brother was replacing his Crown gas boiler with a new 90+ efficient boiler. Super cool unit! But well over 10k in parts. Well between last year and this past season, he's spent over $2500 for parts (plumber's cost) He's now in the process of replacing it with a standard gas boiler.
I didn't replace my boiler cause the numbers didn't work out. No way would I recover the cost in savings over a ten year period. So I guess I saved 20k that I didn't have to spent anyway.
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Exactly!
As I said earlier, A/C's are like cars. I have a 20+ year old Astrovan. 170K miles. The past month I've spent $1500 on repairs for old stuff. Someone said it wasn't worth fixing, why sink good money into an old horse? Cause a good used car - say 3 years old - is fetching $25K! And the electronic **** makes it impossible to work on. I'd rather just keep the van going. I like it, it suits my needs - and I can do alot of repairs for 25K!
I keep my wife's 2006 Trailblazer for the same reason, plus she doesn't drive much, maybe 3,000 miles a year. It is a second vehicle so as long as I can keep it running and looking decent we will keep it. I put about $1,500 in the front suspension last year, and just put a new radiator in it the other day. It is a decent looking vehicle yet, no rust, at least where it shows, runs and drives well.
A new, or newer car will be $500 or more a month for car payments and sit in the garage most of the time. We talked about it a bit and my wife and I both figures that if the Trailblazer dies catastrophically, we probably won't replace it and just go down to one vehicle, plus my Goldwing.
Given the wind-down of R-410a and the switchover to A2L refrigerants (R-32 & R-454b) currently taking place, I'm hesitant to make any changes until the dust settles on issues with the new refrigerants.
I still have a 5-ton R-22 system and hope it will last at least a few more years. If I must replace it soon then I'll be looking for a NOS R-410a system and a backup tank of R-410a.
I still have a 5-ton R-22 system and hope it will last at least a few more years. If I must replace it soon then I'll be looking for a NOS R-410a system and a backup tank of R-410a.
Two Door
Well-known member
I could have written this, as all portions of it reflect my current situation, as well as my desire on how insure.
Two Door
Well-known member
I've talked to several homeowners companies in the last two years, and it is almost universal that they ask about the AC, just as they do the roof. I've even had it come up with respect to plumbing and wiring, though not as often.
They could be figuring reduced losses due to depreciation, if you don't want replacement cost, or higher claims if you do.
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