Darn it!!!!

[Deleted]

Apparently the compressor on my air conditioner is toast. The furnace is almost 20 yrs old so I might as well do them both at once. Can you rent those things? What kind of expense am I looking at here?

[mmhmm]

What kind of system is it? Is it a combined system or two separate units?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I think it depends on the size and type of air conditioner one has.... you should probably call around for estimates.

(Hopefully your weather isn't TOO hot at the moment!)

[Deleted]

Jul 22, 2014 21:28:56 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

Average cost that I've seen is around $10k... We had to replace our compressor 3 years ago and it was $2k... I'd do the compressor now and wait until you have to replace the rest of it.

Eeeek! Ya, I'm going to check that!

mmhmm it's 2 separate units I believe.

❤ mollymouser ❤ I'm doing the calls tomorrow.

[Deleted]

It somewhat depends on what you replace it with.  Also, it depends on the size of your house and COL.

Our a/c went out. It and the furnace were 19 years old. We tried to repair the a/c (put in refrigerant, etc.), and it lasted a month.

We spent about $6000.  Originally, it was a little less, but they didn't replace the pump or whatever t is.  We discovered that it was leaking all over the basement floor.  They only charged us half-price and no labor to replace the pump since they probably should have included replacement in the original bid.

[mmhmm]

I've got central, so both heating and cooling come from the same unit. I spent a little over 8K earlier this year replacing the unit. To be fair, it was top of the line Carrier and I also had the thermostat replaced with a Nest. I'd think having to replace two separate units might go even higher than that.

[marvholly]

Did an new furnace fall 20`2 & the a/c summer 2013. Upgraded to a 2 stage unit & ha to replace the themostat too.

Total was about 5500 but I do get the friends & family deal from DD2's BFF's hubby.

[zibazinski]

Call around and try to find a scratch and dent. I bought two of those kind and since they're surrounded by bushes and outside, did I care? Also, find a local high schools vo tech program. The guy who teaches it replaced both of mine along with his students and it cost so much less. I had them do the air handler while they were at it and they only charged me the price of the air handler and climbing into a hot attic area wasnt fun.

[Deleted]

Thanks guys. So far I have one quote of $5400 all in with a 10 year warranty from a friend of BF. My assistant just replaced hers with a local company for $5000, but right now she is renting for $100/month. I'm calling them this morning.

[snapdragon]

So what is the verdict?  

[Deleted]

Okay, I can get both systems installed for $7000 all in. And they will fix my intake and exhaust pipes and a couple of other fix ups. That's less than $10,000. I'm going to keep telling myself that. They will install it tomorrow.

ETA - It's not the deal I could have gotten if I had a better EF. Mea culpa

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Wow .... yes, it is less than $10,000 ... but I was hoping for a little less for you. Oh well, what can you do?

[Deleted]

So was I molly. I'm trying to decide what to do right now. I can get 6 months no payments then pay $175/month for 10 years or pay it off whenever I want. I'm not going to have $7000 by January. But I can pay $1000/month at that point and save myself over $10,000 over the 10 years. The financing is a ridiculous rate.

Or...I can live without AC for the rest of the summer, save up the money and pay outright next spring. I will probably save $1000 if I have cash on hand.

But I want it now!!!! I have a few hours to make the absolutely final decision.

[Blonde Granny]

I'd opt for the 6 months no payment then start the $175/mo. As long as you can pay it off when you want, I don't see a reason not to use their money for awhile.  That leaves you a cushion to be able to save more money in the months ahead, and enjoy the benefit of lower utility bills for a more efficient unit.

[Deleted]

@missmargarita and Blonde Granny, that was my thinking yesterday. Today I'm thinking if I wait until spring I will have cash in hand and be able to pay $5400 to the boyfriend's friend that will basically give it to me at cost and install for free. The $2000 I save will be a big part of what I need to upgrade my bathroom. As I just said to someone else, I think my "I want it now" might be losing out to my "I want it all" this time.  

It helps that the nights are cool and opening the window is enough to cool things down. The girls rooms are in the basement so they are fine.

[mmhmm]

If you think you can make it through the rest of the summer without really needing the AC, I think I'd wait until I could pay cash, later. That's how I prefer to do things, but it doesn't work for everybody.

[Blonde Granny]

Is your furnace going to get you through the winter? Just something to think about.

[Peace Of Mind]

Jul 25, 2014 10:51:18 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

Is your furnace going to get you through the winter? Just something to think about.

 and will costs remain the same or go up where she is back to square one?  That always happens to me so I've learned to just bite the bullet and get it over with. 

[Deleted]

So I sent my sales guy an email to cancel the order saying that I would wait until spring when I would have cash in hand and get a better price. Suddenly the "sales manager" is calling me to ask if the sales guy had told me about all the deals available right now because when he reviewed my contract it didn't seem so. I could actually get the same deal with a 5 yr warranty instead of 10 yr for $1000 and lower interest on the financing. It's amazing how that happens. I do my best (unintentional) negotiating when I'm really ready to walk away.

[Blonde Granny]

Keep going after them, make them an offer that YOU want. They can match it or not.

[Blonde Granny]

Just tell them: look, I've gotten 2 bids. The other company is giving me a better price but I have to wait till next spring. If you can match the price and the payment options, I'll sign with your company right now.

[TheOtherMe]

But do make sure you will have heat this winter.  You are in Canada, so probably not as hot as down here.  But probably colder, so be sure the furnace with get you though the winter.

[Deleted]

They are installing the new unit as I type. I got a high efficiency unit so after the rebate it will only cost me $400 more than the unit one down. They claim I will save that in hydro the first year. We'll see. I got them to leave in my old thermostat. It is higher quality than the one that came with the unit. At some point that was obviously replaced. At the end of the day I did decide to go forward because of the age of the furnace and not wanting to risk dealing with this in the middle of winter.

[Blonde Granny]

I think that was a very wise decision Later. You'll enjoy the knowledge that it's all new and a nice warranty too.

[ZaireinHD]

Jul 22, 2014 20:57:04 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

 almost 20 yrs old so I might as well do them both at once.     

Yea do them Both!!
at the same time!!

[Deleted]

LOL Somehow I don't think we mean the same thing ZaireinHD

[TheOtherMe]

Happy for you that a/c and furnace are installed and it didn't end up costing you a small fortune.