We have to replace the home central A/C.
I have never known an HVAC company, upon replacing the A/C, to swear to God that everyone will die in their sleep that very night from carbon monoxide poisoning from the furnace.
Is this a common ploy for them?
On the furnace in my Mother’s house, I indeed saw cracks on the heat exchanger, but the old one in our house was kept clean by my FIL, and I see no cracks or damage.
I’m sure that a new one would use less gas.
The quote tonight is $2,000 for the A/C, $4,500 for both, and we will all die.
HVAC folks are getting squeezed by a confluence of:
Web - now the customer can look up facts about what is needed and not rely on the “expert”.
DIY - My old furnace burned up a couple of relays. Solution" replace the circuit board (or replace the entire unit)/ The list for board was $500. I found it online for $300.
The difference is what the the guy would make on just the part - add his labor.
Competition - How much you can charge is limited by the existence of item 1 & 2 - somebody else is in a tighter position than he and will under-price him.
But yes, I would not be surprised that he would go to scare tactics.
Do you have details on the bids - what does he think is minimum to do the AC?
The AC is a compressor outside, a coil between the furnace and the plenum, and two copper tubes connecting them.
Is he going to replace the coil? Clean it? Replace the compressor?
How old is the furnace?
One hiccup you may be running into:
The refrigerant (“freon”) may have to be replaced - EPA rules
Do you have a carbon monoxide detector in the house? If so, I wouldn’t worry.
We are in the process of building a house, and I decided to do the ductwork and AC install myself (except for the final hookup, which requires tools I don’t want to buy.)
Every other DIY subject in the world has tons of info online, but not HVAC. Those guys apparently are under some sort of oath to never divulge how freaking easy ductwork is to commoners. What sucks is that you can’t trust the pros to do a good job. Our neighbor spent 25 THOUSAND dollars on their air conditioning when the built. It was a guy he’d know for years, and trusted. It doesn’t work for crap because the system is way oversized (doesn’t run long enough to reduce humidity.)
My mom spent $12K a few years ago to get her furnace replaced. They somehow screwed up the venting, allowing water into the attic space and doing a ton of damage to the drywall.
So yeah, I’ll do it myself. At least I know I won’t do anything completely idiotic.
/rant
There is a forum for HVAC pros HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air & Refrigeration Discussion which is quite explicit that they will not help a DIY. In fact, there is only one forum open to the public - you have to convince them that you are a HVAC pro to post (or even see) in the others.
They will also never criticize another’s work.
An owner posted pics of the cheapest, WORST job I would care to see and asked for an evaluation.
This is a plenum made of foam board with flex ducts turning 90 degree turns around roof bracing.
The consensus: “You got an average install”
I’m a retired HVAC tech who worked for large government entity on commercial equipment only. I don’t have a lot of residential experience other than installing my own a/c and furnace, and getting called by family and friends to fix theirs.
That said, I think you need to get a couple more estimates, preferably by reputable experienced contractors. Try to find someone who will do a load calculation so the equipment is sized right.
I can’t speak to what you were told about the furnace immediately killing everyone, but often new coils can’t be married to old furnaces. Efficiency and proper operation are the reasons. And even the inside coil can’t be used with a new outside unit due to changes in refrigerants and oils.
I’m familiar with that forum although I’ve never joined them. I do read it from time to time. They are absolutely against DIY yes, but they are also quick to condemn crap work done by amateurs OR professionals.
There are no EPA rules saying “Freon” has to be replaced. R-22 is not being made anymore and is getting expensive. Getting a new A coil rated for R-22 is getting to be harder and more expensive.
What you can not do is purchase a new unit using R-22. R-22 is one of the regulated “Freon” gases.
DO NOT GO WITH ONLY ONE BID!
LOAD CALCULATINS SHOULD BE PART OF THE BID PROCESS. With out doing a load calculation the contractor is just swagging what size unit to install.
I would go with at least three bids that include load calculations. The bid should be specific and include, size of heater, efficiency of heater, size of AC unit and SEER ratting (efficiency), any changes to duct work, just to name a few major items.
As for the old unit killing you. Did the contractor do a CO test? In the mean time get a CO detector if it goes off after the furnace fires up then shut the heater down or open windows to keep fresh air in the house.
Normally to kill people in one night the heat exchanger would have to be leaking badly. Are you or any member of your family suffering from head aches? If this is new with in this or last year then don’t run the furnace.
They don’t help DYIers because their lively hood depends on doing work not telling others how to do their work. Times are hard enough now without giving away work.
I have another guy bidding Friday. The first offered to put in an A/C that uses R-22, but I want one that uses new refrigerant. He said the pipe and coil must be replaced if I don’t stay with R-22. $2,000 for the A/C, pipe and coil, although I have not seen the written bid yet.
Thanks!