Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Replacing AC - Advice?

Replacing our home AC. Current condenser unit is a 5-ton York, 15 years old... can't remember the SEER rating, it's no more than 13. What things do I need to be aware of when I get it replaced? I know I need to get several estimates. I don't know much about HVAC, and it's nerve-racking to have to spend so much money on this so I want to make sure I do it right.

  1. Should I replace just the outdoor condenser unit and try to make it compatible with the indoor unit? Compressor is bad, but the evaporator coil was recently changed. Or change everything?

  2. Should I replace the furnace also? Also 15 years old. How much extra does this usually cost? Furnace seems to be working fine, but what do I know, right. I've read that AC and the furnace work hand in hand so it might be good to get both replaced.

  3. Is duct work very important if I'm replacing the AC? Right now I feel like the air is weak in some vents, stronger in others. Is that due to the duct work?

  4. What are some zoning options I should consider? I live in a 2-story home plus an unfinished basement that will one day be finished. Indoor unit is in the basement. Everyone sleeps upstairs.

  5. What questions should I be asking the HVAC company? This is very important to me b/c it gives me peace of mind knowing that I was very thorough in finding a good HVAC company and I know what and why they are doing this and that.

Those are just some of the questions I have. Not even sure if I'm asking the right questions to begin with, so hopefully you all can help!

FYI... House is in the Baltimore area. Hoping I won't have to pay more than 8k, but I'm sure it can go beyond that depending on the additional options.

submitted by /u/Makeleleroll
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