Opinion wanted: Home heating/cooling
 

My house was built in the late 60s. I remodeled it about 10 years ago. The original compressor and furnace/AC have worked loyally till now. However there's a refrigerant leak that has drained the entire Freon supply. I met with the tech today and he is of the opinion that I shouldn't put more money into the old system. I'm keeping this house for another 2 years. 3 max. What's the most economical way to approach this problem? Do you guys know of a good brand that does not cost an arm and a leg?

I know that you can get tax credits for green units. If you're having problems now and the system is almost 50 years old, any informed homebuyer will be aware of the issue and factor the cost of a new system into their decision. You might as well bite the bullet or that system could potentially nickel and dime you even more than a complete replacement would.

Sorry, I'm not sure I know what you mean by this.

I am definitely leaning toward replacing the system. But I don't want to go very expensive. That's why I wanna know if you guys know of any good, not too expensive brand or any good deals out there.

By green unit, he means environmentally friendly.

Most power companies will also cut you a rebate check if you purchase an approved "energy saver".

My dad does residential heating and cooling, but his stuff isn't necessarily inexpensive, he deals with high quality stuff...

Have you considered getting the freon recharged? Sometimes it's more economical in the short term to recharge the freon every year or two. The determining factor is the speed of the leak. I have a slow leak that needs recharged every 2-3 years, but if you have a fast leak, that won't work.

If you're going to buy a new one, and are sure you'll be moving soon, I'd go cheap. It's not like AC brand is a determing factor for most homebuyers.

One thing that should be considered is the efficiency of the new one over the old one. If you're going to a 60% efficient, to an 80% efficient, you'll see a nice savings on your power bill. That alone will offset some cost. I wouldn't go to the extent of 90% or high efficiency though, you'll be spending money that you'll never recoup.

Go with a dual fuel system. Heat pump and furnace combo. The furnace only kicks on when the temperature gets below 40 degrees. Since your duct work is already in place you should be able to put a furnace and heat pump in place for about $10,000. New codes went into effect on Jan 1. Make sure the installer is furnishing a 14 seer system minimum. Anything less and he is dumping onhand stock on you. Which would be fine if you are not pulling a permit, and he is giving you a good deal.

Did you even read the thread starter?

Yes I did. And that is the most economical solution. He could put a f*ing bandaid on the hole if it isn't a compressor leak. But that would be moronic.

10k is the most economical solution?

I'm pretty sure you can get a lot of AC units installed for well under 10K.

Did you read my post? It is a dual fuel system. It is a heat pump and furnace. Two systems operating as one. It qualifies for tax breaks and increases the value of the home. Also reduces energy consuption.

Does he need a furnace too? I got the impression that he just needed an AC unit.

I just don't think it's the best fit for someone who's looking for cheap, to get by for a few years before he moves. In fact, your suggestion seems like the exact opposite of what he's after.

Just get a high quality fan. It's almost the same.

You could always run the fan in front of an open freezer door to get the air a little cooler.

I get the impression it was you who did not read the starter. It says compressor, furnace, a/c unit. $10,000 is not alot of money considering the investment in a home. He could go cheaper. Buy a window a/c unit for $300. The next home buyer will consider that in his purchase price however. Also, my numbers are based on North Carolina COL. It may be cheaper where he lives.

Window units are the ultimate zone cooling solution.

A freon leak has what to do with a furnace? Sounds to me like he needs a new AC unit.


A home built in the 60s probably didn't come with AC. So what they likely did was add an AC unit that uses the furnace to move the air. Now it's possible that that furnace was not designed in a manner that effectively runs an AC unit, but it's clearly got them by so far. So if the freon is leaking, it's an AC problem that has no bearing on the furnace. Replace that unit with one of a similar size so as not to exacerbate the air flow problems of the under-powered furnace. you're probably talking about an AC unit that's under 4k installed.

As for the investment factor, you're not going to recoup upgraded HVAC through the sale price of your home. You'll recoup it from energy savings if you live there long enough, but chances are you aren't going to be able to raise the sale price of your home to offset the cost of putting in a heat pump. People just don't care enough to pay extra for a good HVAC unit. Especially in a 50 year old home that more than likely has poor insulation and inefficient windows. It's not like he's selling an Energy Star home.