What do I need to know to replace central air conditioner

15 years ago

I bought a house that was built in the 60's. I replaced the 20 yo furnace a couple of months ago. During that experience I realized just how many out and out thieves there are in the heating/cooling business (for instance one guy charging me almost $200 for what I later found out was a $30 thermostat among many other shenanigans) and I have a bunch of regrets as to decisions made, and I don't want that to happen when I replace the central air. At this moment I don't know much about the system I have other than it is so ancient nobody has ever seen one like it. Even the brand name is pretty illegible although I'm going to give it another try with better lighting. I know the person who owned the house was very cheap so I'm sure he it is very old but he probably was too cheap to turn it on much which is probably to only reason it turns on at all. It does turn on but it doesn't cool very well and so it is embarassing to be in the living room with company and have to run a mobile air conditioner in addition to the central to bring the temp down to tolerable levels.

So if you were me what would you want to know to make an educated decision as I am in for another string of people giving me estimates and scare tactics and out and out lying to me and I'll need whatever knowledge I can to defend myself. BTW with the furnace I went with an 80 something % efficiant model from SEARS with variable speed blower mostly because the SEARS guy (a) frightened me that the 90 something percent efficiant furnaces his competitors were hawking, which he doesn't sell, were potentially dangerous (something I now don't believe) and (b) he claimed that for $300 per every 5 years they cover EVERYTHING that could go wrong with a furnace FOREVER. Having suffered through clown after clown yanking my chain when I had NO heat because the old furnace DIED and it was 20 degrees, the idea that no matter what, I'd have a working furnace, won me over, and at least he wasn't the guy who sold me the thermostat at almost ten times it's real price. So any guidance would be appreciated.

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Comments (5)

kalining
15 years ago
You might want to take a H.V.A.C. course and spend 4 years
in school. You might want to stop calling us Thieves. Looks
like you got the best part of the five persent that makes us all look bad. Do you honestly think you will get a $30.00 thermostat diagnosed,delivered,wired and installed
for $30.00 ? $200.00 is a little high. My price would be
closer to $85.00. I do hope you find someone who is in the
good 95 persent range and helps you. Just my opinion but
you sound like someone that is hard to deal with. I could be wrong and my deapest apologies if i am. Just one man's
thought. My guidance to you would be get a lot of estimates
and shop around but give yourself plenty of time before you
have to do anything. Good luck.
udarrell_2007
15 years ago
Air conditioning installations should always be left to the true professionals.

There are a ton of things that have to be done right, & done only the right way.

Take kalining's advice!
My Internet pages are primarily for the professional techs.
The actual detailed proper procedures are not on my pages.

Only use the info to select a contractor & tech.
- udarrell

Here is a link that might be useful: Correct Sizing of Residential Air Conditioning Systems
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garyg
15 years ago
You should replace the a/c condenser and coil yourself so you'll be sure you wont be ripped off.
mdknight3000
Original Author
15 years ago
To be clear I did NOT say that they INSTALLLED the $30 thermostat for $200. I said they sold me a $30 thermostat for $200! The INSTALLATION and the SERVICE CALL were TOTALLY different charges so the whole thing was about $600 (and it conked out 3 days later so changing the thermostat didn't fix the problem,and so much for thier "diagnosis") so I DO think that the people I dealt with were thieves. I find it interesting that you would jump to such an erroneous conclusion as to me being difficult being the problem. That was REAL helpful.

What I had hoped for was somewhere to start educating myself about what to look for in a good central air conditioner and what factors make one better than another, and if there ARE any REAL hazards about one kind of system over another (although I find that unlikely in refridgeration but I don't know which is why I'm asking). Otherwise the NEXT few people I deal with may try to convince me that System X will explode,and that is why Sytem Y which THEY install is better. Thanks
rbanks
15 years ago
Why would you think a 90-plus furnace was dangerous?

Why would you think that an AC system could 'explode'?

What is your level of technical expertise? Can you change the timing belt in a car engine, or replace a clutch? Why did you find it necessary to call for help to replace a thermostat, which is a pretty simple job? Do you know how to use a multimeter? Do you know how much pressure the high side of your freon system has?

When you say 'I replaced the 20 yo furnace a couple of months ago.', do you mean that you personally replaced it, or you paid someone else to replace it because that job was too difficult or complicated for you?

Do you want to replace your AC yourself, or are you looking for free advice to keep from getting ripped off?

Here is a link that might be useful: PDF HVAC 101-The Basics of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

What do I need to know to replace central air conditioner

Comments (5)

kalining

udarrell_2007

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mdknight3000
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What do I need to know to replace central air conditioner

Comments (5)

kalining

udarrell_2007

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garyg

mdknight3000Original Author

rbanks

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mdknight3000
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