Air Conditioning Question about SEER Rating

wareagle1977

16 years ago

I'd like the feedback from some knowledgeable people about SEER ratings.

We are looking at replacing our air conditioning unit in our house because our current one needs replacement. I've had this confirmed by two separate companies.

A friend of the family has gotten us a great price on a SEER 12 that is the Cadillac in size, etc...Price would only be about 3400 bucks...I realize they no longer make these and have not since the beginning of 2006..I assume the reason he is offering this to us at such a cheap price is because normally he could not sell to his typical customers and he probably has some still in stock.

Will this hurt our resale if we sell our home in 2-3 years?

We aren't worried about saving 50 bucks a month for the next 2 years or so, more or less to get by..

Added info:

We have a 4000 sq. ft home that has a dfferent air unit for upstairs (it is a SEER 10).

I sincerely appreciate any feedback.

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Comments (5)

garyg
16 years ago
"A friend of the family has gotten us a great price on a SEER 12 that is the Cadillac in size, etc"

- What size is the current unit that your are replacing? What size is the "Cadillac" unit? Are you replacing the inside coil as well (they must be matched properly)? What is the warranty in parts and labor for the Cadillac? Who makes the "Caddy"?

"Will this hurt our resale if we sell our home in 2-3 years?"

- No. A newer unit, regardless of SEER, should help in re-sale (Unless it is a hack job that doesn't cool properly).
daddo
16 years ago
I agree.
Also- you shouldn't oversize your system just because it's a good deal. Install the correct size. A bigger tonnage system isn't always a good deal and can cause big problems.
Have it installed correctly too. When you sell, and the home inspector comes around, you sure don't need to spend hundreds more making sure the install is up to codes.
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Did you sign all the paperwork yet? You could try playing a little hardball and ask for a better price...Do you know what the actual upcharge would be? Maybe it's not as bad as you think. If you can find out maybe the guys here could advise if it's worth it if they knew the $$. I was told by an hvac service guy that the builder buys all of the same units for a development so it ends up that some are properly sized and the small homes get oversized and the big ones get undersized. Actually, they may buy all the biggest size. His point was they buy one model to get the cheapest price. Could be true, and could be what's hurting you, because yours wouldn't get a quantity discount. Our builder did offer a high eff furnace.In 1996 it cost us $800 to get a 91% furnace instead of the 78-80% that was standard. We replaced it at 17 years old. I think it was worth it...$50/year. I'm sure it saved us more than that! Good luck in your new home.
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I think that he/she means a minisplit unit not a split system..that is my take on it! with a mini split the condensing unit goes outiside just like with a split system. the ahu (air handling unit) hangs on an exterior wall..where as with the ahu of a split system goes in a heating closet, basement or attic. the mini split unit will have not only a drain or condensate that will need to be set up to drain water outside but also the refrigerant lines attach to both ahu and condensing unit. I've never seen one mounted other than horizontally, and never on any but an exterior wall. Others may have different experiences, these are just mine. best of luck.
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I looked at Richmond, VA & agree with garyg. Like Gary, I put more emphasis on the EER. I have similar viewpoints with garyg. Do what you can to reduce the heat-gain/heat-loss and then size everything right, equipment & ductwork. Get the correct air flow through the evaporator coil & correct amount to each room with a balanced Return Air System. A room T-stat with a setpoint an adjustable differential will improve SEER performance during the milder weather. - udarrell Here is a link that might be useful: Optimal EER & SEER Efficiency
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Quote #1 does not include increasing the size of the ductwork which needs to be done because you are replacing a 2 ton with a 3 or 4 ton (depending on the quote) and a 1.5 ton with a 3 or 3.5 ton. Quote #2 also includes zoning equipment/controls. There is a VERY large discrepancy in size of existing units vs. proposed units(both quotes) Did any of these contractors do a heat loss calculation? You should ask to see a manual J, which will determine the proper size system for the home. I understand the size needs to be increased due to the additions to the home, but what is the proper size? I would not sign any contract without a heat loss calculation first. That is the basics. Post back and we can continue this. Or email me @ woody22478@yahoo.com. I can forward you info and links to help explain better.
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don21
16 years ago
$3400 isn't a terribly great price for an average tonnage unit, especially an older, outdated unit . . . . especially not from a 'friend'

I bought a precharged 3.5 ton matching Goodman cased coil and Copeland scroll condenser, 14 SEER, complete with a 50' lineset and all the fittings including freight to my home for less than $2K - For an equal price, I would rather have that than any 12 SEER combination, no matter the brand

Don
bob_brown
16 years ago
There is NO Cadillac in HVAC. Several companies would like you to believe they make superior equipment, but with every manufacturer, the equipment is basically the same, using the same components made by the same suppliers. They may have an OEM number to make substitution difficult, but this is the extent of marketing. KISS always. A furnace is only 1/2 of the system, Cooling is equally as important as heating. Heavy advertising means less quality in manufacturing. It does not equate to quality. Quality costs money, and when advertising is higher, the quality drops. This is the American business model.
udarrell_2007
16 years ago
Bob's comments pretty-well tell the story. I am retired, but will tell you that Goodman is good equipment these days & the lower initial cost shortens the payback period, I like their 14-SEER units with a Copeland Scroll compressor & TXV metering device combnation.

The TXV & Scroll combo should improve the longevity of service providing the ductwork & install was done properly.
udarrell _ 2007

Here is a link that might be useful: udarrell.com

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Comments (5)

garyg

daddo

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