Steve What is your location? Any idea of your nat gas and electric rates? If your furnace is in good working order, you can certainly keep it. I will assume it s sized correctly. The only negative here is its efficiency and the fact that high eff condensers AC and HP can not be utilized because of the conventional blower system on your furnace. Just stick with a good basic 13 SEER AC or HP. It is important that lineset size is the correct size for any new condenser especially if you intend to keep old and flush. This is not a small detail. Also, I would want a complete ductwork evaluation as to size of trunk lines and supply and return ductwork. If you have any hot/cold spots in home, now is the time to address. I realize you are in a breakdown situation. However, don't rush in. Do your homework and get it right. I realize this is a biased statement but I do not recommend purchasing anything from Sears especially HVAC. It is a mistake using third party for HVAC. Go through an independent dealer with a track record. And just for info, Westinghouse is one of the brands of old appliance names in the Nordyne family of HVAC. The name is licensed and has absolutely nothing to do with the product name you are probably familiar. I would like to hear back from you on your location and rates before I made a final recommendation. IMO

Hi, just had a complete system installed yesterday (4-18-2011). I live in N.dallas where cooling means more than heating. cost exactly 7k for everything (negotiated price). here is a list of what was installed for a single story 2000 sqft house. Trane XR13 4 ton AC condenser - 13seer, 14seer with matching system. Trane XR80 5 ton 1 stage with 4 speed blower. New matching evaporator coil with the new R-410A refrigerant. New return and supply plenums, all sheet metal construction with exterior wrapped insulation. New manual air dampers at each supply duct. Added an extra return air duct, grill and filter to double existing volume of return. New drip pan with overflow float switch (cuts off system if drainage gets blocked - keeps the ceiling from getting water damage). New electrical disconnect and wiring (located outside by the condenser). New concrete pad. New programmable thermostat. Did all the work required to rid and clean system of old coolant, hauled away old system and did a relatively good job cleaning up. This new system is so much cooler and has better airflow than the old one and should be more efficient. I really wanted the sheet metal plenums with EXTERIOR insulation and the manual dampers. This should really pay off in the long run for comfort and health. Next time I should just have to replace the AC condenser. Furnace later. All in all I think I got a good deal and I'm pretty sure the work is A+. I paid a little extra for the plenums, dampers and for Trane products. One reason I went with this contractor instead of the others is this contractor continually offered top notch material, construction and products without me having to ask. The others would match the packages and price only after I asked for the better stuff. This really spoke about the quality of work I could expect, and the contractors doing the work matters more than the brand name. But since I could get the best brand name Trane products with top notch quality workmanship, it really was a no brainer. I actually spent just a little more for this company than the slightly cheaper one for the same work.

My compressor also went 1 1/2 weeks ago. I was not too upset at first because I was leaving to go to the Cape. However, I cannot stand the heat since coming back and I finally broke down and had a HVAC guy come out. It is the compressor as we thought. The freeon is full. The label on the outside says it was made in 1989 so I guess at 22 years old it lasted well. We bought this house 2 years ago and it seems everything has recently started to need to be replaced. We will be having our roof done soon. Anyways, my question is also whether I should just replace the compressor or update to a new energy efficient a.c.. The a.c. we have now is a HEIL. My furnace (oil) is a thermo pride and I believe it was replaced in 2007. The house was built in 1984. It is a raised ranch with a up and down in-law that does not run off this furnace (it has its own gas furnace). There is also a lower level apt. that is also seperate with it's own furnace (oil). However, my apt. space and the lower level tenant share the same oil tank. We only have central air. The in-law and lower apt. do not. I think my a.c. unit is a 1 ton. The service man quoted me $800 inclusive to put in a new compressor. He also said he had an old ? 6 years model a.c. (not just the compressor)that he recently took out of someones place when they updated theirs for a more energy efficient one. He said he'd give me a 1 year warranty and it would cost $5oo.oo for this used one. I did not ask for a quote on a new one because we need the money for the new roof He is suppose to be calling me back to let me know for sure the age of the old unit. Any advise would be appreciated. Sue

just like the Lennox, it would depend on what Trane models he would be proposing. Trane is very good as well. Chances are, I will put in a Trane system and not Lennox. They also have some good rebates currently or financing options. 4500 sounds about right for the units and items needed for install. 5-6k would be around what you would be looking for if paying someone. I would talk with him about issues you could have after the install, and how willing he is to help you out. Depends how good of a friend they are. I like to help friends out as well, however know when I want to avoid being responsible for something or taken advantage of. A lot of factors come into play with install quality. you can have the best system they sell, and with a bad install, you could be a very unhappy camper. Maybe approach your first quote and request a break down of the numbers? See how much they are charging for units, time, etc. Any contractor/installer should offer you this without issue. If they are hesitant or do not want to...walk away and do not trust them. Chance are they are trying to pull one on you. Being and architect, I deal with this every day with change orders, etc. I ALWAYS request complete break down of prices.