Funny post! My HVAC is leaking condensation. It's old and is probably on it's last legs but is unfortunately not my top financial priority so I've been catching all the drips that would drop on my neighbors below in my high rise. It's been a great source of water for my plants! I did the same research and found it was no different from rain water unless your HVAC unit wasn't clean. Then you probably wouldn't want to drink it but it would be filtered when watered on a plant. Mine probably isn't all that clean given the age of the HVAC. I'm actually really surprised that others haven't tapped into this water source. When I say others, I mean those not on this forum. It's given me WAY more water than I need for my reasonable container garden. Seems to me it's better than a rain barrel especially in the Mid West this year.

OK, folks, I met with the owner of Fort Collins Heating & Air this morning. He seems to live up to his reputation of being a stand-up guy. I told him that I was going to talk with him this morning, then with a competitor this afternoon, then get back to both of them tomorrow morning with a decision. So I would massively appreciate your thoughts on which course of action to take. I told the FCHA owner that if I decide to keep my existing system, this is what I would want them to do: Have their best team replace the humidifier and go over the system from top to bottom. Replace the thermostat, too, if they can't make the low-battery symbol go away, given that I just replaced the batteries last week. Extend the first-year tear-it-out warranty to March 30, 2019. No charge for repair calls from now to March 30, 2019. Free furnace inspections in Sept. 2018 and Feb. 2019. If I want the system torn out with a full refund at any time between now and March 30, 2019, FCHA tears out the system, no questions asked. The FCHA owner said he's pretty sure he could agree to all of those conditions. I then met with a sales guy from another HVAC company that also has a solid reputation. Here's his proposal: 96% up to 97% 2-stage heating, variable speed motor. 16 SEER A/C system. 1-stage cooling. : Installation to include: Finish the mastic sealing in the mechanical room per code. All necessary PVC venting needed. All 220v, 110v, and 24v electrical needed. Condensing unit outside. Evaporative coil inside. TXV (thermal expansion valve). Refrigerant lines from inside out. All installed. Task HCS-PH60. Premier Amana Two-Stage variable speed gas furnace. 96% AFUE. Stainless steel tubular primary heat exchanger. Efficient and quiet variable speed circulator motor. 10 year parts and labor warranty. Limited lifetime “unit replacement” warranty on heat exchanger. *Annual maintenance required. Price: $6,682 Task D-F750 $750 off high efficiency furnace Task HCS-DC30. Deluxe Amana high-efficiency air conditioner. Up to 16 SEER. High-efficiency scroll compressor. Single-speed condenser fan motor. Limited lifetime “unit replacement” warranty on compressor. 10 year parts and labor warranty. Lifetime limited “unit replacement” warranty on heat exchanger. *Annual maintenance required. Price: $6,024 Task D-AC750. $750 off high-efficiency A/C Task HO3. Bypass evaporative humidification. Can be installed on supply or return. Works only while heat is cycling. Not recommended for home over 2500 SF (My home is about 3,800 SF, including partially finished basement). Price: $895 Task D-HSHUM. Free humidifier with purchase of high efficiency furnace or AC system. Task ACO4. (Air cleaner, I assume). Honeywell 4” disposable air filter. Merv 8 filter rating. Uses no electricity, but requires replacement media quarterly. Price: $895, but free with purchase of high efficiency furnace or A/C system. 5 year parts and labor warranty. Task TS-EC4. (thermostat/humidistat, I assume). Comes with built-in Alexa Voice Service, so you can ask your ecobee to set a timer, read you the news, etc. 5 year parts and labor warranty. Price $0.00 Task ACO7. Return air box (square – 14, 17, 21, 24) includes easy 1” filter access. Improves air flow efficiency by up to 25%. Price: $0.00 Task SD-100. Senior discount. $300. Cash or Check discount. $100. If I have it installed 3/8/18 (may not be feasible): $350 discount. Total: $10,566 All of this partly depends on the current supplier leaving all water supply lines and electrical. Otherwise, it may cost me about $500 more, according to the sales guy. Given your HVAC knowledge, what would you do if you were in my position?

The biggest problem with HVAC zone systems is knowing when to choose it as a solution and when not to. Some HVAC companies it's about "sell, sell, sell" whether or not it works... there's more money in "sell, sell, sell" --- when it's only about money? So does the comment above mean I do it for free? No. If you think that you are reading things that aren't there. New construction? best to choose separate systems 9 times out of 10. In order for a zone system to work, you have to know what you are doing. Most HVAC companies staff (the techs they send you) are 20-30 year olds. How much practical experience could they possible have? It's best for HVAC zone systems to be an elegant solution. A HVAC zone system is a tool in the tool bag. Not all homes are suitable for zone systems. Some homes there is no other way, and in some cases complications to those problems will make an HVAC zone system design possibly more prone to problems. You have a problem now, do you want more problems. These decisions among others are decided "in person" --- so considering that becareful what information you decide upon from the internet. Just because it's here doesn't necessarily mean it's true. That said: Depending on equipment level chosen, how many different floors you have in your structure, how much room you have available... will all be factors that make you decide one way or another. From there it's in your best interest to pick a contractor that is skilled: especially when it comes to HVAC zone systems. (there's a lot of garbage out there.) (click to enlarge if necessary) I service the Katy, Texas area.

I use 12-15 years for AC and 20-25 years for furnace as standard expected lifetimes for planning purposes. They can last longer (or not as long). If you have temperature extremes it's good not to wait until the unit completely fails - because that's generally in a heat wave or -20 when everyone is having HVAC problems. That said, most things on a furnace can be easily replaced except the heat exchanger - and that should be inspected each year. Many things on an AC unit can be easily replaced until you get into rotted coils or a damaged compressor. Water heaters generally last 10-15 years here with the hard water. I don't try to see how many extra years I can get out of a water heater because I'd rather it not open up. Water heaters are not unlike brakes or tires on your car... you don't wait until they fail to replace them because the problems that can cause. If you have the money to replace the units and they are at the end of their expected life span, do it and avoid the hassle of an unplanned breakdown. I agree with Mike Home - if you have a PRV or a check valve on your water main, you are required to have an expansion tank. If you don't, then an expansion tank provides no benefit and will be one more thing to potentially leak.