Did I overpay for my HVAC?

last year

Just bought a new HVAC and wondering if I overpaid. Our home is 3400 sq ft two story in AZ where the summers are hot! We have one 4 ton dual zone unit and one 3 ton unit and also replaced furnace. We went with a top of the line variable Tran model and with the highest rated company in our area. After all the discounts, the 4 ton came to $20k and the 3 ton came to $16k. I know they say you get what you pay for and we did get the best system with a top notch company, but I’m having some post purchase distress. Wondering if this is in line or we did get ripped off. Thanks in advance.

Comments (10)

PRO
Austin Air Companie
last year
Rebecca, Prices vary and everything is costly in these times of 2022.

It's not clear as to what exactly you bought. Provide model # of all the equipment and include everything that was installed, including any accessories like zone system controls, dampers, thermostats, duct work etc. as these things will add cost to the system beyond equipment by itself.

Also note there can be differences in cost from one area to another as well. HVAC pricing can be different from one region to another.

I service the Katy, Texas area.
mike_home
last year
Was any duct work replaced? Did any electrical wiring needed to be upgraded? This also adds to the cost. The prices seem on the high side, but without any details it is difficult to give an opinion.
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Service call is more like $90 - $100 where I'm at unless your a major customer (new home builder with numerous homes under construction..then it's $75.00). Any major additional time on the job extra of course. Would expect part to be marked up a significant percentage on a low cost small item to cover the cost of their employee driving company truck to the supplier to get it and overhead of their shop (somebody has to process the bill etc.)...so maybe $75 to $100 for that convenience might be fair. In your case your getting hosed. Since you've used this company since the 90's you might want to go their place of business and ask to speak to someone about your bill...mention your long time loyalty to their company and ask for some consideration. Got a feeling they'll work with you on the bill. If not time to look for another company.
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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.
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pkpk23
last year
Live on East coast and your prices seem within range of costs here based on what I recently paid for 1/2 of my two zone system to be replaced. I also chose top company and top brand and was well aware I paid more for that. I had lower bids but one wasn't comparable in terms of equipment and one had long wait time for job to be done. Bid I accepted was installed two days after contract signed in 90 degree weather with work in attic necessary. You accepted the bid so why second guess the price?
fsq4cw
last year
You probably didn’t over pay considering today’s realities. I would advise purchasing an extended warranty, an annual service/maintmenance contract and continue to dance with the one that installed it. Your loyalty should count for something if you develope issues.

IMPO

SR
Elmer J Fudd
last year
last modified: last year
It's been three years since I replaced a total of 3 systems in two different West Coast high cost areas with two different contractors (who had top reputations). Times have changed since then and of course there has been inflation, but these costs seem high to me.

Both location systems came with a 10 year parts warranty. Both contractors said extended warranties weren't worth getting. Both contractors also said that so long as the systems appeared to be working well and so long as I changed filters regularly that "annual maintenance" wouldn't be needed for the first several years. I had it done a few months ago on two systems at one location and the tech told me everything was running fine, the outside units were clean, and that the visit really hadn't been necessary.

Opinions, experience and advice vary from person to person. These are my experiences and the tidbits I was told.
dadoes
last year
I paid in TX $11,700 for a 5-ton 2-stage Trane XR17 heat pump system in Jan 2022, replacing an existing system (not Trane) so no ductwork or replacement linset involved. Another dealer quoted $3K more for Lennox. I could have easily downsized to 4-ton but the quoting dealers refused to consider it -- "5 tons is what you have so that's what you need and what we must install" -- disregarding my 17 years of experience in the house. Today's high is hovering at 102°F and the Trane is holding the indoor setpoint on low-stage, which is 3.5 tons (it just now cycled off) .... go figure. The setpoint admittedly is 78°F, higher than folks that want lower indoor temps, but that's the basis of my experience and knowing 5-tons is excessive.
Elmer J Fudd
last year
Location matters, dadoes.
PRO
Austin Air Companie
last year
I paid in TX $11,700 for a 5-ton 2-stage Trane XR17 heat pump system in Jan 2022, replacing an existing system (not Trane) so no ductwork or replacement linset involved.

Sounds high for a 2 stage system, Dadoes. During that time frame I could have probably provided a Bosch Inverter for probably pretty close to that. Uniquely it has an option to configure to a 5 ton or 4 ton. So if it was determined later that 4 ton wasn't enough it could be reconfigured to 5 ton.

There was trouble getting these Inverters around that time frame, but I installed one in February 2022 for a customer I had that had been waiting for one to become available.

But now? Prices are up again so now it would be marginally higher. That said the inverter will pay you back, not to mention run circles around a two speed HP.

Compared to the old unit, the new unit you have is probably more efficient so you are likely saving some cheddar any way. It just could have been better.

Just replaced a Trane XR with a dead compressor (Derailed). Manufactured 2015. Had an allied compressor in it. Running it now like a boss... err I mean Bosch!

I will probably do a video on that one. So much fun. I love my job. My You Tube Channel here, subscribe so you don't miss this one.

I service the Katy, Texas area.
dadoes
last year
EJF, I know location matters, that was an intended part of my info for comparison to the OP's location, as were other offered replies.

AAC, you don't service my area and the contractors that do don't offer Bosch. My June electric bill kWh and $$ is noticeably down from June 2021.
PRO
Austin Air Companie
last year
AAC, you don't service my area and the contractors that do don't offer Bosch.

Yeah there are limitations for sure. You should see smaller electric bills with a new 2 speed AC.

What is the percentage difference from your older bills? Does it get any where near 50% less? Just curious.

Did I overpay for my HVAC?

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