My air conditioner compressor has done gone and blowed itself up, so I need a new one. My house is about 11 years old.

I'm thinking I want to get a nice modern efficient model that will get me the federal tax credit. I have quotes for these Trane models: XR13, XR15, XL15i. I think the last two both qualify for the tax credit, and either one would just about max it out. The tax credit brings either of them below the price of the XR13.

They're also replacing the furnace blower motor and cleaning out the air conditioning lines (something about when the compressor blows, acid forms in the lines and has to be cleaned out of the cooling coils in the furnace).

My question is -- what are the collective thoughts in here about replacing the furnace as well as long as I'm digging deep? Just looking for perspectives to add to mine and the HVAC rep's. It's not a question of whether I can afford it, more along the lines of would it be prudent.

 

I replaced both mine at the same time, though they were about 20 years old at the time. I did both at the same time due to the way the tax credits work here. roughly 8k for both.

They probably also have to clean the lines because there's a new refrigerant they use in newer units, it's really expensive too. I went to SEER14 so overall I think it was like 800-1k more than a SEER13 unit. I wouldn't upgrade the furnace with the impression your going to see your gas bill drop significantly either, mine went down but it wasn't significant.

 

When my furnace went, I asked the question on whether to replace my AC unit....And basically is was no. It was still functional.

 

Since they are replacing the blower you might as well do the furnace IMO.

There is probably a lot of life left in your furnace though.

 

Thanks guys. I'll be talking to him in person tomorrow night about the various options. I'm leaning toward a really pimp high efficiency furnace, a/c unit, and air cleaner all with a nice touchpad controller that tells me when to change filters, etc.

 

If you go that way, get your ducts cleaned during the install. No point in carrying over old dust into your new pimp ass system.

 

Good idea. There are a couple rooms that need more cool air to them too than they are getting now too; I'll have them balance the ducts while I'm at it.

 

I am going with a full new system -- 16 SEER A/C, 95% furnace, air cleaner, humidifier, and a pimpy controller for it all. Supposed to be installed next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Don't ask how much $$$.

 

Sounds like $$$$ you'll enjoy it though.

 

Get a new furnace, and definitely go with the higher seer A/C unit.

If you keep your old furnace you'll be stuck with fan speed of only high. Newer nicer furnaces can do multiple speed blower control. Also stage the heat/cool appropriately with variable fan speed, lowering your heating/cooling costs and making the house more comfortable.

Also, get a 4" filter (4" thick) installed. Have him install a 4" filter rack. 1" filters suck major donkey balls (in technical terms of course). A 4" filter will last many months of use. 1" filters should be replaced monthly (**REGARDLESS** of what the package says). 4" filters do cost more, but they will save you money because they have less air restriction giving your system much better airflow. This will lower your heating and cooling costs, and keep your blower motor running longer. Oh ya and they filter the air WAY better than a 1". So it's a win/win... 4" filter racks are not very $$, so don't get bent over having it installed.

If you do stick with a 1" filter (please don't) never ever use the **sharp** pleated 3m ones from home depot. They are WAY too restrictive. Use the 3m rounded soft edge pleated 1" filters...

If you want the best thermostat available without going to a computer controlled system have a "Honeywell VisionPro IAQ" installed. There isn't a better stat on the market...

 

nice choice, you won't regret it.

 

It's almost done today -- the guys just need to run the PVC vent and exhaust pipes for the furnace. I went with:

Trane XV95 furnace
Trane XL15i A/C
Trane CleanEffects air cleaner
Trane THUMD500APA00A Humidifier (made by Aprilaire)
Trane XL800 touch-screen thermostat/controller

Before/after pics later today. We had A/C last night for the first time in a week.

 

Awesome man, that electronic air filter is nice!

And the XL800 thermostat *is* a Honeywell, it's a repackaged VisionPro 8000 series. It's not the VisionPro IAQ; but it's still a good stat.

Nice setup.

 

Before & After A/C unit:

The new, more efficient unit is much larger than the old one. Both are 5 ton capacity. You can see the PVC exhaust and intakes for the furnace behind the new unit.



Before & After furnace:

Since the 95% furnace exhausts air at only around 100 degrees, PVC is sufficient to handle the heat and necessary to handle the corrosives in the exhaust. The other PVC pipe is the fresh air intake.

You can see the humidifier attached to the upper right of the furnace, and the air cleaner is in the standard filter position at the lower left side of the furnace.



Before & After thermostat:

I love this thermostat. One of the nice features of the efficient variable speed blower motor is it can be run without heating or cooling to quietly keep the air in the house circulating.



I'm very happy with the upgrade. I'm glad I went with the wholesale replacement; just fixing the compressor would have been about half the expense (after the Federal tax credit that the 95% furnace qualifies for) but I'd still be using 1" filters and have no humidifier.

 

Ok, so how much?

 

Right around $11,500.

 

mama

 

 

man i may have to do this next spring...

 

 

I had a Lennox XP19 Heat Pump, Lennox variable speed fan air handler with heating elements, the 4" Filter rack and that same thermostat put in along with a new water heater for about $12500 but there was about $1500 in rebates and then the additional $1500 tax break for energy efficiency. My electric bill dropped 45% compared to the same month last year with similar weather... pretty damn nice.