Air conditioning cost

[travelplanner70]

I need fast help. My relative found out that the central air conditioning unit in a house he is supposed to buy is not functioning properly. The unit is 22 yrs. old. My relative would like to get a credit from the current owner for a new central air-conditioning unit. Does anyone have an idea of what a new air conditioning unit would cost? The house is 2300 sq. ft., if that helps.

Thanks for your immediate responses.

 

[Wonka]

Why not just have it installed & tested before closing?

 

[Hophop4]

We replaced our A/C last year and it cost $4500. This was for a 5 Ton A/C and a new coil. Our house is 2-story with 2000 sq.ft. We are in Texas so prices may vary in different areas.

 

[Rose Pink]

I wouldn't imagine 22 year old unit would be worth much. It certainly would not be as efficient as a new one. The one we had that long ago cost around $200 a month in electricity. Hate to think what it would cost to run at today's energy costs.

 

[bmann]

A/C Unit

Just replaced my a/c unit for a 3100 sf house. It was a 3 and half ton unit installed for $2600. House has 1600 sf above ground. Hope this helps.

 

[Don]

We had our entire system replaced, new copper lines and everything. Our old one was a 10 seer, 2.5 ton unit. The new one is a 14.5 seer. Included in the deal was a duct cleaning, a surge (lightening) suppressor, and a medical grade UV light. They had to replace the old main ducts with larger ones because the new air handler pushed a larger volume of air. Our cost was $6400 and we save around 100 KW per month.

 

[Passepartout]

It may be a blessing in disguise to have a non-working 22-year-old AC. A new one will be so much more efficient that it will pay for itself in energy savings in just a few years. Whatever concession your relative can negotiate with the current owner is pure bonus.

But to answer the original question, a local HVAC dealer should be able to provide an estimate quickly if asked. This would at least give a number to negotiate from. The amount could be all over the map depending on what has to be replaced. If it's just a coil, not so much. If it needs compressor, lines, ductwork.... that's why you call a pro.

Wasn't this (non-working a/c) discovered at home inspection? If not I might be inclined to have a word with the inspector.

Jim Ricks

 

[travelplanner70]

Thanks so much for the information. It is a great help.

 

[3kids4me]

Can those of you who have had a new unit put in, tell us what type you chose? Our a/c is on its way out, and we've been quoted the cost of a Rheem. I understand that this is a mid-tier brand (Carrier being a higher tier) and am wondering what most folks are putting in.

 

[Hophop4]

Ours is a 5-Ton Rudd. We saw a big difference in electric bill after we installed it from the old unit which kept running and running and was not working right.

I was wondering the same about the inspection. If it failed inspection shouldn't the seller replace it or adjust the selling price to compensate for it. Also if you replace an A/C you will get a energy tax rebate on you income taxes.

 

[Phill12]

I need fast help. My relative found out that the central air conditioning unit in a house he is supposed to buy is not functioning properly. The unit is 22 yrs. old. My relative would like to get a credit from the current owner for a new central air-conditioning unit. Does anyone have an idea of what a new air conditioning unit would cost? The house is 2300 sq. ft., if that helps.

Thanks for your immediate responses.

I would have your relative tell owners you want new air system or money off to replace it.

We just replaced ours last year and it was aprox 14 years old and came with the house in 1993.

We are talking air/heat unit and total cost was $6500 in California. Our home is two story,four bedroom 2350 sq.ft so it took good size unit.

The company told us we had a good unit but anything after 12 years and your asking for problems on these old units.

All the homes on our block were built in 1993 and six of our neighbors had to replace their's within the same six months.


Our bill went down during the summer from around $600 to $450 a month just because of this upgrade.


I wouldn't even think of buying a house that old unless the owners can show new air/heat and water heater which we also had to replace.


PHIL

 

[Don]

Can those of you who have had a new unit put in, tell us what type you chose? Our a/c is on its way out, and we've been quoted the cost of a Rheem. I understand that this is a mid-tier brand (Carrier being a higher tier) and am wondering what most folks are putting in.

Mine is a Trane xl 14i and the regular price was about $8000 but our price was after manufacturer and power company rebates. i would also definately go with a specialist for the brand you choose, one that has been in business a long time.
Our old unit had developed a freon leak and the compressor was damaged. We chose a newer company that was in good standing with the BBB. They also offered a lot of extras. A year later they were out of business. It seems the owner decided not to pay his suppliers nor pay fines of $220 each for not getting 2 permits and penalties of $250/day for each violation. That has been since March.
Now we find out that our extended ten year parts and labor warranty was with the company not not with Trane like we thought. Even without the extension, we were supposed to get two years, but the catcher is that it must be through the installing company. Now we have to get the and pay extra for the ten year warranty, if we want it.
I now deal with a company which is a Trane Comfort Specialist and has been since 1987. On the bright side, it is a good AC.

 

[riverdees05]

Is he under contract yet, or just getting ready to make an offer?

 

[travelplanner70]

He already made the offer. This problem came to light when the home inspector went through.

 

[Passepartout]

He already made the offer. This problem came to light when the home inspector went through.

After an inspection, there is customarily a 'punch list' of faults found that can be negotiated from. Fixing the a/c or an amount for or toward replacement can be part of the negotiation.

On inspection, we found a 1000 gal oil tank under part of the house- it couldn't be removed. We negotiated the previous owner filling it with concrete. Anything can be negotiated- especially in this (buyer's) market.

Jim Ricks

 

[ctreelmom]

When we bought our very first house (read: before I knew what questions to ask) agreed to a credit at closing to cover a repair. I mistakenly thought that meant we'd get a check back at closing to cover the item, which of course we didn't and to me anyway, it's like not getting the money at all, as it just reduced the sale price or amount to be mortgaged by a little bit, relatively, and you don't really "see" that money or have it in hand to pay for said repair. Since then, in subsequent deals, I've insisted that either the seller make the repair to my satisfaction prior to closing, or money be held in escrow to cover it. That of course, assumes your family member has the cash to lay out for the new A/C.

 

[Teresa]

Prices can be all over the place

We're rehabbing a HUD house in the Cleveland, OH area and are replacing both furnace and a/c with high efficiency units.

One quote was $15,000. The second quote was $5,985. Different brands ($15K was Goodman system, 6K quote was a Concord system). Waiting to get a third quote. Hubby looked up prices on Goodman when that $15K quote came in and the equipment was about $3800. Hmmmm. Concord systems are a bit less (but not that much less!). That's a lot for labor!

Get several quotes (or have the seller get several if they agree to pay for it).

Regarding the 'legalities' of dropping the whole thing or making the seller fix it - it all depends on what's in the contract. If the contract says seller will fix if anything is faulty then that's what should happen. If contract says that seller has the option to fix or drop the contract then that's what happens. If there is nothing in there saying that the a/c is actually working (or must be working), then buyer generally gets to pay (that's what happened with our first house).

 

[Phill12]

He already made the offer. This problem came to light when the home inspector went through.

This is the reason for having the inspection!

They found the problems and now its up to the owner to replace or drop price to replace it.

A house this old and you will be replacing air/heat and water heater and kitchen Refer, dish washer and ovens if they are more than four years old.

I wouldn't want the drop in price unless you have the cash to buy these things of which your talking more than $10,000 in most cases.

Many buyers just don't have the extra funds just sitting around to do this.

If owner not willing then I would not buy this house.


Our house had inspection and found section of the roof needed replacing (curved concret roof) and owner told our realtor to tell us to stick it where the sun doesn't shine if we thought he was paying for this!

We walked from the deal and one week later the realtor called and said all work had been done.

Because this jerk was so nasty we got another $5000 off price to come back!