We are in the beginning stages of building our place (two furnaces) it was $6K per furnace. The builder suggested we go with a 3rd party (post-build) HVAC company as builders are not competitive on pricing for some reason.
I'd expect $5-7K per furnace from a builder.
That is what I am paying for mine. $12k for 2 - 3 ton units. I chose to use the builder because the furnace and ac will be made by the same company. I looked at the furnaces today and all the ac stuff is built in like it was specifically installed for an ac. My current ac was installed after the fact so they had to cut a whole to to install the evaporator coils and all the piping. Also getting it done as a package I am going to have the correct amount of return air for each unit as most units installed after do not have the correct amount of return air to make the units run optimally.
So it looks like I am going to build a new place, and will probably end up with A/C as well. But I was looking into going with a heat pump instead of A/C....any experience or opinions?
That is what I am paying for mine. $12k for 2 - 3 ton units. I chose to use the builder because the furnace and ac will be made by the same company. I looked at the furnaces today and all the ac stuff is built in like it was specifically installed for an ac. My current ac was installed after the fact so they had to cut a whole to to install the evaporator coils and all the piping. Also getting it done as a package I am going to have the correct amount of return air for each unit as most units installed after do not have the correct amount of return air to make the units run optimally.
I ended up negotiating with the HVAC sub contractor and hiring them as a '3rd party' and they are putting it in and I am paying them. Ended up at $5k instead of $7K per.
So I save $4k and get the benefits of 'builder installed'. A good way to go, if you can get the leeway. Depends on your relationship with the builder.
As I mentioned earlier, I got super cheap AC in our current house for this summer, and it's been a godsend.
Last edited by BigNumbers; 07-09-2014 at 10:18 PM.
I ended up negotiating with the HVAC sub contractor and hiring them as a '3rd party' and they are putting it in and I am paying them. Ended up at $5k instead of $7K per.
So I save $4k and get the benefits of 'builder installed'. A good way to go, if you can get the leeway. Depends on your relationship with the builder.
As I mentioned earlier, I got super cheap AC in our current house for this summer, and it's been a godsend.
They are pretty sticky on letting unauthorized subs do work on the house. They say for insurance reasons . They said everyone has a friend of a friend's Dad that can install... So they had to draw the line.
That is what I am paying for mine. $12k for 2 - 3 ton units. I chose to use the builder because the furnace and ac will be made by the same company. I looked at the furnaces today and all the ac stuff is built in like it was specifically installed for an ac. My current ac was installed after the fact so they had to cut a whole to to install the evaporator coils and all the piping. Also getting it done as a package I am going to have the correct amount of return air for each unit as most units installed after do not have the correct amount of return air to make the units run optimally.
I also run 2 furnaces and was advised to install them after the build was done. The same units through the builder (12k) are now costing me $7500 after possession.
I am going to have the correct amount of return air for each unit as most units installed after do not have the correct amount of return air to make the units run optimally.
Lack of return air is the exacly problem I'm battling - I have a room that doesn't have a return air vent and it's freezing/roastign despite decent supply air.
What did they do for you to solve this lack of return air issue?
I've had AC for less than a month? And I've used it 14 times - mostly at night to take the edge off the build up of heat for big west facing windows... Makes the night serene!
Growing up no one ever had AC because "it's Calgary, you only need it two weeks out of the year", so we'd just suffer through it... Never again. Sure you NEED it 2 weeks, but $#*$% is it awesome from late May through (I expect) October to take the edge off for a few AC cycles...
Sorry for the random comment - just $&$$*&'ing IN LOVE with central A/C.... Can't believe I've gone this long without it in my house.
This post is too old for me to thank, but this is exactly my feelings. We moved in to our new place last November and I almost cheaped out at the end of the build and didn't get the AC unit. Wow, would that have been a mistake! I can't believe I didn't have AC in my old place all those years.
I've called a few glass places in town and they all say its something that lots of people ask about but most places don't do it since its such a small/custom job.
I guess plexiglass or polycarbonate works better than glass, not sure why, but I can't seem to find a local shop here in town that does it.
I thought about plywood or plastic but if I go this route I'd like to avoid having an eye sore, and plywood would look horrible.
I've seen the installs. I think you could buy plexi sheet and almost cut it or core it out yourself. I am just not a fan of the portable AC units. They cannot keep up with the load, have no way to deal with the accumulated water and are very expensive from an electrical point of view to run.
In the long run you would be better to look at Carrier portable installs, with smaller AC unit if you don't have central air or to just bite the bullet and get it done right.
I've seen the installs. I think you could buy plexi sheet and almost cut it or core it out yourself. I am just not a fan of the portable AC units. They cannot keep up with the load, have no way to deal with the accumulated water and are very expensive from an electrical point of view to run.
In the long run you would be better to look at Carrier portable installs, with smaller AC unit if you don't have central air or to just bite the bullet and get it done right.
What should people who rent do? Not everyone is allowed or wants to install a $5k machine.
. They said everyone has a friend of a friend's Dad that can install... So they had to draw the line.
