Comments on: New Heater and Air Conditioner in Seattle Area http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:01:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Q-Diddy http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-295628 Q-Diddy Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:00:22 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-295628 Aaron- Haven't seen the formal write up yet. Stay tuned. Aaron-

Haven’t seen the formal write up yet.

Stay tuned.

]]> By: Aaron http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-295461 Aaron Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:40:53 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-295461 Q-Diddy How did the other estimate go? Aaron Q-Diddy

How did the other estimate go?

Aaron

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294418 ARDELL Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:53:57 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294418 Keep us posted...and let's stick to the Italian version, multo grazie :) I actually bought 5 cards with a picture of grass growing on an unusual place. It was a blank card with no other words on it. I never found 5 people to send it to :) I think I sent it five times to the same person. Keep us posted…and let’s stick to the Italian version, multo grazie :) I actually bought 5 cards with a picture of grass growing on an unusual place. It was a blank card with no other words on it. I never found 5 people to send it to :) I think I sent it five times to the same person.

]]> By: Q-Diddy http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294416 Q-Diddy Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:49:29 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294416 Aaron- I have another company scheduled for today, so hopefully I'll be able to triangulate pricing, needs, etc. soon. I'll update you guys on the progress. grassy azz! Aaron-

I have another company scheduled for today, so hopefully I’ll be able to triangulate pricing, needs, etc. soon.

I’ll update you guys on the progress.

grassy azz!

]]> By: Aaron http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294065 Aaron Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:43:07 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294065 Q-Diddy I dont know your market but You should be able to get 2 high efficiency furnaces and 13 seer airs installed around $14000. Most contractors carry 2 lines of equipment a name brand and one not so well advertised. The "b" line will be less expensive, I would not be afraid of that. If you are familiar with the contractor and how long they have been in business you will be fine. How the equipment is installed and warranted is more important than the brand. Q-Diddy
I dont know your market but You should be able to get 2 high efficiency furnaces and 13 seer airs installed around $14000.
Most contractors carry 2 lines of equipment a name brand and one not so well advertised. The “b” line will be less expensive, I would not be afraid of that. If you are familiar with the contractor and how long they have been in business you will be fine. How the equipment is installed and warranted is more important than the brand.

]]> By: Aaron http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294054 Aaron Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:30:51 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294054 Q-Diddy You can call several contractors and ask the salesman if he will perform a man-j. You should be able to tell by his response if he is eager to perform one. If he starts hemming and hawing about how they do it, then I'd move on. Ardell had some great points, that 25000 won't come back in energy savings. I doubt you would get it back on sale but I would defer my opinion to Ardell's. 4500 sf should be 2 systems but I would still want the man-j to size both systems. The evolution system you were quoted is very exspensive we sell very few in a year. Some of the estimates were in the $20,000 range so it might be rasonable for that system in your area. Whether it's worth it or not depends on your desire for all the extras the evolution provides. None of the extras significantly improve efficiency. What are your expectations from replacing your equipment? If you are looking to save big on utilities I'd start with an energy audit first. If the equipment is wearing out and needs replacing for piece of mind or to avoid repairs then see several more quotes. Q-Diddy
You can call several contractors and ask the salesman if he will perform a man-j. You should be able to tell by his response if he is eager to perform one. If he starts hemming and hawing about how they do it, then I’d move on. Ardell had some great points, that 25000 won’t come back in energy savings. I doubt you would get it back on sale but I would defer my opinion to Ardell’s.

4500 sf should be 2 systems but I would still want the man-j to size both systems.

The evolution system you were quoted is very exspensive we sell very few in a year. Some of the estimates were in the $20,000 range so it might be rasonable for that system in your area.

Whether it’s worth it or not depends on your desire for all the extras the evolution provides. None of the extras significantly improve efficiency.

What are your expectations from replacing your equipment?
If you are looking to save big on utilities I’d start with an energy audit first. If the equipment is wearing out and needs replacing for piece of mind or to avoid repairs then see several more quotes.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294039 ARDELL Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:57:23 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294039 Q-Diddy, Before you spend $25,000 at least get 2 or 3 more quotes for the same job. No brainer for someone to charge half the cost for half the "stuff". While Aaron said not to go by square footage, seems to me that 4,500 to 5,000 sf likely calls for the bigger job with the double equipment. I rarely run into people putting in new heating equipment except when we have that problem during an inspection, which is rare. The furnace replacements have been MUCH less expensive than what you are planning to spend. In fact I've never heard of anyone spending that much for a furnace job. But that could just be my experience. Not likely you could ever recoup that cost when you sell the house, so unless you are planning to stay there for 20 years I'd be checking out other options. I'll give a heads up to my home inspector and see if he might come over and give his $.02. I'll send him this link. Q-Diddy,

Before you spend $25,000 at least get 2 or 3 more quotes for the same job. No brainer for someone to charge half the cost for half the “stuff”. While Aaron said not to go by square footage, seems to me that 4,500 to 5,000 sf likely calls for the bigger job with the double equipment.

I rarely run into people putting in new heating equipment except when we have that problem during an inspection, which is rare. The furnace replacements have been MUCH less expensive than what you are planning to spend. In fact I’ve never heard of anyone spending that much for a furnace job. But that could just be my experience.

Not likely you could ever recoup that cost when you sell the house, so unless you are planning to stay there for 20 years I’d be checking out other options.

I’ll give a heads up to my home inspector and see if he might come over and give his $.02. I’ll send him this link.

]]> By: Q-Diddy http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294032 Q-Diddy Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:31:54 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-294032 Guys- Is there a list of companies that will do a manuel J calculation? Was the price I got quoted reasonable? Guys-

Is there a list of companies that will do a manuel J calculation?

Was the price I got quoted reasonable?

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-293421 ARDELL Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:02:40 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-293421 Thanks Aaron, That link isn't working well and I'm the only one who can see your email address and Q-Diddy is the one with the question. So I'll post your email address here for him. If you don't want it showing publicly, let me know and I'll pull it off. Aaron@onhomecomfort.com Thanks Aaron,

That link isn’t working well and I’m the only one who can see your email address and Q-Diddy is the one with the question. So I’ll post your email address here for him. If you don’t want it showing publicly, let me know and I’ll pull it off.

Aaron@onhomecomfort.com

]]> By: Aaron http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-293407 Aaron Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:33:36 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/03/26/new-heater-and-air-conditioner-in-seattle-area/#comment-293407 Hi Ardell I'll try to answer as best I can if I miss something feel free to shoot me an E-mail with more questions. Any company quoting new equipment should perform a manual j calculation. A manual j is the industry standard method for calculating the energy load of the house, trying to use square footage can lead to big mistakes. To perform one properly all rooms should be measured along with windows insulation and orientation. Unfortunately many estimators/salesman dont perform a man-j. It takes a fair amount of time to do correctly if your afraid the homeowner will make his choice strictly on dollars. After you have you the sizing of the equipment look at the options for new equipment. Is you current system "twinned" that is does one thermostat control both furnaces? If you have 2 stats your system is zoned, each stat controls one piece of equipment for section of the house. If that is the case switching to one unit will affect how your home is heated/cooled to the point i'm beyond certain you will notice the difference. I'm not a huge fan of one giant system for a large house. If budget dictates that as the only option then fine. I wont go into why I dont like it right now, would take to much techy talk. Second there are a lot of options between your 2 quotes. The carrier/bryant infinity systems are the absolute top of the line. The infinty controller manages the equipment staging, cooling, humidification, dehumidification, Indoor air quality euipment and ventilation. It is 2 stage equipment with a variable speed blower, your comfort rep should have satisfactorily explained how that affects you and your home. If the $25,000 is out of your comfort or budget range ask what the other choices are. I'm sure I missed something you asked, so please e-mail and I will help all I can. Hi Ardell
I’ll try to answer as best I can if I miss something feel free to shoot me an E-mail with more questions.
Any company quoting new equipment should perform a manual j calculation. A manual j is the industry standard method for calculating the energy load of the house, trying to use square footage can lead to big mistakes. To perform one properly all rooms should be measured along with windows insulation and orientation. Unfortunately many estimators/salesman dont perform a man-j. It takes a fair amount of time to do correctly if your afraid the homeowner will make his choice strictly on dollars.

After you have you the sizing of the equipment look at the options for new equipment.

Is you current system “twinned” that is does one thermostat control both furnaces?

If you have 2 stats your system is zoned, each stat controls one piece of equipment for section of the house. If that is the case switching to one unit will affect how your home is heated/cooled to the point i’m beyond certain you will notice the difference.

I’m not a huge fan of one giant system for a large house. If budget dictates that as the only option then fine. I wont go into why I dont like it right now, would take to much techy talk.

Second there are a lot of options between your 2 quotes. The carrier/bryant infinity systems are the absolute top of the line. The infinty controller manages the equipment staging, cooling, humidification, dehumidification, Indoor air quality euipment and ventilation. It is 2 stage equipment with a variable speed blower, your comfort rep should have satisfactorily explained how that affects you and your home.

If the $25,000 is out of your comfort or budget range ask what the other choices are.

I’m sure I missed something you asked, so please e-mail and I will help all I can.

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