luckyexwife
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Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Sept 7, 2022 22:15:09 GMT
My AC has been going out for a few years, and it's finally done and needs to be replaced. It is original to my house, 25 years old, and I knew it would need to be replaced soon. I have 3 options:
1. Replace just the AC unit. I've been saving, and I can pay cash for it.
2. Replace the AC and the furnace. The furnace is also original to the house, so 25 years old. It is currently working fine. If I replace both, the place will give me free labor and install on the furnace and $500 off the furnace. It will also be more energy efficient. I don't have enough to pay cash for both, but I can finance it and have it paid off in less than a year.
3. Get a heat pump. I don't know much about them, but it's been recommended.
What would you do? I am planning to live in this house for a while, no plans to move for at least 10 years.
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Post by christine58 on Sept 7, 2022 22:16:43 GMT
2. Replace the AC and the furnace. The furnace is also original to the house, so 25 years old. It is currently working fine. If I replace both, the place will give me free labor and install on the furnace and $500 off the furnace. It will also be more energy efficient. I don't have enough to pay cash for both, but I can finance it and have it paid off in less than a year. This
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 7, 2022 22:17:21 GMT
You know if you only replace the AC what might happen the week after, right...?
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luckyexwife
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Posts: 3,069
Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Sept 7, 2022 22:18:36 GMT
You know if you only replace the AC what might happen the week after, right...? I know, I know, that is what I keep thinking!
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twinsmomfla99
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Jun 26, 2014 13:42:47 GMT
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Sept 7, 2022 22:33:19 GMT
Replace the furnace now, maybe with a heat pump or dual-fuel arrangement. With supply chain issues the way they are now, if you wait until it is having serious issues, you may not be able to get the replacement in a timely manner. You do not want to end up in a situation where you have no heat but the replacement is going to take 2 or 3 weeks (or more!) to arrive.
We are replacing our 21 yo air conditioner, and we are replacing the 21 yo furnace with a heat pump as well. DH ordered it months ago, and the HVAC company has received both units, but they have been dealing with emergencies all summer. DH works with the HVAC business owner so he has been willing to delay our installation until this month. I think we are supposed to get them in the next two weeks, but we really aren’t in a hurry (especially since DH gets a great discount!).
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Post by Lexica on Sept 7, 2022 22:34:17 GMT
Well, if my house has been an indicator of what might happen, you absolutely need to replace both items because the second the repair truck drives away, the heater will break. I know nothing about a heat pump, so no advice there.
I am still convinced that my selling this house has hurt my house's feelings so it decided to break one thing after another in a short period of time to get back at me. Although really, there are a couple of things that are still working fine that were original to the house from over 44 years ago. The stove, oven, and microwave are surprisingly all still working fine after all these years, although they are ugly and old. Credit to HotPoint for making a solid piece of equipment, I guess. Everything else has been replaced once or twice over the years.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Sept 7, 2022 22:35:38 GMT
Check to see if there are any energy saving rebates available
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caangel
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Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on Sept 7, 2022 22:36:47 GMT
2. Replace the AC and the furnace. The furnace is also original to the house, so 25 years old. It is currently working fine. If I replace both, the place will give me free labor and install on the furnace and $500 off the furnace. It will also be more energy efficient. I don't have enough to pay cash for both, but I can finance it and have it paid off in less than a year. This Ditto, no idea what a heat pump is
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Post by elaine on Sept 7, 2022 22:44:25 GMT
Replace the furnace now, maybe with a heat pump or dual-fuel arrangement. With supply chain issues the way they are now, if you wait until it is having serious issues, you may not be able to get the replacement in a timely manner. You do not want to end up in a situation where you have no heat but the replacement is going to take 2 or 3 weeks (or more!) to arrive. We are replacing our 21 yo air conditioner, and we are replacing the 21 yo furnace with a heat pump as well. DH ordered it months ago, and the HVAC company has received both units, but they have been dealing with emergencies all summer. DH works with the HVAC business owner so he has been willing to delay our installation until this month. I think we are supposed to get them in the next two weeks, but we really aren’t in a hurry (especially since DH gets a great discount!). Our ac died 2 weeks ago. We had a repair guy in the day after it went down. It took 2 weeks to get the part in. Even with portable air conditioners, it has been in the 80s in our house. Thank heaven it was finally repaired yesterday. If you don't replace the furnace now, it will die during a cold snap in the dead of winter between Christmas and New Years when everything slows to a halt.
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Post by monklady123 on Sept 7, 2022 22:44:52 GMT
Definitely replace both. If the furnace was only a few years old obviously you wouldn't replace it, but for one that old.. Because as others have said, the minute the truck leaves your street your furnace will fail.
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The Birdhouse Lady
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Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Sept 7, 2022 22:46:08 GMT
My vote is #2.
Sounds like the company is giving a pretty good deal with install and $500.00 off. I would feel better knowing both were new and in great working order instead of waiting for the shoe to drop of the heater.
I don't know what #3 is either do I can't comment on that.
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Post by huskermom98 on Sept 7, 2022 22:48:01 GMT
Definitely do both. It's just easier to have it all done at once in addition to the price break.
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CeeScraps
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Jun 26, 2014 12:56:40 GMT
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Post by CeeScraps on Sept 7, 2022 22:48:08 GMT
We did both the ac and the furnace. Yes it was a chunk of $$, but it was such a more efficient unit that was installed due to updated technology.
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Post by leannec on Sept 7, 2022 22:49:10 GMT
2. Replace the AC and the furnace. The furnace is also original to the house, so 25 years old. It is currently working fine. If I replace both, the place will give me free labor and install on the furnace and $500 off the furnace. It will also be more energy efficient. I don't have enough to pay cash for both, but I can finance it and have it paid off in less than a year. This ... I live in a climate where the furnace is essential ... just do it!
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Post by jemali on Sept 7, 2022 22:49:41 GMT
My vote is #2. Sounds like the company is giving a pretty good deal with install and $500.00 off. I would feel better knowing both were new and in great working order instead of waiting for the shoe to drop of the heater. I don't know what #3 is either do I can't comment on that. I agree with this.
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snyder
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Post by snyder on Sept 7, 2022 22:52:20 GMT
Just did this myself. I did both at the same time. Just made sense to me as my furnace was 29 years old. Still working and only had one $350 repair in in all those years, so to me, I really was riding on a thin line. We can get some pretty cold winter spells so lets just take care of it all at once and not worry aobut it or be without heat for days on waiting on parts or a new unit.
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peabay
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Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Sept 7, 2022 22:54:01 GMT
2.
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dawnnikol
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Post by dawnnikol on Sept 7, 2022 22:55:17 GMT
We just had to replace our A/C in May. We opted to also replace the furnace for a couple of reasons. They were both similar in age, and while we did have someone tell us that older units last longer, the parts are harder to come by. Our repair company also ran new pipes and made sure what was up there was sealed properly. Our basement is where they are located and the ceiling is unfinished. We also chose to go with the duct sealing, which was an additional cost. So, one day they replaced the A/C and furnace, then another day a different crew came out and sealed the ducts. We also have a digital thermostat now, but I control it, not the utility company. Whether it's the A/C or the duct sealing or both, our energy bill has gone down.
Also, in case you don't have a digital thermostat already, it's amazing. I highly recommend them!
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Post by lgr4 on Sept 7, 2022 22:56:27 GMT
#2 I have a heat pump and have shut it off. My ac guy told me it was more efficient to do that than the heatpump. Especially if you program your Temps for different Temps at different times of the day.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,069
Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Sept 7, 2022 22:57:13 GMT
Replace the furnace now, maybe with a heat pump or dual-fuel arrangement. With supply chain issues the way they are now, if you wait until it is having serious issues, you may not be able to get the replacement in a timely manner. You do not want to end up in a situation where you have no heat but the replacement is going to take 2 or 3 weeks (or more!) to arrive. We are replacing our 21 yo air conditioner, and we are replacing the 21 yo furnace with a heat pump as well. DH ordered it months ago, and the HVAC company has received both units, but they have been dealing with emergencies all summer. DH works with the HVAC business owner so he has been willing to delay our installation until this month. I think we are supposed to get them in the next two weeks, but we really aren’t in a hurry (especially since DH gets a great discount!). Our ac died 2 weeks ago. We had a repair guy in the day after it went down. It took 2 weeks to get the part in. Even with portable air conditioners, it has been in the 80s in our house. Thank heaven it was finally repaired yesterday. If you don't replace the furnace now, it will die during a cold snap in the dead of winter between Christmas and New Years when everything slows to a halt. Yep, it is currently 79 degrees in my house! Luckily it does cool down at night, but it's uncomfortable during the day.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,069
Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Sept 7, 2022 22:58:04 GMT
Check to see if there are any energy saving rebates available Yes, I missed adding that, there is a rebate from my energy company.
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Post by littlemama on Sept 7, 2022 22:59:12 GMT
Our HVAC guys said that you can wait for your AC to go out before having it fixed, but you should get the furnace replaced before it breaks. I would replace both, especially if you can have it paid off in a year
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Sept 7, 2022 23:03:42 GMT
Replace them both at the same time, especially if you can pay if off in a year or less. With both being 25 years old, your energy savings will most likely be significant, leading to further ongoing savings. We replaced just the a/c 10 years ago during a remodel. Less than 12 months later the furnace went out - on the coldest day of the year. So twice in under a year with workmen in my house and attic, doing without heat/cooling when we needed it most.
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Post by lisae on Sept 7, 2022 23:08:22 GMT
Where do you live? more cold Temps or more hot?
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Post by Skellinton on Sept 7, 2022 23:34:09 GMT
Option 2 for sure.
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Post by sabrinae on Sept 7, 2022 23:37:59 GMT
I would replace both. Depending on your climate a heat pump alone may not provide enough heat for winters. We have a heat pump and a furnace. The heat pump provides air conditioning and heat as long as the outside temperature remains above a certain point. Once it gets below the set temperature it kicks over to our furnace automatically for heat. The heat pump is more energy efficient than the furnace and wasn’t any more expensive than putting in an air conditioner at the time
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luckyexwife
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Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Sept 7, 2022 23:39:41 GMT
Where do you live? more cold Temps or more hot? North Dakota...we get both. Below zero in the winter, high 90s-100 in the summer.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Sept 7, 2022 23:42:19 GMT
I would replace both. Depending on your climate, I would research heat pumps before you commit. I’ve heard from neighbors here that they don’t heat the entire house consistently in our area with bitter cold winters.
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Post by lisae on Sept 8, 2022 0:22:02 GMT
Where do you live? more cold Temps or more hot? North Dakota...we get both. Below zero in the winter, high 90s-100 in the summer. Then, no to the heat pump. They are great here in the south where we have more hot weather than cold and our cold isn't that extreme. A heat pump does not put out really warm air. I don't think it would ever get you as warm as you are probably used to.
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Post by busy on Sept 8, 2022 0:25:50 GMT
Definitely 2, especially considering your location. Your furnace is on borrowed time and it would be terrible to have it go out during a North Dakota winter. Take the discount, get them both replaced, and pay it off as soon as you can.
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