I've got a ~20 y/o Trane heat pump. Runs like a champ. I also have a 30 year old air handler which is rusting out (but doesn't suck that much crawlspace air), and half of the heat strips in it are not working. In general, it's in horrible shape.

It would be about $5k for the whole job (at least for a decent Trane or Lenox), and that includes having a few crawlspace runs replaced. So they're telling me I would get the entire $1500 tax credit, effectively bringing down the price to $3500. I would also be able to finance the 5k over 12 months with 0% interest if I wanted.

Reasons to do it now (feel free to add):
Theoretically my heat pump is on it's last leg
Air handler is hurting bad
I'll save a bunch of $ on my power bill (30%-40% on cooling, less on heating?). Going to a SEER 15 from who knows what...
Get that $1500 of 'free' money.
Increase the value of the house

Reasons to wait (feel free to add):
Good lawd that's a lot of money
Heat pump may last a while longer...wouldn't get the $1500 but buyers would probably prefer a 1-2 y/o system versus a 6-7 y/o system.


I'll probably be in this house for 5-7 years longer if that matters. If I need to get quotes from somewhere cheaper let me know what HVAC companies you like. So far I've been dealing with Alan Kelly and Progressive. Might check out someone who sells Goodmans locally..

What say you TWW?

11/19/2010 3:24:02 PM

If you can afford it, especially with the financing, do it. I had to get my system replaced over the summer and it's been great since. I have a finance deal as well, mine was a little more expensive but it's definitely been worth it so far.

11/19/2010 3:27:02 PM

How much have you been saving on your bills? Did yours break or did you just decide to switch it out?

11/19/2010 3:30:20 PM

ABSOLUTELY. Jump on it hard. The efficiency gain you will probably get will save you even more.

11/19/2010 3:33:50 PM

^^ Broke.

So far I saved about $20 in a summer month. Since then I have been able to leave the windows open until recently. I'm not sure how much I'll save on heating costs but looking forward to it.

11/19/2010 3:35:54 PM

Quote :

"The efficiency gain you will probably get will save you even more."

Thing is I don't have a monster house like you It's under 1400 square feet...and current summer electric bills are $120-$160, winter gets as high as $200 if it's a brutal month. I'm just wondering how much my bills are actually going to go down...

11/19/2010 3:42:34 PM

who are you having do it?

11/19/2010 7:57:57 PM

Quote :

"ABSOLUTELY. Jump on it hard. The efficiency gain you will probably get will save you even more."

$5K is a good deal.

11/20/2010 2:33:14 AM

^^ it's between Allan Kelly (Trane) and Progressive (Lenox) at the moment. I'm open to suggestions though.

11/20/2010 6:18:52 PM

Quote :

"I'll probably be in this house for 5-7 years longer if that matters. If I need to get quotes from somewhere cheaper let me know what HVAC companies you like. So far I've been dealing with Alan Kelly and Progressive. Might check out someone who sells Goodmans locally.."

I can't tell you who else to talk to around Raleigh, but I can definitely say that you don't have to go with Trane or Lenox (esp if you're only going to be there for 5 years or so). If you really want Trane quality (who is definitely a solid company), then get an American Standard setup. Same company, same exact internal parts, different external housing under a different brand name, generally for cheaper.

Quote :

"Thing is I don't have a monster house like you It's under 1400 square feet...and current summer electric bills are $120-$160, winter gets as high as $200 if it's a brutal month. I'm just wondering how much my bills are actually going to go down..."

Not sure where you live but and what you keep your thermostat at, so it's hard to compare apples to apples, but my wife and I have a ~2500ft² house in SC and our highest summer electric bill was $80 so you definitely have some room to save even being in a smaller place.

11/22/2010 8:08:51 AM

This is more anecdotal/Murphy's law than fact, but if you replace the air handler without replacing the heat pump, the heat pump will promptly go out on you.

Another small but good consideration to all this is you can list a new heat pump & air handler when you do go to list the house for sale; serves the point that you cared and invested in your property.

11/22/2010 10:03:05 AM

Yea, I feel like with something that old and you planning to be there another 5-7 years, you'll end up eating the cost of replacing this at some point anyway. Either between now and when you sell or when you sell (whether they ask for it to be replaced or knock money off because it is so old and will need to be replaced). With that mindset, I'd do it now while I had the rebate helping me out. That's just me though.

11/22/2010 10:52:32 AM

My parents just did this during the last tax credit. They put in a new York high-efficiency unit (like 20 SEER or something.) Their monthly electric dropped by like 40% - from $150ish to $80ish. Their unit was just over 20 years old, like 10SEER.

They figure with the tax credit it will pay for itself within 5 years.

If you've got the cash DEFINITELY do it - but be sure to run your math

11/22/2010 5:17:40 PM

Get it now. Subcontractors are hungry. make them compete.

also, call chuck caldwell ill send you his info.

11/22/2010 9:01:22 PM

[Edited on November 23, 2010 at 12:54 AM. Reason : ]

11/23/2010 12:54:00 AM

Job is done. I had Allen Kelly do it...mid-grade Trane system was $5500 and I had another $1000 of ductwork/misc work done (6 runs replaced, new return, etc). I'm told I'll be getting $1500 back as a tax credit and $420 from Progress Energy.http://www.allenkelly.com/

I've already noticed the house heats much faster, and the air coming out of the ducts is definitely warmer than it was before. I'm chalking that up to the previous DIY decaying ductwork that has been replaced. It also seems like the strips don't come on as much as before. I'm thinking this unit may be able to extract heat out of lower temperature air than my 20 y/o unit could.

All in all I'm very happy with it; now I just have to pay for it

12/28/2010 10:31:36 AM

Youll feel better comparing your average before & after power bills

12/28/2010 7:30:21 PM