HVAC Quotes or Random Number Generator
July 3, 2017 4:43 PM Subscribe
The central air conditioning unit of my tiny 500 square foot 1-bedroom condo in DC went out. It's gonna be in the 90's for a while. Quotes are significantly higher than I expected.
*You are not my HVAC specialist/technician
I had 2 different companies assess the unit, and both guys said the compressor is dead. Both guys also advised just replacing the 13-ish year old system rather than just replacing the compressor.
I've had 5 different companies come by to give estimates, but only two have gotten back to me. So far both have been waaaaay higher than I anticipated. It's been over a week and 3 companies still haven't sent me any quotes. The 2 I've received so far were for $7,400 and $9,400 for a new 1.5 ton central AC with a heat pump. I'm pretty annoyed since neither estimate had any kind of price breakdown or itemization - just a random number with no hourly rate or line item list of anticipated cost for parts.
I know nothing about HVACs, but I have the feeling that these guys may be assuming that since I'm a woman who knows nothing about HVACs they can go to town on overcharging.
Considering the top of the line new unit itself is under $3,000 I can't figure out what the extra $4,000 (let alone $5,400) could be for? Seems like even if labor rates are $200 per hour for labor for 10 hours there's still a lot of cash unaccounted for.
A colleague in Arlington just had a total HVAC central AC and furnace replaced for a multi-story house for around $6,500, so I was expecting my much smaller unit to cost less than $6,000 (their contractor doesn't service DC unfortunately). The only thing I can think of is that the air handler is installed in my bathroom ceiling since small apartments around here don't really have closet floor space (the compressor unit is easily accessible outside on the ground). I get that the ceiling thing could be harder to deal with, but several thousand of dollars more difficult seems like a stretch?
*You are not my HVAC specialist/technician
I had 2 different companies assess the unit, and both guys said the compressor is dead. Both guys also advised just replacing the 13-ish year old system rather than just replacing the compressor.
I've had 5 different companies come by to give estimates, but only two have gotten back to me. So far both have been waaaaay higher than I anticipated. It's been over a week and 3 companies still haven't sent me any quotes. The 2 I've received so far were for $7,400 and $9,400 for a new 1.5 ton central AC with a heat pump. I'm pretty annoyed since neither estimate had any kind of price breakdown or itemization - just a random number with no hourly rate or line item list of anticipated cost for parts.
I know nothing about HVACs, but I have the feeling that these guys may be assuming that since I'm a woman who knows nothing about HVACs they can go to town on overcharging.
Considering the top of the line new unit itself is under $3,000 I can't figure out what the extra $4,000 (let alone $5,400) could be for? Seems like even if labor rates are $200 per hour for labor for 10 hours there's still a lot of cash unaccounted for.
A colleague in Arlington just had a total HVAC central AC and furnace replaced for a multi-story house for around $6,500, so I was expecting my much smaller unit to cost less than $6,000 (their contractor doesn't service DC unfortunately). The only thing I can think of is that the air handler is installed in my bathroom ceiling since small apartments around here don't really have closet floor space (the compressor unit is easily accessible outside on the ground). I get that the ceiling thing could be harder to deal with, but several thousand of dollars more difficult seems like a stretch?
In 2013 we had the ENTIRE HVAC system in our 1300 sq/ft house replaced: heat pump, air handler, all ductwork, all registers, everything. Everything. The total cost for the replacement 3-ton unit, air handler, new thermostat, wiring, and ductwork was $6300. Granted this is in metro Atlanta and all the parts were easily accessible under the house, but still... I would expect the quotes you're getting to be more in line with the costs for a large multi-story home with multiple zones.
Is it possible that to replace the unit in the attic the contractors will have to actually remove part of the bathroom ceiling and then replace it? I could see additional handyman type services adding to the cost, but not by that much.
I looked at the paperwork for the HVAC replacement here, and while the costs aren't really itemized the contractors did a good job of explaining to me what the cost breakdown was: this many dollars for the heat pump, this many for the ductwork, this much for labor, etc. If you're not even getting that then your intuition might be right, and they're just jacking up the price because you're a woman. Of course, now I wonder what would happen if you had a male friend call to arrange the quote and deal with the contractors when they were on-site to give the quote. That shouldn't ever have to happen, but sadly it has to sometimes.
Do you have neighbors you could ask? Surely someone else has had to replace their HVAC system and can give you a ballpark figure as to what they paid, or at least can give you a recommendation for a company. That's sort of how I found the company I used, by noticing their truck outside my across the street neighbor's house and then looking them up online to see their reviews.
posted by ralan at 5:32 PM on July 3, 2017
Is it possible that to replace the unit in the attic the contractors will have to actually remove part of the bathroom ceiling and then replace it? I could see additional handyman type services adding to the cost, but not by that much.
I looked at the paperwork for the HVAC replacement here, and while the costs aren't really itemized the contractors did a good job of explaining to me what the cost breakdown was: this many dollars for the heat pump, this many for the ductwork, this much for labor, etc. If you're not even getting that then your intuition might be right, and they're just jacking up the price because you're a woman. Of course, now I wonder what would happen if you had a male friend call to arrange the quote and deal with the contractors when they were on-site to give the quote. That shouldn't ever have to happen, but sadly it has to sometimes.
Do you have neighbors you could ask? Surely someone else has had to replace their HVAC system and can give you a ballpark figure as to what they paid, or at least can give you a recommendation for a company. That's sort of how I found the company I used, by noticing their truck outside my across the street neighbor's house and then looking them up online to see their reviews.
posted by ralan at 5:32 PM on July 3, 2017
We just had central air added to our house - so not a total replacement. They added onto to our existing heating set-up (forced hot air w/ existing ductwork) w/ new condenser, etc. They also had to have an electrician come in to do some work so we had the right power for it. All told it was $6800. The electrician was around $1200, but they wrapped it all into one fee. It took 2 guys all day (8am-6pm ish) and the electrician. This is in Boston and our house is around 1400sqt ft.
Sounds like you have to do more than we did BUT your place is smaller, so it does seem weird that it’s so costly.
posted by jdl at 6:01 PM on July 3, 2017
Sounds like you have to do more than we did BUT your place is smaller, so it does seem weird that it’s so costly.
posted by jdl at 6:01 PM on July 3, 2017
Best answer: We have a 2 bedroom apartment in Arlington and our heat pump system replacement last December cost a bit under $6000 (including a tricky install for the indoor unit in the ceiling). The company we used only works in Virginia, but I know some people in the area have used CroppMetcalfe, which does do DC.
posted by gudrun at 6:01 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by gudrun at 6:01 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
As at least a short term solution, you could get a $300 window air conditioner.
posted by exogenous at 7:59 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by exogenous at 7:59 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Within the past year I upgraded my house in Philadelphia to mini-split heat pumps (high-efficiency, much more efficient than central air, and they heat as well as cool). I paid $3500 for the installation of one high-end mini-split (Mitsubishi Hyperheat) that cools an area slightly smaller than your condo, and I could have upgraded to a bigger machine for only a hundred or two more had I needed to. I don't know whether your condo rules allow it, but if so, perhaps look into ductless mini-splits instead.
posted by ClaireBear at 9:01 PM on July 3, 2017
posted by ClaireBear at 9:01 PM on July 3, 2017
Also, I got 10-15 estimates for the HVAC job I described above. The highest estimate was several times the lowest estimate. I also felt like I was getting some inflated estimates as a woman. I would look for HVAC company reviews and get estimates from every company with good reviews, and see if you can do better than the ones you got.
posted by ClaireBear at 9:02 PM on July 3, 2017
posted by ClaireBear at 9:02 PM on July 3, 2017
I have a tiny 540 square foot unit. At Home Despot, I bought two LG window units, one with 6000 BTU, one with 5000 BTU. They are energy efficient, and they do a great job, and together they were under $300. Yeah, I bought a tower fan set at Costco for $39, to direct air between the two. I have some overhead fans. So for now, with a minimal investment, you can be cool, until you find someone who isn't planning to retire on your HVAC job. Always get multiple bids. Always. It is so worth doing that.
posted by Oyéah at 9:06 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 9:06 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
You might check Costco. I know I've seen big displays near the exit door advertising that they sell A/C units, and I would guess they do installation, too.
posted by MexicanYenta at 6:27 AM on July 4, 2017
posted by MexicanYenta at 6:27 AM on July 4, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dip Flash at 4:49 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]