Hey Guys,

A contractor has contacted me and my neighbors about installing new heat pumps. Ours are now 15 years old. The advantage to having it replaced now is that we can split the cost of a crane to install them on top of our building.

So the question is this:

Is is usual or prudent to replace a heat pump that is 15 years old?

Is $2735 installed with a 5/yr parts 5/yr compressor warranty a decent price?

The model is the Lennox 1.5 ton heat pump
http://www.lennox.com/products/overview.asp?model=XP15

What's the SEER rating on the old one / on the new one?

$2735 doesn't seem all that much....the air handler remains the same?

I don't know nothin bout that but...

was your neighbors old one put in at the same time as yours?

I paid around $3.5k for a 3 ton Rheem about 8 years ago (Seer 12). Airhandler was also replaced at that time. Oddly enough, the old unit (Seer 6) was a Lennox.

The people that lived here before me, had electric bills in the lower to mid 200's. I moved in within days of the new unit being installed...my electric bills didn't top $100 for several years, and then, just barely.

Heat pumps are used in mild states like florida. I just installed a[ duel fuel] system in my house about one year ago.I live in Georgia and my electric bill is 120.00/mo. on a budget. My gas bills average 27.00/mo.My heat pump is a 15 seer and my gas furnace is 95%.Both are Trane.

You guys are making me sick!! My power bill is $400+ in the Summer.
wow...

You guys are making me sick!! My power bill is $400+ in the Summer.:mad: :mad: I think mine is an 11 SEER. The lowest allowed by code. I didn't have the extra $$ to upgrade when we built. Mine is a 5 ton 10KW Lennox.

Holy Crap! :eek:

5 ton?? How many sq feet?
Have you cleaned your evaporator coils lately? (and the condenser coils too - do them from the inside out)

It's really best to change both at the same time. 1.5 ton, must be small sq. ft.

1250 sq feet. I'm in a condo (albeit a larger one)-- the only thing I could afford here in the DC area!!

Not sure about the air handler-- I'll have to look into that.

I keep hearing ads form the local utility ( BGE) that efficiencies are so much improved that replacing even a 5 year old unit can save money. The truth lies in the SEER.

You guys are making me sick!! My power bill is $400+ in the Summer.:mad: :mad:

Our hot Maryland July electric bill for 3200 sq ft of conditioned space was less than $70 (700 kw) with a gas bill of less than $30. When energy costs double/triple folks like you are going to be in big trouble. I`d go for the most efficient unit available if I were you.

Efficiencie: 13seer is the lowest Mfgs. can produce as of 2006.You can go up to 19seer[Trane]but you must replace the evap. coil to match.Furnaces can go as high as 95% and uses a 2.5" dia. p.v.c pipe as a chimney since only 5% of the heat is being lost.After all this is installed the next thing you must do is to find out if all of your ducts are sealed.I would only do all of this expensive work if i were going to stay in my house for at least 7 to 10 years.

2300 sq ft --10' ceilings, coils are clean. I have also 3 refrigerators, 2 chest freezers, 1 350# a day ice maker (hoshizaki), pool pump, saltwater fish tanks with high wattage lighting, and I like it 78 in the house. Kinda guess I got it coming to me.;) ;)

Wow...yeah...you do earn your electric bill every month.
Hoshizaki Ice machines rule.

I have a 1500' sq ft 2 bedroom house and my light bills this summer have all been over $300. i just paid one today for $338. I have no idea about how old my AC unit is. even when it's not hot outside, it's never been under $200.00. The house is all electric, normal washer/dryer, AC, fridge, oven, microwave, etc. I have 10' ceilings in the livinging room and dining room. There are no trees big enough to shade the house at all. I think that people in different areas of the country pay different rates for electricity, and i happen to be in an expensive electricity area.:(

But the condensor (outside unit) and evaporator (inside unit) have to be a matching set to work effectively together.



This is exactly right and it is more than matching SEER numbers. All of the components in the system much be matched to work efficiently. There is an HVAC reference that is used to match components but I can't recall what it is called.

My FPL bill came today. $124 and change. I used an average of 37kWh per day.

I'm running 9 tons worth of cooling and averaging around 103 kwh/day. The washer and dryer (electric) seem to run all the time too. The cost is running around $9.22/day. Thankfully the wife pays the electric bill:).

I'd be hard pressed to replace a good running a/c system. You can always rent a crane;).