jenny asked:
Buying a house with central heat, but window units for cooling. In Houston, really want to upgrade to central air and heat. Seems like having the ducts and blower would be a good start. Wondering ballpark cost, unexpected things that might come up, and maybe how common a thing this is to do…..
Jennifer
Buying a house with central heat, but window units for cooling. In Houston, really want to upgrade to central air and heat. Seems like having the ducts and blower would be a good start. Wondering ballpark cost, unexpected things that might come up, and maybe how common a thing this is to do…..
Jennifer
If it has central heat–then the duct work is already there. If a new unit will fit in the heater closet you will still have to have a new heat unit. New regulations prohibit add ons to existing units. Depending on the size of the house, unit availability, and a/c contractor–expect to pay $3-6 grand.
in the old days they would plop an a coil on top of the furnace run copper put in a condenser and wire it all i suggest you get a whole new system installed replace your furnace with new around $5000 unexpected things like your electrical service is it big enough?replacing metal duct could be expensive its common to do that also attic space how much or should i say how little
Older furnaces may not have the airflow capacity needed for the size A/C calculated for the home.
You may need to upgrade the furnace also to accommodate.
When you get your estimates they will tell you.
Most furnaces in your area are down-flow type and if yours is they will have to remove the furnace to set the evaporator coil and put the furnace on top.
Ball park price may be between $2500.00-$4000.00
U need to tell us the size of ur house. The contractor need to look at the size of the ducts. Is it going to be 5 tons? It could be anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000. U need to find out what the contractor going to do to bring it up to CODE.
This is a common thing to do. Only a contractor actually looking at the existing equipment and duct system can give you a price. Maybe $2500 to $16000 from here means nothing. Your AC, furnace blower capacity, duct size and flow capacity all need to be addressed. Ducts may need replaced, furnace may need upgraded and other things can need done also. I can heat a house in Houston with a 60,000 but furnace, but that furnace wouldn’t have the blower capacity for a 4 or 5 ton AC and the duct system wouldn’t flow the required air either.
Very common & can be an easy solution esp if the ducting is right.
The cooling “A” coil is fitted on top of the forced air furnace .
Refrigerant lines need to be run to the compressor unit outside which will req its own power feed.
The thermostat gets replaced w/ a heat/cooling unit.
Had it done first time a while ago & was about $5000 then.
Might consider getting a “real” name brand unit. like ..Carrier , Lennox. etc.
The ones that some heating contractors & home centers sell as “made by” or “just as good as” are not worth the trouble.
Better to spend a few bucks more for the real thing from a reputable HVAC contractor.
Had it done twice .
First was the “special” deal …very dissatisfied.
Needed a new furnace & upgraded the AC…..works well even w/ a crummy duct system.
Best regards