Cost of having a HVAC system put it?

Willc

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2005
Location
Shelby
I have a small place around 900 sq ft. It was built in 1980 and never has had HVAC other than window units and wood stove. I have been getting quotes to have a 2 ton 3 zone minisplit put in.
All of them are hitting right at the 6000 dollar mark. So i figure 2500 tops for equipment from what i have seen online for a good system. So why the huge mark up for a one day install??? and I am doing all the line voltage work.
I was an electrician for a long time .I can walk away and say I have never raped someone so hard.
I am tempted to go to an the local community college and learn to evacuate and charge systems so I do it myself.

PS no crawl or good attic space for conventional system
 
This really won't help you any, but.... I recently had a problem with my unit and the same person that installed it about 8 years ago came on the service call. My problem was the result of ants getting in the contactor. He replaced the contactor, and I sprayed some very nasty stuff on the ants... problem solved. Anyway, during our chit-chat while he was working, he asked me if I remembered how long the unit had been in place. I told him about 8 years (give or take). He said the same unit today would cost me double due to government mandated bureaucratic bullshit. But, remember that your government is always looking out for you. :shaking:
 
I know nothing about the specifics of the quotes and I'm also not up to date on current mini split equipment pricing but I have done both HVAC service and installation so been around the industry. I never really had to worry about pricing and markup though that's up to somebody in the office.

But just some thoughts

you can always find cheaper prices on line but most contractors use reputable local dealers they have relationships with and sometimes cost more but know they have product support no question asked.

Also when your checking prices make sure your comparing apples to apples. Mini splits vary a lot and so does price. Some have inverters to ramp fans and compressors up and down. some do heat and cool at same time in 2 different zones, etc. Brand also effects price a lot. And when it comes to mini splits and the inverter boards good name that comes with good product/ tech support can save you and your service tech lot of headache years down the road. Get some off name junk and board goes out years down the road and these inverter boards are not always as simple as run down to parts house and get one.

One last thing I done a quick google search (again not up to date on current pricing) but first lg system I pulled up out door unit was 1555, then you had to buy each indoor unit for your zones separate and ranged from $550-950 each depending on what one. So already at $3000 cost minimum with that system and You still have 3 linesets, 3 sets communication wire and other supplies to purchase plus labor, And not marked up the first thing.

Don't get me wrong sure they making money but prob not as much as you think if all companies coming in around same price.
 
Not familiar with the "split zone" thing, & from Curtis's reply, sound very complicated. But I feel comfortable saying, a 900sq. ft. house, with normal heat pump system, would only need a 1 ton unit. A/C will be slightly less btu.s than the Heat btu.s.
 
Mini splits are a different ball game (warranty and being liscenced to install them) then a conventional heat pump system. Put the 6k towards insulating the house and keep the window unit. A mini split is just a glorified window unit anyways. (And I HATE working on them) You could get a heatpump package unit for less than 6k also.
 
I had a 2 ton heat pump installed about 3 years ago for $2500 out the door. This was without backup heat since I used my oil furnace as backup. Concord with a 10 year warranty. Had a friend of mine that does hvac work do it on the side but he can still cover the warranty. You might want to ask around and see if you might find a friend of a friend that can help you out.

Sent from my SCH-R950 using Tapatalk 2
 
My house is a hair under 900sqft, and our entire HVAC system was $5100 installed, including all ductwork and electrical. IIRC, it was a 1.5 ton Carrier unit. That was on new construction in 2011.
 
Bignick is right mini split zone systems and conventional systems is 2 different ballgames. Really can't compare the 2 as far as pricing goes. I personally would rather have a conventional system, better warranties, easier to work on later, and much simpler.
 
Mini split sounds like a vrf type deal...? Without knowing anything more about it, I'd say that I wouldn't expect a 900sf residence to have enough load diversity to benefit from something like that.

Also... Me personally... Spending your money and all that.... I'm partial to the name brand stuff. We have a carrier heat pump and gas furnace. Never had a bit of trouble out of it. It's quiet, too. The folks with Goodmans and American Standards, etc... For one thing, they always need work. And the condensing units sound like lawn mowers. I can hear our neighbors condensing unit from inside our house... And it's only a couple of years old.
 
I have a mini split in the garage. It is 900 SF. I got a 1.5 ton unit. It is too small but I don't care. It takes the edge off, which is good enough. It is rated at 19SEER, which is super efficient. It is very quiet and is compact. My contractor charged me $450 to install but it wasn't a dual-zone. He insisted that I go with Mitsubishi. I ordered it for about $2400 or so. $6k seems very high. He also did a 3 ton heat pump and some duct work in my house for about $4700. This was for a goodman unit, 15 SEER. Much nicer than the old 10 SEER it replaced.
 
Well broke down at got a window unit today. No AC was getting old . So I picked up a 15 btu 110 unit for 399. The humidity has gone from 70% to 47% and 84 degrees to 76 in two hours. I will insulate back over the whole house fan in the am.
 
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