Heating & A/C System Cost
Can anybody give me an idea of the cost of a new heating and A/C system? I have a 45-year old forced air gas system which is very inefficient and needs replacing. I am planning on upgrading to a high efficiency (90% or better) gas furnace, and adding A/C, an electronic filter and a humidifier. My house is about 1800 sq feet, and I live in the Northeast.
Answer:
Have you considered that maybe your insulation is part of your problem? A new heat/air system is not going to be much help if the insulation is inadequate. Being an older home there is a good possibility of it being under insulated. In addition to this, I would check with your power board for possible rebates and/or financing programs to upgrade your system. If additional insulation is required you may be able to lump it into a package deal. I'm in Ontario so my $$ are Canadian. High efficiency furnace as a retrofit into forced air duct system runs from $2,700 to $3,200 for 90-92% furnace and upwards of $3,500 for variable speed 94-95% furnace. Low boy to highboy duct conversion may add $125-200 to costs. A/C in N/E for your house will probably run about $1,900- 2,300 for a 2 ton(24,000 btu) or $ 2,100- 2,500 for a 2.5 ton(30,000 btu). Get a contractor to do a proper heat loss/heat gain. Your existing furnace is probably way oversized, particularly if any upgrades have been made to your house like insulation and windows. Remember that my $$ are Canadian. Ask for any help you need and I'll try to get you an answer.