New house... Buy new central AC unit or use a 15-yr old hand-me-down?

Answer 1

NEW!!!!! 15yrs is essentially end of life a central A/C unit (in other words expect frequent repairs) and can eat you alive with energy costs.

With a new unit don't worry about brands, they are *all* basically the same thing! What you do want to worry about is the contractor that installs the unit for you. The way I put it is that you're buying the company-not the hardware.

Example: I bought a house on the Texas gulf coast in 1999 that had a 1993 central A/C. August electric bills over $500. Replaced that unit in 2002 and bill dropped to $300. Had a house fire in feb'05 and got a completely new system. Last years bill was $219

One good hint I've learned is to ask your contractor to install units that are 'scratch and dent'! They work fine and still have full warranty but cost half as much as the 'pretty' ones. If he pretends not to know this he's a cheat.

Answer 2

Depends on your budget. Assume the house does not already have central a/c and you are putting it in. If this is the cases, you'll be speding money for labor and parts. Then you may get a few years out of the hand me down unit. Then a year or two from now (supposedly when you've gotten back on your feet from the purchase) you could pay a few thousand for a new unit.

Also, do you have a reliable a/c repair man? As his opinion. Sometimes they can be very frank and be willing to work with you for future business.

Answer 3

I would go with the newer central AC as it will most likely be cleaner and more efficient than the older unit. This will save you in the long-run, too, with costs (not only with your current bills, but if you decide to sell your house, the newer AC unit will increase your home's value more than the much older unit).

Answer 4

A clogged filter out will enable ice sluggish the air move via the equipment and allow the condensation to freeze on the evaporator coil causing the ice buildup to dam the air completely. this may, in turn, reason the compressor to run continuouslt, because the thermostat isn't being cooled interior the domicile. this may reason the compressor to overheat and close off. Filters ought to get replaced month-to-month. the interior area of the critical equipment has a drip pan interior the bottom. lower than widespread circumstances, the compressor will cycle on and off, allowing frost that builds up on the evaporator coil to soften and drip down into the pan. The pan has a drain tube that both connects to the sewer strains or is routed to the exterior of the domicile. each so often airborne dirt and dirt and algae will plug this tube and that is going to favor to be snaked-out. many equipment have a sensor that detects even as this pan is in basic terms too finished, and signals the property proprietor that the equipment desires service or shuts the equipment down. once you've a large style of moisture interior the domicile, the condensation will be worse.

Answer 5

If you can afford it right now buy a new one because you never know the 15 y/o unit might last another 15 years or break a few days after you start to use it.. but if you can not afford a new one right now use the old one..

Answer 6

I would suggest that if the house is new buy a new unit. You never know when the 15 yr.old unit will finally kick. Besides you don't know how well maintained the unit was.

Answer 7

If the 15 year old AC unit works, is capable of cooling your house, and doesn't suck up too much juice. Use that.

Answer 8

Get a new unit. The old one will burn up perhaps twice the electricity, which will cost you more in just one summer.

Answer 9

I would buy the new one and get something that saves more so on the electric.

Answer 10

New. It will be more energy efficient.