Replacement Costs

[A.D. Miller]

What is a ballpark figure for replacing an existing forced gas furnace and split A/C system? Assume 13 seer, builder grade, no need for refrigerant line replacement.

[A.D. Miller]

Of course, I meant forced air . . .

[Scott Patterson]

$3,000 to $4,000 would be a good ballpark figure for a Goodman or similar quality. I have always used $1,500 for the furnace and $1,500 for the A/C as a ballpark and then you can add to that for the size of the unit and the area that the home is in.

[A.D. Miller]

$3,000 to $4,000 would be a good ballpark figure. I have always used $1,500 for the furnace and $1,500 for the A/C as a ballpark and then you can add to that for the size of the unit and the area that the home is in.

Scott: Thanks. I tried to make heads or tails of the Craftsman National Construction Estimator numbers to no avail.:(

[Scott Patterson]

Scott: Thanks. I tried to make heads or tails of the Craftsman National Construction Estimator numbers to no avail.:(

I found that the Craftsman Insurance Estimator is a little easier to read and this is what I use most of the time. It has demo/disposal cost as well as replacement cost. RS Means books/service is not any better.

[A.D. Miller]

I found that the Craftsman Insurance Estimator is a little easier to read and this is what I use most of the time. It has demo/disposal cost as well as replacement cost. RS Means books/service is not any better.

Scott: I'll try that. The construction esitmator may be OK, but on some items it's like reading Mandarin Chinese.

[Jim Luttrall]

Wow, that sounds cheap. Are you talking per ton?
I replaced my electric furnace with a heat pump, 14 SEER 3 ton Goodman and did a lot of the incidental work myself (closet, breaker, etc.) and spent over $5,000. I had comparable bids up to $8,000 for similar Carrier and Lennox. This was spring of 2006. I did have to change the line set but no duct work.

[A.D. Miller]

Wow, that sounds cheap. Are you talking per ton?
I replaced my electric furnace with a heat pump, 14 SEER 3 ton Goodman and did a lot of the incidental work myself (closet, breaker, etc.) and spent over $5,000. I had comparable bids up to $8,000 for similar Carrier and Lennox. This was spring of 2006. I did have to change the line set but no duct work.

Jim: These are not heat pumps. They are also not 14 seer, and no duct changes. Carrier and Lennox are great - maybe not as good as American Standard, but there are less expensive alternatives.

[Ted Menelly]

I hear 4,000 min and they all come back with they asked for rough pricing and keep getting hit with 5 grand, gas and 3 to 3 1/2 ton 13 seer units. I have heard as low as a few grand but they were smaller units all electric and cheaper base models.

I always tell my client for a half way decent system they are talking 4,000 min. Higher seer and duct work will be more money. Gas units are not cheap.

Four large 5 ton systems a client was quoted 26,000 to 30,000 for the 4 systems by 3 different companies. Of course all these companies just like any company they are following the money. If they can afford a home with 4 5 ton systems then they can afford the systems.

Also Aaron. What builder for builder grade. I know some that put the cheapest systems in and some that go all out. I think a min 4 grand for any decent system in the 3 to 3 1/2 ton area. Go cheap you get cheap.

Just quotes from the street.