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NewslettersOk bloggers - now I need an AC contractor
Ok folks = the ol' heat pump is woefully undersized for our home and has, despite running maybe only 18 months in total over the last 6 years, given up the ghost mostly. Yeah its been serviced. It runs too long when we are here and the temp is set at 78F only. Then at 85F when we are not here - and then 55 in the winter. Its not like its been abused, except that the house needs 3.78 tons and the cheap contractor installed a 3 ton unit. so it runs and runs and runs to stay cool.
I have received a quote from one contractor that just seems high. I replaced a 4 ton 14 seer heat pump unit at my home in CT, including a new coil, for $4400 and the one contractor wants almost $8k for a 16 SEER unit with a new air handler. I have calls in but would value my blog friends ideas about reliable and fair priced local contractors who need the business. . . .
- joefarrell's blog
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843-521-9900
We used this company on several occasions and were extremely pleased with their service and prices. We would absolutely use them again.
843-521-9900
We used this company on several occasions and were extremely pleased with their service and prices. We would absolutely use them again.
They are wonderful people. I had a problem with my a/c at 7:45 at night when it was 90 degrees out. Albert, one of the owners came out right away and fixed the problem. He is reasonably priced and very knowledgeable about what he's doing. Good luck Joe. =)
379-1551
Has done quite a bit of work for my assorted. Very honest. With no surprises.
843-689-6077
The owner is Greg Land. He and his technicians replaced my old unit with a larger Trane @ 13 seer........my electricity bills went down, and the improved air flow allows me to run 77 in summer and 68 in winter.........complete comfort. Lands also does my maintenance, and I have had no problems in going on 3 years.
379-1551
Has done quite a bit of work for my assorted. Very honest. With no surprises.
Just did a system for me. House never felt more comfortable. Best price and service out of 4 quotes. Also made recommendations for further improvements when we can afford it.
I use Bootle Air. Great work, competitively priced. Been around for more than 15 years.
Here's the Bootle guy to call...843-575-6736.
I find Bootle very reasonable and dependable. I have a friend in Sun City who called LANG about the air not cooling. They told her *on the phone* what was wrong and quoted $1000. She called someone else who came out and actually looked at the unit (imagine that!) and fixed it for $500.
Undersized system also means undersized ducts which can lead to reduced air flow and freezing of your coils unless you have an air handler that can push the required amount of air thru the existing duct system. There are lots of companies who can do a good installation, but that doesn't mean they are good designers. They will install a system based on the square footage of your home and not take into account the amount of glass or building orientation. I guess that's what happened when your home was built. In my experience, don't go with the cheap guy with a two man operation for a problem like this. This is one time you will truly get what you pay for. I am preaching to the choir when I say that it might be worth paying a little extra for someone who has been around and will be around long after the new system needs replacing.
There are two misconceptions about air conditioning:
One, bigger is better. An undersized system is actually better than an oversized system. An undersized system will keep you happy at least 80% of the time, and it will do a much better job of removing moisture. An oversized system will not do a good job of removing moisture because it will cool the house before all the moisture is removed. Moisture=mold & mildew. Also it will only run for shorter periods of time, and those starts will reduce the life of the system.
Two, people think that the air conditioner should not run for long periods of time. You do want your air conditioning system to run for long periods of time. As I mentioned above, a systems that runs longer will last longer than if it's cycling on and off for short periods of time, and it will also do a better job of removing the moisture, which is much more of a deal here than in CT.
Industry standars use 95 deg. F as the outside temperature, so if your system maintains your desired indoor temperature when it 95 deg. F outside, it is sized peoperly. With most systems, it makes no sense to size your system for the 5% of the time where the temperature will exceed 95 deg. F because your system will be oversized for the other 95% of the time. If you do want to be cool during those times, you will have to get a system that will have a variable speed fan and a staged compressor so it can run at partial load as well.
Stoney, normally I agree with you 100% - its just that most of us do not build our own homes. We get what we get when we buy - and if we brought the AC contractor to every home we looked we'd probably reject them all . . .
Joe, Call Shane @ 843-575-1881 You will know him when you meet him. No One is better or more honest. He just put a top of the line unit in my house and did it for over 20% less than any other bid I got for my Insurance. I can hang meet in my house, Really. He will not let you down, If he does I will shoot him for you, thats a guarantee !!!
I like DaddyBlue's idea of a guarantee!
I have several great recommendations and we are proceeding apace. Thanks to all - blogs are great source of real personal recommendations!
Just make sure they size your duct work properly, most of the problems in this area are from undersized and un balanced systems. We are the only licensed air balancing company in Beaufort county. 770-0273
Just make sure they size your duct work properly, most of the problems in this area are from undersized and un balanced systems. We are the only licensed air balancing company in Beaufort county. 770-0273
I had my heat pump replaced 2 years ago by Sun Country. They found that my return air did not have enough air movememt to make the unit run efficently. They added an additional return air duct and replaced my system for less than 3 other A/C contractors had quoted. Sun Country was the only one that did an evaluation of my duct system. I have had no problems with my system and would recommend them to others.
Kool, I know a few former friends who need their Ducts Resized,, hehehehe
Kool, I know a few former friends who need their Ducts Resized,, hehehehe
They didn't make my A/C ducts larger, they just added an additional return air duct to increase the flow of air back to the unit.
at our home was zapped by a surge from lightning in the ground, which blew our its running capacitor and grounded out (forever) its condenser. I called the first 24-hour-service listed in the Yellow Pages, and a guy came quickly and accurately diagnosed the problem. Within 48 hours he had installed a new Rated-13 Goodman, and presented me with a hand-scrawled pay-on-demand bill. I demanded a breakdown of the charges, and then he showed "travel" and "labor costs" amounting to over 20% of the total, which I thought was excessive, but I paid up anyway after juggling some finances. The guy promised me a parts warranty for the new unit, and an Operating Manual, within a fews days, and I'm still waiting for them from him, in spite of almost daily calls. It's always, "Oh, it must be on my desk in the office. I'll check it out this evening." He seems to think that because the system is working again, I should shut up and stop bothering him.
Helluva way to do business.