NewCondoOwner
Apr 18, 2007, 03:38 PM
I live in a condo. All of the units in the building need to new air conditioners because they are all old and will not survive a scheduled reroofing of the building. The association got a bid for a company that will put in a new condenser unit for anyone who wants one - it is about $1500 installed. The estimate includes a Payne 2 ton, 13 SEER, r-22 air conditioner unit.
The electrician giving the bid is not replacing the inside coil. In fact, he said that the inside coil has a heat strip, and in California, those can't be replaced with a new heat strip. So, according to the electrician guy, to replace the inside coil I would need a condenser/heat pump unit rather than just a condenser. He also said that the building in which my condo is in has a T-bar fan, and that it probably can't be made quiet (it is currently very loud if either the heater or air is on).
Does this all sound right? Should I get a second opinion? I don't think that getting just a condenser makes sense if I can't replace the inside coil unless I have the condenser/heat pump unit? I am concerned about using this electrician if he would recommend that anyone in the building get just a condenser (about 15 people are signed up to right now). Something seems off to me, but I know NOTHING about any of this. Any recommendations? How do I find a good company to replace the condenser unit/heat pump.
Also, the condo is multiple stories and requires a crane, so there is some expense spared in going with the guy giving the bid because those costs are split 15 ways. Should I just upgrade his current bid to get a heater/condenser now or try to find someone else and just eat the extra cost?
The electrician giving the bid is not replacing the inside coil. In fact, he said that the inside coil has a heat strip, and in California, those can't be replaced with a new heat strip. So, according to the electrician guy, to replace the inside coil I would need a condenser/heat pump unit rather than just a condenser. He also said that the building in which my condo is in has a T-bar fan, and that it probably can't be made quiet (it is currently very loud if either the heater or air is on).
Does this all sound right? Should I get a second opinion? I don't think that getting just a condenser makes sense if I can't replace the inside coil unless I have the condenser/heat pump unit? I am concerned about using this electrician if he would recommend that anyone in the building get just a condenser (about 15 people are signed up to right now). Something seems off to me, but I know NOTHING about any of this. Any recommendations? How do I find a good company to replace the condenser unit/heat pump.
Also, the condo is multiple stories and requires a crane, so there is some expense spared in going with the guy giving the bid because those costs are split 15 ways. Should I just upgrade his current bid to get a heater/condenser now or try to find someone else and just eat the extra cost?