Central air

[vwboomer]

So with the good rebates offered now (30% back) I'm thinking maybe I'll get AC this summer.

After googling for reviews I found a whole lot of nothing useful. Any HVAC people here?
My furnace is a 94 Carrier Infinity.
I have a Lennox guy coming next week for an estimate, but I really know nothing about any of the brands, or the prices for the units.

[yotogi]

<-- wishes that he lived in a part of the country where AC was optional.

I guess if you live in parts of Cali, you might be able to go without it and still ride all year, but I will take needing AC and not having to garage the bike for the snow.

[Porsche Monkey]

Damn. My AC runs 11 months out of the year. 

[MrFryMoto]

how much does running the AC drive up the bills?
i just moved to a place that has it and i've never had it before - never needed it either

[yotogi]

how much does running the AC drive up the bills?

Our electric bill (in Texas where we have 95+ degree days in the summer) basically doubles when we go into the hot months. There are so many factors that determine this (size of air handler, how the ducts are routed, how long it has been since the filters have been changed, temperature delta, humidity...) that it would be difficult to estimate how much more it will be. If you can get by without it, I would say rock the open windows and fans.

[NAKID]

When was living in Phoenix, my electric bill would be between $250 and $300 a month from late May-Sep. Contrast that to about $80 in the winter months...

[somegirl]

I guess if you live in parts of Cali, you might be able to go without it and still ride all year, but I will take needing AC and not having to garage the bike for the snow.

Indeed

[ducpainter]

Indeed

I look at it this way.

There are roughly 35 million people in Cali...and 1.5 mil in NH.

If you assume that 10% of the population is an asshole...insert opinion of choice...

that means there are waaaaaaaaay fewer assholes here.

I'll freeze thanks.

[TiNi]

our house has everything in place for central air, except for the compressor
here in CT, we only need it a few days a year

[NAKID]

Right now I have window units for A/C in coastal CT. It surprises the hell out of me right now to see some of the people I live near with their A/C units in the window and RUNNING! It's in the 60's right now! That's January weather where I'm from...

[Mother]

To the OP, Tailgunner is an HVAC guy, he might could answer your question

[vwboomer]

Well my house is small - 1250sqft. And it's a brick ranch, so that helps with climate control right there.
I'm on a much quieter street than I used to be, so the windows will be open much more. However the houses are very close together. Lots on either side of me are about 40' wide - same as mine.

It would kill me to have a high electric bill  (winter bills were about $55) since I stick it to the man using wood heat during the winter

It's amazing how 70 degrees in the winter is great lounging about temp, but seems a tad warm at the end of May

I hate shopping for items like this since prices don't appear to be generally known since you can't install it yourself (unless you can do sheet metal work). I'm a window shopper - I like to compare prices, features, reviews. not so easy here.

A coworker had a friend install his furnace/CA for 3800. He will install any brand and he does it on the side, so no matter which I decide on, I may go with him for the install. I can do the electrical which is easy, but the sheet metal work...not so much. Plus, I'm going to have 2 8" taps added in for my new wood furnace which I'm getting this summer.

But rreally. I feel for you'se guys in the SW. I was in Arizona last May for a week and it wasn't bad - bout 90. But you know.....it's not the heat....it's the humidity :p

[1KDS]

So with the good rebates offered now (30% back) I'm thinking maybe I'll get AC this summer.

After googling for reviews I found a whole lot of nothing useful. Any HVAC people here?
My furnace is a 94 Carrier Infinity.
I have a Lennox guy coming next week for an estimate, but I really know nothing about any of the brands, or the prices for the units.

I'm an HVAC tech in nebraska,  I work for a York dealer but I much prefer Lennox products.  I do more commercial service than residential, I am always happy to see a lennox on the roof when I'm out on a no cool.  Lennox is the best brand out there in my opinion, servicability, warranty and leading edge tech.  Pull the trigger if the estimate is fair.

[Porsche Monkey]

I look at it this way.

There are roughly 35 million people in Cali...and 1.5 mil in NH.

If you assume that 10% of the population is an asshole...insert opinion of choice...

that means there are waaaaaaaaay fewer assholes here.

I'll freeze thanks.

Yes but some people are bigger assholes than others.

[CMDRDAVE]

I look at it this way.

There are roughly 35 million people in Cali...and 1.5 mil in NH.

If you assume that 10% of the population is an asshole...insert opinion of choice...

that means there are waaaaaaaaay fewer assholes here.

I'll freeze thanks.

Yea, but all the visits from MASSholes probably makes up for it