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Message |
    
bdk
Citizen
Username: Bdk23
Post Number: 22
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 5:47 pm: | 
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We are thinking about installing A/C in our 3 bedroom colonial. We do not have any current A/C and need to have duct work done, etc. It's a typical Maplewood colonial, built in 1927. I know this is a wild shot but any ranges of how much it would cost to get it installed? I've heard 12-14k, it seems a little high... |
SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 195
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 6:11 pm: |
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That's not high. Depending on configuration, may be low.
Edison Htg & Cooling
Air Group
Air Group offers winter discount, but must act quickly.
See other thread on high velocity (Unico/spacepak) AC systems.
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SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1129
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 9:11 am: |
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We used Custom Air and they couldn't have been better. I left in the morning and when I came home in the evening the house was cool and there was no sign that they were there except for the vents in the ceilings. Our 3BR and finished attic house cost about $13K |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1291
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 9:23 am: |
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Custom Air and Air Group both specialize in our dear old homes. I recommend getting quotes from both. They use different systems, so you will probably prefer one over the other. We used Custom Air and had a great experience with them. |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1354
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 9:59 am: |
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That estimate is not particularly high -- that is the going rate. I had Air Group do my central air from scratch (ductwork, etc) last September. They did an excellent job in one day. I got a $400 rebate from PSE&G for installing a non-freon system (Puron?). I also got a $500 manufacturer's rebate from Carrier for buying at the end of the season. Good luck. |
melicious
Citizen
Username: Melicious
Post Number: 352
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 1:10 pm: |
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Is the unit housed outside? I have heard that some are in the attic, and I doubt my attic could sustain that...
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SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1131
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 1:15 pm: |
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The blower mechanism from which all of the ductwork is connected is typically housed in the attic. The ducts are dropped from there. I think it can also be housed in the basement but that makes the ductwork more difficult. For the high velocity systems I think you can put them in the basement. From what I recall, the unit in the attic is suspended from the rafters to reduce vibration. It (and the ducts) take up a lot of space. There is also a compressor outside. |
SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 196
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 1:34 pm: |
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I'm not sure what others experiences have been, but we didn't want to lose any closet space and didn't have anywhere else to hide a large trunk duct (there's too little closet space as it is), so our 2nd and 3rd floors (attic) are done from the attic (trunk runs thru unfinishied portion of attic)and the 1st floor from the basement. So, 2 sets of air handlers/blowers inside and 2 compressors outside. This was expensive - about 50% more.
At the time I choked on the cost difference, but an advantage of this approach is you end up with 2 zones/thermostats. The ground floor compressor runs much less than the upstairs and both zones are comfortable. The cost of running the air was less than I expected. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6678
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 - 3:58 pm: |
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Air Group did ours. One zone, winter discount, about $12k. The unit in the attic is suspended, like it has its own little swing.
I really liked working with them. They left all the hose ducts hanging because we were doing a renovation and the ceiling wasn't up yet. Came back in the spring on two days' notice to finish connecting things. They also waited until the system had been running for a month to bill us the final 3rd. When we had a problem with one room not getting cool enough, they came right over and ran another duct.
I don't think that we lost all the much closet space. |
bdk
Citizen
Username: Bdk23
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - 11:05 am: |
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Thanks everyone. Is this the Custom Air mentioned? Also, where is Air Group located? I couldn't find them anywhere. There are a couple:
Custom Air Conditioning & Heating Inc
11-18 Saddle River Rd
Fair Lawn, NJ zip code Phone: (973) 237-0789
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dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1300
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - 11:06 am: |
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bdk, I'm pretty sure that's the one. They've done a bunch of installations in Maplewood, so you can ask them about that just to make sure. |
SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1134
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - 11:59 am: |
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yes, they are in Fair Lawn
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Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 56
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - 1:04 pm: |
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Air Group
600 State Route 10
Whippany, NJ 07981
Phone (800) 545-1020
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missmelissa
Citizen
Username: Mlmelcher
Post Number: 16
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - 1:37 pm: |
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We installed CAC last winter. Of the 4 quotes we received, 3 came in saying we needed 2 units to accomodate all 3 floors of living space (we have 3 BRs, 1.5 baths on the sceond floor, and 2 rooms in our finished attic)...standard Maplewood fare. Custom Air was the only one that would have done all 3 floors on one unit (priced around $14K). For the two unit proposals, Air Group came in around $21K (!!) and Fritze (who we used and highly recommend) came in at $15K. Work was great- fast (2-3 days), no cracks in the plaster (which seems to be a common issue) clean, etc. and boy did we love having CAC this summer!!
Fritze: John DeWald
973-487-4748 |
Dave G
Citizen
Username: D_arthur
Post Number: 38
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 10:26 pm: |
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I'm still getting estimates - Clarke Engineering and Custom Air so far are in the range discussed here. One thing that I found a little surprising was that Clarke Engineering said that I would have to take care of drywalling around a couple of ducts that would be exposed. Not a total dealbreaker, but who wants to deal with another project.
p.s. Hi Mike on Mayew! |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1764
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 8:52 am: |
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I'll 2nd Fritze-Keyspan. Not only among the lowest priced, but that was for the higher efficiency multi-speed air handler (which I HIGHLY recommend) and for the higher efficiency outside unit.
Pete |
Will Allison
Citizen
Username: Will_allison
Post Number: 14
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 3:50 pm: |
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Has anyone considered and/or installed a high-velocity AC system (the kind that uses tubes instead of traditional ductwork)? And if so, do you recommend it? Thanks. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10624
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 2:09 pm: |
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Does anyone do the high velocity, mini duct systems other than Air Group?
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MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3345
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 2:44 pm: |
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Our Central Air was initially installed by Quality Air Conditioning & Heating (in Springfield) before we moved in, so I don't know about the installation cost. However, we have used them for service & found them to do good work at a fair price: 973-467-0553 |
Fotboat
Citizen
Username: Fotboat
Post Number: 49
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 3:07 pm: |
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I have a concern here about the large differences in prices on Central AC install (single unit) in a 1920s house in this area. I am getting quotes of 14K for your standard small colonial (3 brs on 2nd floor), yet I have people I work with who live near the PA line that get 6-8K quotes for the same thing. I even have 2nd floor closets positioned exactly in the right location for simple paths to the 1st floor rooms. It seems that these quotes are coming from direct comm salesmen who basically get to keep anything over $10K, or they or basically know that people in the MW area do not understand what a simple central AC install should go for. It should be in the 4 figures, not 5.
I saw the same problem with the French drain system I had installed. I got one quote for $10K and another for $3K. The 10K guy came back later and dropped it first to 7.5K them 5K. I went with the 3K and every thing was great (A contractor who has been doing it for 40years). So yes there are fair contractors out there, just ahrd to find.
I guess there are a lot of people out there (stupid, too busy or tons of cash) that pay the 10K. I met one, he was not happy when I told him I got the same thing he got for $7K less. People should try and figure out what the approx cost is of their project and what the profit margin these contractors are trying to get (50% vs 500%).
Same for room additions: I see contractors asking $300+ a sq/ft, when you should be paying $75 to $200 sq ft (depending on size), but people pay it.
I get quotes from plumbers that come out to $300+ hr, and find others reputable people who change $30 to $75 hr.
I personally know some flooring contractors and they state that their quotes are based on size of the house and the cars in the driveway. They will quote $15K for a same job that they would normally quote $5K. They will quote 50% more for Brazilian cherry over oak, even though the cheery cost them LESS than oak.
Back to A/C; I am concerned that there are 3 to 4 A/C installers in the area that just got together and said lets all charge $14K for your standard small colonial house and make a 300% profit.
Lets figure the materials and labor on my job:
- Material: $3K;
- Labor: 4 guys for two days: 4x2x8x $20/hr = $1,280. So round up to $4,500 + 50% profit = $7K (round up). Gee this is what people near PA are basically paying.
I am in the process of having some out-of-area installers quote the job, unfortunately a couple have stated that I am too far out of their area, but a couple are coming. Will let you know how it goes.
People in MW wake-up this is not Manhattan, stop paying the high quotes, your costing me time and money.
Yes I understand supply-and-demand, but I also understand sucker-beware.
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SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1158
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 3:18 pm: |
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contractors charge different prices in Short Hills than they do in Maplewood too. Consumers need to do research and be smart |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1338
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 3:20 pm: |
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Fotboat,
Thanks for the lecture, but understand that you aren't necessarily getting the same service for $8k as you are for $12k. |
bdk
Citizen
Username: Bdk23
Post Number: 27
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 3:48 pm: |
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fotboat- i totally agree. the profit margins up here must be nuts; b/c its not like materials in essex county are any higher than in central nj, or pa. i have a carpenter that is about to finish up a job, and the guy is trying to bang me out for a 100% increase in the price he estimated. granted they did some extra work, but i'd have to be crazy to pay double. |
SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 209
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:00 pm: |
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Every trade person who visits the house asks when we moved here (ie, did you pay $200k for this house in 98 or $500K in 2005) and where we moved from (manhattan, I imagine, highest price, Brooklyn - up there, nearby middle class town, best price).
I've been slow on the uptake (just smalltalk, me thought), I'm gonna start making •••• up. |
SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 210
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:02 pm: |
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My earlier posts, and I think several others, relate to high velocity systems. I got a unico system.
Air Group may have been first mover, but lots of other guys do it. |
Zach Williams
Citizen
Username: Babyzach
Post Number: 12
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 11:04 pm: |
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SO 1969
I'm experiencing the same thing...not to mention, the people who look at your furniture, cars, etc. |
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