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Carol Anne
Citizen
Username: Carol_anne
Post Number: 7
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 12:13 am: | 
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We have gotten a couple of estimates for installing central air. Now I have to justify the cost/prioritize projects. Does having central air help at resale time or does it just help in the livability for me in the here and now?
Thanks! |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3821
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 6:21 am: |
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Absolutely. |
Former Cowgirl
Citizen
Username: Formercowgirl
Post Number: 116
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 6:43 am: |
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I'm not a realtor but I am a recent home buyer and central air would make a big difference for us and we saw a big difference in price in homes with central air. Especially depending on how long you're planning to enjoy your central air before reselling. I'd say it's def. worth it if you have the space and $$$ for it. |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 605
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 6:51 am: |
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We're moving from a house with CA to one without. Since housing prices have skyrocketed, I'm sure we would've paid more if the home came with CA. We're installing it in the fall/winter months and pray that those ugly window AC's work properly this summer. |
NJguy99
Citizen
Username: Njguy99
Post Number: 44
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 8:58 am: |
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Our appraiser told us adding Central AC would add about $3k to the value of the home. That's not a bad return on investment.
Remodler magazine puts out an annual list of how much you get back for various investments. I can't find central AC on the list, but a lot of other home projects are there:
http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.NSF/pages/feature1dec05?OpenDocument |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 933
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:42 am: |
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I grew up in very humid upstate NY without AC - only in businesses and restaurants in my home town. We survived and I don't remember feeling deprived.
Having lived WITH it for the past 2 decades, I can't imagine owning a home without it and would plan to install it prior to move-in if we ever bought a house without it. That said, two of my neighbors don't have it - and one actually paid to have it removed! They claim to hate AC and rely on their whole house fans.
The bottom line is it is a home improvement and will increase your home's original cost basis at resale time (i.e. favorable move tax-wise if your resale is a LOT more than what you paid originally, which has happened to many in M/SO). And it will give your house an edge over an identical house without it for those buyers that want AC.
But mostly, install it for yourself and the simple pleasure of having a home with low humidity during the sweltering sticky days of July and August! 
PS. Likewise, consider also installing a whole-house humidifier for use when your heating system is on. It makes forced air heat very comfortable - my son's occasional nose bleeds stopped shortly after our Aprilaire was installed.
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SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 321
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:00 am: |
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Maybe it only boosts value by $3k...that sounds more like a number for an area where most homes have forced air heat (ie the ducts for CA) already in the house.
If it only boosts resale $3k here, I'd say that is because buyers don't realize how expensive it is to retrofit these steam/hot water houses with a central air system.
For newbies reading this, I've never seen anyone post that they spent less than $12K on a high velocity system (kind used on the these homes without forced air ducts). I've seen many posts in the mid teens. We paid about $20K for a two zone system - and we're not in a big house.
Was it worth it? For us, yes. We both work long days. We don't want to come home to a hot house, run around opening all the windows, hoping it will cool down (but still be humid).
That said, the "miserable" season here is shorter than in some other parts of the country and a lot of these houses were built with more cross ventilation than homes built after central air became the norm, so I can see how other folks - esp. if they are able to leave windows open all day - are ok without it. I really like not having the high humidity, regardless of the temp. |
Dobler88
Citizen
Username: Dobler88
Post Number: 109
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 11:11 am: |
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I am so torn on doing this. We have a very small 3 br colonial--and one big window unit cools the downstairs--and the window units upstairs do a decent job for sleeping...so while it would be aesthetically more pleasing and would add value, we arent "dying" without it... |
C Bataille
Citizen
Username: Nakaille
Post Number: 2634
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 12:31 pm: |
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We don't have CA (wouldn't mind it but don't have the bucks to spend on it.) To deal with the issue of coming home to a hot/humid house we have a heavy duty timer on the AC in the livingroom. I set it for about 30-60 minutes before I expect to arrive home. That way, the downstairs is breathable/tolerable immediately. I pop upstairs and turn on one or more bedroom ACs so the upstairs cools down before we head up for the evening. Also, I make sure the shades and curtains are closed on the hottest side of the house (southwest) before I leave for the day. That's my two-zone system! |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1241
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 1:28 pm: |
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We have two window units upstairs and two downstairs. These cool the whole house. We also have a third floor, which is rarely used, with a window unit there as well. We've never felt the need for central AC. Our house, ca.1917, isn't small, but it isn't huge, either,. |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1526
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 1:36 pm: |
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Bottom line: Most people consider central AC a plus, because: a) it's much quieter than window units; b) window units are unsightly from both the inside and outside; c) it's always "there" - simply turn on the thermostat when you're ready...no need to put back in window units every spring or remove them every fall; and d) newer CAC systems are less expensive to operate. For those reasons, CAC definitely adds to your home's value. No question about it. Personally, for me it's a deal-killer (not having it, that is). If I were looking at a house that didn't have it, I'd expect to pay less, comparably, for that house. |
SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 322
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 1:53 pm: |
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Window units are clearly an option. If we hadn't been in the position to put in central, we would have purchased them our first summer. Again for newbies/home shoppers, check electrical situation. Prior owners of our home had upgraded outlets for window AC in several rooms. We did a new panel / 200 amp service for CA, but even for window units you may be looking at some electrical work. |
Walt21012
Citizen
Username: Walt21012
Post Number: 10
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 2:36 pm: |
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Good advice. Central Air is not a short term option for us, but when we upgraded to 200amp service, we had dedicated A/C circuits put in all the bedrooms and living room / den. It's not a bad solution for July/August. |
Politicalmon
Citizen
Username: Politicalmon
Post Number: 161
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 2:42 pm: |
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The payback has to be much better than $3K for to be considered. We were given 3 quotes between $23K and $26K for the high velocity system. One unit in the attic and the other would be located outside under the porch. We currently use 3 window units in specific living areas for the 2-3 weeks of our normal high humidity & heat. I balked at the $25K figure since I thought it was outrageous - we are in the process of adding on to the house and will revisit the central AC option before the work is done - since we added square footage it would be nice to incorporate central AC into the final design. We are considering a hybrid system using an attic fan (on thermostat) and running central AC for the 1st & 2nd floors - since heat rises this may reduce the cost of running the small high velocity pipes and open up the competition with the hope of getting a better price. |
SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 324
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 2:59 pm: |
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One of the big AC installers told me flatly that his quote would be 20% lower in the off season. Waiting until winter can really pay off. |
Nancyjay
Citizen
Username: Nancyjay
Post Number: 12
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 10:28 am: |
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More questions... We're going to partly light our in-progress kitchen (gutted ceiling-sheetrock to follow) with recessed lights (probably 4 units). They'll be mainly in front of countertops & fridge, separate ambient light over table, whole kitchen is 15' x 12'. What kind of wattage capacity would be good for cans/pendant? We'd like to have 'em on dimmers. Overkill to have 3 separate switches-2 for cans, one for over table? |
Nancyjay
Citizen
Username: Nancyjay
Post Number: 14
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 10:30 am: |
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Oops, posted this in the wrong place! Sorry! |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 935
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
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Someone above posted "normal 2-3 weeks of high humidity and heat"
High humidity days aren't reserved for July and August - my CAC is on right now set at 76 degrees. We turned it on to get the humidity out of the house. It's a dramatic and pleasant change after being outside. (It rained last night and a bit this morning and is pretty darned muggy outside even though it's only 75 degrees.) |
Carol Anne
Citizen
Username: Carol_anne
Post Number: 9
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 2:54 pm: |
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Pdg,
I'm thinking we'll use it more like mid-may through mid sept. at least! We have allergies and can't open the windows, so I have all ready had the window unit on in the bedroom, but its soooo LOUD! I really hate it!
Thanks for all the input every one, now to convince the hubyy! |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11644
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 3:27 pm: |
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I don't care about the resale!!! I just spent five hours sanding, priming and painting the garage doors. I was sweating like a pig with the humidity!
Came in the house and it is a comfortable 74 with low humidity and I dried off in about five minutes. 
Off to the shower now. |
taam
Citizen
Username: Taam
Post Number: 189
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 10:37 pm: |
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words cannot describe just how great it is to have ca. it's so extremely worth it. - we used to have window units & now we have ca, imo there's no comparison. |
local denizen
Citizen
Username: Local_denizen
Post Number: 98
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 4:22 am: |
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This is veering off topic a bit, but it's related via the ductwork. Would anyone trade radiators for forced air?
My steam boiler is ancient and due for an upgrade, and my radiators are NOT recessed, so as much as i'd love to be rid of my unaesthetic window ACs, I'd equally love to be rid of my bulky radiators.
I know radiant heat is supposed to be the best, but is it really, and if one wanted central air at the same time they needed a new furnace, might it be a good idea to convert to forced air heat as well?
Any idea on the cost to add heat to a CA install? |
HOMMELL
Citizen
Username: Hommell
Post Number: 204
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 8:33 am: |
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As far as I am concerned, in a properly installed system, the ducts for central air and forced hot air should be separate (c/a through the ceiling, fha through the floor). That is a lot of duct work to fit into an old house.
Best case, you may want to convert to hot water heat (although that may also require some significant retrofitting). But that is another issue.
That said, we have a new steam boiler and high velocity a/c, and are very happy year round. And the price was cheaper than the complete air system you are considering. Good luck. |
Beans
Citizen
Username: Nalini
Post Number: 126
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 12:29 pm: |
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I am looking into getting central air. What company out there would you recommend? |
HOMMELL
Citizen
Username: Hommell
Post Number: 206
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
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Air Group
http://www.airgroupllc.com |
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