HVAC Split Unit "Ballpark"

[Spiffy]

Looking for a ballpark idea on cost for a split unit Heating and Air system. The house is under 2000 sq feet with existing duct work. We've had the duct work in since the first one we got and Mom is fritting about it making noise when it starts up. Just want to know what range they are these days. 

[Jeb48]

I can't be too specific about your need, but I had a 1 ton unit installed by a reputable dealer in my shop.  It cost a bit over $4000.  I have seen do it yourself units with a charged, sealed, fix length tubes for less than a $1000.  I figured getting a brand that the HVAC company would stand behind was worth double that now double it again for complete install where I wanted it instead of X number of feet away max, was worth the professional install. Took two guys about a day. They actually gave me a free estimate with an un-site evaluation of my needs.  He said if I wanted heat faster I should go with a 2 ton unit for about $1000 more.  I plan to leave it on all the time and it did take awhile to stabilize the temperature. The outside unit is nearly silent on this unit.  I have to be standing right beside it to hear it.  Inside is even less noisy. I have only had it for a couple of months so I can't evaluate completely, but with it running almost continuous the first month to equalize a lot of masonry and steel, I figure it cost me about $1.50 a day to run.  should be cheaper now that it has everything up to temperature.  Haven't needed the AC part yet, but having my shop at a steady 68 is nice. I had it at 70 but decided that was too warm for a work space. Several friends have them in their houses and as long as you have an open enough floor plan to move the air around they work great.  Also good down to around zero where regular heat pumps give up around 20 degrees or so.  If it is your sole source of heat you may want to go bigger than you think you need, since they do put out less heat at very cold temperatures.  For my shop I didn't care if it got cooler in extreme conditions. My neighbor runs a small wood stove when it gets real cold.

I just re-read your note, mine was for a single inside head. They mentioned they also had units for limited duct work, I didn't need that but it sounded like it would not handle big duct runs.

Edited April 16 by Jeb48

[Scotty]

What’s the noise it is making on start up? Is it just loud as all hell when the compressor kicks on and then rattles off? Or does the rattling continue and sort of chatter? 
 

Have you had someone out to service and diagnose? Last time it was properly cleaned?

 

Could be something simple like a dirty evap coil. Could be an airflow issue. May get lucky and just be off on refrigerant. Having someone just do a clean and a tuneup and check out the refrigerant levels/pull it and pump it down and put it back in might do the trick. 
 

If you do a quick google search for “new epa refrigerant mandates”, there’s a big industry wide refrigerant switch coming. I haven’t followed up on it since it was announced as it was delayed and walked back and wouldn’t directly affect me this year. 
 

I would at the least clean, check airflow, charge, pull and put back in. You don’t want to be the guinea pig for a brand new refrigerant and newly manufactured condenser model. Catch-22 is that then companies will charge more for 410a because it won’t be produced and sold in mass anymore. They’re phasing it out. The price is only going up, manufacturing quality on newer hvac is far inferior to old. 
 

Just my opinion, I do a lot of hvac repair and new unit installs April-September but maybe someone else that does solely hvac could chime in. If the noise is a clanging and rattling noise that cuts deep to the soul on compressor start up that noise no lie gives me minor ptsd and is like nails on a chalkboard at this point. Lot of times it’s an easy fix, if it were mine I would limp it along until the compressor fully burntout and then upgrade. But I don’t know her situation, just my opinion. 
 

If you do call someone out, call a mom and pop shop. Don’t call anyone with a billboard. Private equity has bought out and turned a ton of hvac guys into sales people who will just tell your ma to buy a new system. Also, if they sell you on a warranty triple check that the labor is covered and not just parts. The big players will all cover parts, find a shop that stands by their work and will at the very least work with you on some guarantee of labor. 

[gregintenn]

I paid $5500 a couple of years ago. I doubt they’ve gotten cheaper since then.