how much to replace a hvac unit

HVAC System Install Save energy and money with a new HVAC system. Have Lowe's professionals install it by calling 1-800-GO-LOWES. Get It Installed in Three Simple Steps 1 Get Inspired Complete and submit the form on your right, and a sales associate will contact you about your project. You can also visit your local Lowe's store or discuss your project by phone at 1-800-GO-LOWES. 2 Get Started A project specialist will contact you to schedule an in-home assessment. Once complete, you'll be provided an inclusive quote. Purchase your HVAC system and installation services together, and we will contact you to schedule your installation. 3 Get Finished Sit back while an expert performs the work in a timely manner. Reduced APR With Fixed Payments* Ask for 84 fixed monthly payments at 5.99% APR until paid in full.* *Valid on single-receipt purchases of $2,000 or more made on a Lowe's Consumer Credit Card. Available in-store only. Must request at time of purchase. Apply Online Get Details Lowe's HVAC System Install Heating and cooling can account for half your household energy use.
Upgrade from your home's current HVAC system to a new energy-efficient system. Find other heating and cooling options at Lowe's. Discover a wide selection of air conditioners and fans, air filters, ceiling fans and accessories, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and thermostats.There are many types, manufacturers, and sizes of commercial HVAC systems which can make it difficult to create general guidelines for repair procedures and estimates for hail-damaged units. This guide uses the most common “light commercial” rooftop units (RTUs), which are 5-tons, 7.5-tons, and 10-tons in capacity, for estimating time to repair or replace. Defining Hail Damage to an RTU Hail damages a condenser coil when it impacts and bends the fins which prevents the appropriate airflow across the coil and inhibits cooling of the refrigerant. If the refrigerant is not cooled the system can overheat reducing the life of the unit. Coils are designed with extra capacity to allow for some reduction in airflow due to debris in the coils or minor bending of the fins, but proper practices to maintain unobstructed coils is important for extending the life of the unit.
Repair versus Replacing Damaged Coils It is uncommon for the coil of the system to be so badly dented that the only way to return the unit to preloss condition is to replace the coil or entire unit. Hail typically does not have the mass or fall at the required trajectory to impact the coil with enough force to cause it to leak refrigerant, which would require more invasive repairs. best ac units ratingsMost of the hail impact’s energy is lost when it bends the fins on the condenser coil and the refrigerant tubing behind the fins is left unaffected. second floor air conditioning unitsIf the coil is leaking refrigerant there is typically a noticeable oil spot at the impact or on the roof below the impact. ac unit motor costOccasionally a coil may not be able to be combed because the fins are too closely spaced together to place a comb between them, the fins are too brittle and break when they are combed, or the cost to comb the coil exceeds the cost of replacing it.
In these instances a replacement coil needs to be installed or the unit replaced if the coil is no longer manufactured. Combing is the most efficient way to repair coils and by far the most common repair method recommended by Donan’s forensic technicians. About 85% of Donan hail studies recommend repairing the unit by combing the coil. To comb a coil, a plastic or light gauge metal comb or a precision blade is inserted between the fins and pulled down to straighten them and allow the appropriate airflow to cross the coil. This is a tedious process and can take a contractor from two to four hours to perform at an hourly rate of $150 per hour, but $300 to $600 is much more reasonable than the cost to replace a coil ($3,000 to $5,000) or replace the RTU ($10,000 to $20,000). Donan forensic technicians follows the scientific method when determining if the RTU can be repaired and if the damaged coil has caused a reduction in a unit’s efficiency and capacity. The steps to the site study are:
Assessing hail damage to RTUs can be complex, especially when common myths about the effects of hail damage abound. A process grounded in years of experience and technical expertise, and vetted through sound scientific principles, can help ensure accurate, confident claims decisions are made.Converting central-air units to R-A is a project for HVAC professionals. As of 2012, the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry is in the process of changing over from ozone-depleting R-22 refrigerant to environmentally-friendlier R-410A refrigerant. The manufacture and import of complete new HVAC systems using R-22 was banned in the U.S. in 2010, but parts for R-22 systems and the R-22 refrigerant itself remain available as of 2012 to HVAC contractors for repair work. Converting an R-22 HVAC system to R-410A is a major undertaking and is not a do-it-yourself project. Major Changes Converting an R-22 system to R-410A is like converting a diesel engine to run on gasoline; it can’t be done without making major changes to the entire system.
In the case of HVAC systems, conversion requires replacing the R-22 compressor, evaporator and condenser with units designed to run with R-410A. Sometimes the copper lines connecting the components also must be replaced, but it may be possible to clean, flush and dry the lines if they can handle the higher pressures of R-410A. Bone Dry A crucial part of the conversion process is removing all moisture from the system and ensuring it is free of leaks before charging with the R-410A. The polyethylene-based lubricating oil breaks down in the presence of water. After the new R-410A mechanical components are installed and all line connections brazed, the installer must connect a vacuum pump to the system, draw it down to a vacuum of 500 microns, and hold it there for several hours, sucking out any traces of water vapor that boil out of the system in this hard vacuum. Leaks in the system make it impossible to hold the vacuum until they are found and fixed. Once the system is dry and tight, the technician can charge the system with R-410A.
Incompatible Products The extensive system changes are required because R-22 and R-410A refrigerants are not interchangeable and cannot be mixed in the same HVAC system. These products have very different heat-transfer properties and use chemically incompatible lubricating oils. R-410A requires a polyester-based synthetic lubricant, while R-22 needs natural petroleum-based oil. What this means is that a system designed to use R-22 will fail quickly if filled with R-410A, and vice versa. For instance, R-410A builds up system pressure on the high-pressure side that is 50 percent greater than R-22, putting overwhelming strain on the compressor, lines and seals. If the R-410A lubricant encounters traces of the R-22 lubricant, it will break down and lose lubricating ability. Switch or Wait If you have a relatively recent R-22 HVAC system that is running fine, you don’t have to switch immediately. Under U.S. regulations, chemical companies can continue to make R-22 for service needs until 2020, and may offer R-22 reclaimed from equipment until 2030.