"WM" wrote in message
...
On 16 Dec 2005 17:30:38 -0800, "komobu" wrote:

Hi;

Need a new AC system in my house in Va. I am in the US Military and
currently live in Korea.

An AC Contractor is quoting me $5780 to replace my residential AC /
Furnace with the following 3 ton unit:
Model 38BRC036 3ton R-22 a/c unit 12SEER
CD5AXW036021 EVAPORATOR COIL
MODEL 58STA110 GAS FURNACE,
WITH A 20 YR HEAT EXCHANGER WARRANTY,
INSTALLED PRICE $5780.00

I have seen a 13 SEER Goodman Dual Fuel heat pumps with a 90K 93% Gas
Furnace on the internet for 2350. I am debating whether I should fly
back to Va and do the job myself. If I fly back to Va, it will cost me
roughly 900 for the flight and I can stay with family. Thus I would be
saving over 2500 dollars and I would be getting a higher seer unit with
a 2 stage variable speed compressor.

Some of the questions I have are these:
1) How much of the 5780 that the contractor is quoting is equipment and
how much is actual labor / mark ups? It would be bennificial for me to
pay to have the job done if the total labor cost was less than $2,000.
2) How intensive is an AC Install? (I am a Sheetmetal worker by trade.)
I am thinking that I put the condensor in place, the furnace in place,
and hook up a few electrical connections. I then sweat / bolt the
refrigerent lines and call out an AC Shop to verify all conections,
vacume the lines and turn it on.
3) If I call out an AC Shop to verify the install, I would think that I
could get them to verify the system install for less than a couple
hundred. Is this true?

Some Background. I am a Sheetmetal worker by trade. I have a Universal
License in Air Conditioning. I even taught automotive AC Systems for a
local community college. I have never worked on any residential HVAC
systems. I am a very serious do-it-yourselfer. I have built additions
on houses. I have even completey removed and replaced an entire house
electrical system.

The interesting thing about this whole thing is that for the last three
years I have been talking about going to school and getting into the
residential HVAC bussiness when I return to the states. I could
actually use this project as part of my education!

I am open to any advice and would appreciate any feedback.

Pat

Goodmans are great values. They sell millions of them and the
quality is about the same as the others.

If you request quotes on an installed goodman, you can get it
installed by a professional for less than $3600.



God..I hope so, since the total value wholesale of Goodman crap in the same
stuff he needs is WAY under $1200
Yea..Goodmans a GREAT value...you get what you pay for....in this case.
Hyundai was a great value in 86 too....LOL