In article HD1ng.2207$Xn.1341@trnddc05, wrote:
GregS wrote:
I remember looking through Sears catalogs and others showing whole house air
conditioning
units and prices. All I see now is estimates. I was thinking about whole air
conditioning,
but what a rip off when you can buy a 25K BTU window for $500, Where a
similar whole house
unit costs in the thousands. I really think I am going to buy a window unit
and connect it to my
new furnace when I buy that. Seriously. And the new laws make it even more
expensive, trying to get
better efficiencies mandatory, yet you can still buy those window units.

greg


Those window units are rather low efficiency, usually around 8 EER. If
you're a serious DIY, have a look at www.usamfg.net and keep an eye out
on ebay. I installed a 3 ton (36K BTU) 14 SEER heat pump along with a
new furnace for about $1600 including a few special tools I had to buy.
Even if you buy all new equipment, you should be able to manage central
AC for under $1500 assuming your furnace is ok.

It really is a rip to have a contractor install it, sure they've gotta
put food on the table but they normally buy the equipment wholesale,
double the price, then charge $100+/hr for labor on top of that.

You do have to make *really* good soldered joints on the pipes though.
Most pros braze them but that requires a source of dry nitrogen and it
can harden the copper. I use good silver solder and a special water
based flux. For a vacuum pump I got a surplus window AC compressor from
usamfg for about 8 bucks and soldered a fitting to it. Most systems come
pre-charged with enough refrigerant for 15-25' of line but you can
easily get certified online to purchase more. It is not trivial to put
one in but I had a lot of fun, learned a lot and saved a bundle in the
process. I've put in two systems now and was very satisfied with the
results.

Look for something that's at least 12 BTU/W efficiency, with the price
of energy going up, any money you save with a lower efficiency unit
you'll spend later on power.

Thanks.
I see window units up over 10 now.

greg