Fix the old one or buy a new one???  

The guy's going to come over and talk to us about our options on Saturday. He did find a unit that will work, but I don't know if it's energy efficient, and that's one thing I really want...

Actually, that's a pretty good deal. I had to replace one in a house I lived in before. It was a friend that told me where to buy it and he'd install it - basically for free. I paid about $2,500 for the outside unit only, he went and picked it up and put it in.

If we have to replace both peices - the inside and the outside - it will be around $6,000 (purchase and install). I know another guy that does HVAC and he's more expensive and can't fit us in right now. I might save about $500 on the unit, but I know this guy we have now is not charging us full price for labor. So it about evens out.

I only mentioned it because I have several rental houses and I've installed the central heat and air in each of them and I've never had to pay a lot if I bought every thing myself and installed what I could then hired a professional to hook it up.

In fact, at the beginning of this year, I bought two complete split units -- a 6 ton and a 4.5 ton -- plus all of the ductwork for less than what you've been quoted for one outside unit. I installed it all myself then hired a pro to hook them up for around $100.00.

I know when I looked around a few years ago for the one I needed, I got a pretty good deal with what my friend told me to get. Then he installed it - for almost nothing. That wasn't much less than what we're going to be spending now. I figured with inflation it sounds about right. This guy has known my husband for like 15 years or so and has been doing a lot of the work for a very good price. He's not charging us his normal labor rates and he's only charging us replacement cost on the unit. I don't know that I could get it much cheaper anywhere else. One of our clients is an HVAC guy and he was going to charge about $1,000 more. We'll find out for sure what's going on tomorrow, he's supposed to come over and go over it all with us.

That's what I'd like to do, but it's gonna be tough coming up with the money. I'm sure we can squeeze it outta somewhere for a while. I know it'll definitely be worth it to get the energy efficient units.

Well, the guy did tell us that he found a compatable unit. He's going to come over Saturday and let us know what our options are.

We're not moving again, that's for sure! Last winter, our highest bill was over $700 (for one month). It normally ran around $500 or so, and it's starting to creep up there again. This house is so not set up right for heating/Air conditioning...

My husband has known this guy for like 15 years so we trust him completely. I also talked to a couple people I know and they seem to think it might be the same thing - just from the sounds of what's happening. The outside unit has already been "fixed" once and it's beyond repair at this time. They did find a compatable unit, but he's going to come talk to us Saturday before we make a decision.

We do have baseboard heat as a backup, so we're using that now (it's been below freezing at night lately). That really just sucks up a lot of electricity though...

That is good that you know this friend, I was worried that it might be a rip off as it sounded expensive to me. If it is the whole system though it must be the cost he says. Sorry you have this expensive right now. I hope my heating system lasts for now. Take care and stay warm.

Yup, that's what we're doing - today as a matter of fact! They're installing a new unit outside (which is the one that's broken) and a new unit inside (to be compatable with the outside and is energy efficient). I can't wait to get home tonight and have "real" heat!

Good luck to your nice toasty home.