Fix the old one or buy a new one???
By reinydawn
@reinydawn (11642)
United States
November 19, 2008 7:15am CST
Well, our heat pump is shot, and we're looking at major bucks to fix/replace it. Since the unit is pretty old they may not be able to find a campatable peice and we may end up replacing the whole thing. IF they can find the compatable peice, it's going to be around $3,000. If they can't, it'll be around $6,000. Personally, I'd rather just get it replaced with an energy efficient unit instead of trying to find the old one. Yeah, we're going to pay more today for it, but it'll knock the electric bill down if we get the new one. It'll probably pay for itself in a couple years.
Which would you do? Save the money on the unit, buy a replacement and have higher electric bills. Or buy the newer, energy efficient unit, pay a lot more now, but have lower electric bills forever?
2 people like this
5 responses
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
19 Nov 08
If it was at all possible to come up the the $6,000 I'd say you'd be ahead to go that route. Not only will it reduce your energy bill, but if you fix the old one how long before you have to fix something else on it that will cost another $3,000. Since these appliances aren't made to last forever I've found that replacing them is cheaper than patching the old one together.
@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
21 Nov 08
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...
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
2 Dec 08
I would go new now because if you fix it what else will go wrong with it down the road?
@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
2 Dec 08
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!
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
4 Dec 08
Good luck to your nice toasty home.
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@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
21 Nov 08
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.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
19 Nov 08
Well reiny, I just got finished answering your other discussion
about this topic. It's a tough call! If you want the quick
and cheaper fix for now you know the answer. You might not
even have a choice if they can't find the compatable piece.
So it probably would be best to get the energy efficient one
to knock the electric bill down. As long as you know that you
will be staying in the house and you know the electricity bills
are not going to be getting lower and probably going to get
higher in the future then the best bet is for energy efficiency.
@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
21 Nov 08
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...
1 person likes this
@hildas (3031)
•
19 Nov 08
O my. Thats a shock. Surely this can be fixed. Even ifs it is old. Get a second opinion on this. Goodness that is awful. Your luck is like mine luck. Bad. I hope you get this problem solved soon. Buy a cheap electric heater in the mean time, but get that second opinion, or even a third.
@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
21 Nov 08
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...
1 person likes this
@hildas (3031)
•
21 Nov 08
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.
1 person likes this
