Cost of intalled central air unit?

[Dozer]

The wife and I looked at a house to buy today. We were kind of supprised when we walked in and saw the previous owner took all the appliances with them! Not so sure if the took them or just sold them (Its a forclosure home). They also took the central air unit. Im assuming they just took the part that site outside (condensor I think?) there are 2 freon lines coming out the wall, looks to me like they just cut the lines and sold it. How much does it cost to have a new condeser installed?

[sparcebag]

@-3 years ago we installed a new unit with (A coil) unit that connects to those 2 lines but in furnace.Cost $2000.00.

The 20 yr. old unit quit.

[IFallsRon]

It's more common to leave the appliances as a selling point. It's pretty slack to take the condenser. I would think it comes under the heading of "attached to real property" and would be part of the house. If I was really interested in the house, I'd make replacing the condenser as a condition of sale.

[18 inch Crappie]

I just had a 3 1/2 ton 13 seer installed for $1700. It is going to change depending on the size of the house and the unit it will take.

Make sure they did not take all the copper piping also?

[Dozer]

It is a repo house so im assuming they just took anything they could when they left. All the copper is still there as far as I could see. What do I look for to see if the rest of the ac is still in the house and I just need the condensor?

[papabear]

I wonder if they recovered the refrigerant? It is illegal to release it into the atmosphere.

But if you are going to buy and put in a new unit I suggest a heat pump, the savings will pay for itself in a couple of years.

[spearchucker]

They probably had loans on the missing items and they were repoed.

[bgmny]

Dozer, make sure there are two lines running from the outside of the house to the inside. The other half of the A/C is above the furnace and is probably still there if they didn't take the copper. There is a drain line coming out of the bottom of the condensate pan, look to see if there is still pipe connected to this. It's alot of work to get the coil out, I would guess it's still there. Look outside at the ends of the copper lines. If they just cut them off without taping the ends or capping the lines there is likely water in the lines which is very bad for a refrigerant system. You would be better off just replacing the lines along with the condenser.

[Dozer]

I havent been back to the house to check it out any more but I did talk to a local heating and air place today. They said It would only be about $400 cheaper to use the old coil if it is still there vs just buying a whole new system. Kinnda thinking I could find a used condenser and just pay someone to install it. They guessed anywhere from $2700 to $4100 depending on the unit installed.

[Tom7227]

By the time you pay a tech to come out and put the refrigerant into it you won't be interested in putting in used parts. If the used part leaks or has any problems you will have spent a lot of money for nothing.

Find out the size you need and shop around. Be sure to check on the energy efficiency. There may be rebates available for the more efficient ones, or tax breaks. I don't know, but some dealers may have last years model compressors at a lower price.

[Ryan Berger]

it is most likely a r-22 system and if you can find a used condensor unit you should be fine,, no where near as efficient as a new unit but it will cool your house, how many sf is your house,,, I have a unit right now and am putting my new one in this spring and would be willing to give you the old one if it works for you house.....could do the install for you as well if there is time this spring...