| May 6, 2007 @ 4:49 PM |
what do you think
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,704
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well My outside unit central air died and its ancient.. so i am not going to pour any more money into it.. i spent 500 on it last year replacing parts etc.. and i think its over 20 years old .. so i was at home depot and thought about getting 2 small window units and put one in the puter room and one in my bedroom thats where i am when i am not at work.. right now they are on sale for 89.00 each..  what do yall think.. sweet N Louisiana
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| May 6, 2007 @ 5:27 PM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 38,059
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I think your kitchen is gonna get mighty hot!
It will also be rough in the bathroom. I hate to take a shower and sweat at the same time.
And can your 110 wiring handle the load??
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| May 6, 2007 @ 5:30 PM |
what do you think
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blueyes101
Posts: 12,080
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It's all about BTU's, There is a chart on the side of the box ( of the new unit ) to let you know the square footage/ coverage.You will save money on your electric bill by buying a energy star model.( about 10% ) You have to compare apples to apples......Not sure of the size of your house, but I am willing to bet, you should replace the main unit, I don't think two units of that price range will do the job. Somewhere on the old unit is a tag, write down any info you can. Home depot will be able to give you a price of a comparable unit, then call around and find someone to swap units........Spending a little time on the phone, calling around, will not only educate you to what exactly needs to be done, but will also save you a ton of money.....If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to answer them the best I can.
Sweet, one more thing to consider, the size of window units increase based on the BTU coverage, so you also need to measure the window openings....If you use a model that is too small for the job, it will run continuously, and you will spend any money you think you are saving, on your electric bill.
You can save up to $180 over a 12 year lifetime compared with models manufactured before 1994
[Edited on 5/6/2007 5:39 PM]
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| May 6, 2007 @ 5:34 PM |
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Pete73052
Posts: 19,370
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Fix or replace the central air... it will be worth in in the long run and adds value to your home. 
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| May 6, 2007 @ 6:54 PM |
what do you think
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,704
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I think your kitchen is gonna get mighty hot!
It will also be rough in the bathroom. I hate to take a shower and sweat at the same time.
And can your 110 wiring handle the load?? both units are 5000 btu and run on 110.. for now i will put the one in the bedroom and see how it does..
pete if i had the $$ now i would replace the outside unit.. home depot use to have someone they worked with that they used to install your unit u bought thru them but right now they have no one,. i checked..  My house is 1300 square feet.. i dont look for these little units to cool it but at least my bedroom and computer room will be cool and maybe in the meantime they will get a new contractor... other wise i will just put one in the bedroom and at least be able to sleep.. i hate things like this..    Sweet N Louisiana
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| May 6, 2007 @ 7:33 PM |
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,704
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hmm ok just tried an experiment and plugged a unit in.. it made my bedroom lights flicker for a sec.. so i just better find a way to replace my outside unit.. damn it but these are going back to home depot.. sweet N Louisiana
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| May 6, 2007 @ 7:57 PM |
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Loreli
Posts: 25,401
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Sweet-I know a good handyman here-he's going to replace my water heater for cost, sodder a leak, and fix a bad faucet for 130 bucks labor.
Do you get a weekly advertisement? Sometimes retirees or other people looking for added income will do it very cheap.
Just get credentials. 
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| May 6, 2007 @ 8:34 PM |
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FeliciVagano
Posts: 2,152
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hmm ok just tried an experiment and plugged a unit in.. it made my bedroom lights flicker for a sec.. so i just better find a way to replace my outside unit..
flicker as in light is on..ac turns on..light goes a bit dimmer...and then back to it's normal brightness??
or..flicker as in turning on and of the light switch really fast....??
I am also betting that your computer room and your bedroom are on the same circuit breaker .... ( read: two portable window ac units will probably overload the circuit )
MacGyvering electrical stuff is best left to people who know what they are doing...JMHO
try checking with your city and the electric company for help with the cost of a new efficient outside ac unit.
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| May 6, 2007 @ 9:00 PM |
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,704
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flicker as in light is on..ac turns on..light goes a bit dimmer...and then back to it's normal brightness?? that one.. tommorrow i will make some calls and the last work on my outside unit was the same thing ( fire ants in the contacts..) BUT the parts are warranted a year. and it hasnt been quite a year yet... but the unit is very old.. really needs replacement.
and i keep fire ant stuff around it.. there has gotta be a better way..im gona melt...... Sweet N Louisiana ( times like this is when its tough being a single homeowner)
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| May 6, 2007 @ 9:01 PM |
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beckyiv42000
Posts: 14,576
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Hey Sis get a licensed A/C guy in to do the work .. then it will be under warranty and done right.... get a few estimates etc.. most will have credit plans when you replace an existing unit ...and check with the local electric company some will give you a rebate when you buy energy efficient models etc. huggs but get it done NOW b4 summer hits and you are stuck paying thru the nose...
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| May 6, 2007 @ 9:07 PM |
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,681
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Personally I have window units with ceiling fans, works very well. But you have to decide what it is you want to do. You have all your duct work in place which is a large cost of the system. Still replacement is expensive but if you don't have fans strategically positioned then a window unit may not meet your needs. Before you do anything just think it out well. Hope you get it resolved soon.
S
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| May 6, 2007 @ 9:08 PM |
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signme
Posts: 12,586
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Red I know what you mean about being a single homeowner. I hate it when something goes wrong that is major. I had to get a new a/c compressor a few years ago and mine was only about 8 yrs old. It cost a bit over $800 but I paid it off monthly. I do have a great a/c guy that I use all the time and he sometimes can get me things at cost. When I had 17 cats in the house,t he a/c went out all the time from all the cat hair!! Now I'm down to 6 and he hasn't had to work on it for 2 years. (knock on wood). But you'd be better off getting a new central unit--see about a monthly pay plan.
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| May 6, 2007 @ 9:20 PM |
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Loreli
Posts: 25,401
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Every 5 years you should have a specialist come and 'suck' out your vents. Especially when you have pets. It isn't that expensive, and sure helps the life of your AC. And furnace.
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| May 6, 2007 @ 9:26 PM |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,606
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I'd go with what Becks said...it's safer in the long run.
I'd never heard of home warranty companies before I came out here, but I swear by it now. It's about 600 a year for me, but it covers all major items, including pool/pump, etc. They just replaced two swamp coolers last year as well as totally revamping my central a/c.
Good luck with it, whatever you do!
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| May 6, 2007 @ 11:31 PM |
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username57
Posts: 1,041
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I think "I'm glad it is you and not me." this time...But I know my unit is old and my day is coming, so I won't be glad for long...here, we have a bi-weekly paper called the "Thrifty Nickel" full of ads...everything from cars to baby beds to folks wanting to work...maybe you have something similar? but check them out first before you hire someone...
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| May 9, 2007 @ 1:38 PM |
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,704
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thursday at 1 someone is coming to give me an estimate on a whole new system... an investment but another bill but i dont plan to ever move from my house lol .. but i might need a roommate... sweet N Louisiana 
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| May 9, 2007 @ 3:31 PM |
what do you think
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TRS1958
Posts: 481
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From what I understand, the 110V units use much more electricity than a 220V system. You would probably be much better off having the main unit replaced. The new ones are energy efficient, much more so than the older ones. So you should see a drop in your electric bill after a new one is installed. I have two separate systems in my house...one for the main part of the house and another just for my studio. Not only are central systems more efficient, they also circulate the air much better than a window unit. I think you'll be much more pleased with a new central system.
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| May 9, 2007 @ 11:53 PM |
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blueyes101
Posts: 12,080
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the 5000 btu's only cover 150sq ft. I looked it up for you.
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| May 10, 2007 @ 12:54 AM |
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stormy73
Posts: 1,181
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The window unit in my apartment is close to 30 years old, and I've never been able to get the rental company to get me a new one, because it's a casement unit. 
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| May 10, 2007 @ 1:31 AM |
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sweet5red
Posts: 9,704
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TRS also i found out i will get another tax deduction next year for getting a new energy effecient system.. i will let yall know what the estimate comes to.. i am appreciating all the feedback on this.. sweet N Louisiana  
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