Where can I buy an A/C unit cheap?

I'm having an HVAC guy out next week to clean out the ducts on my house and to turn on the furnace. I'm eventually going to want to have A/C put in, so I figure why not now? Anyone know of a site where I can order an A/C unit cheap? I'd like to buy it myself and just have the HVAC guy install it. The house is about 1,800 s/f, so I'm not exactly sure what BTU to get.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:07AM

P NW

· OR

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Icon_minipost Oct 17 '09, 04:54 AM

Talk to your HVAC guy first. Years ago, I was offered a screaming deal on a furnace. I got bids for having it installed and they weren't any different than having the HVAC install a new unit that they provided themselves.

It's very unlikely that you could install an AC unit yourself. My electrician will install and wire heat for a lot less that the HVAC guys, but he can't do AC. You need specialized guages and a licence to handle coolant.

It's very possible that your HVAC guy can buy the unit cheaper than you can.

I've done some serious shopping and haven't found AC or heat pumps at any sort of price that made me sit up and flap my front flippers and bark.

One suggestion, though. There are little one man HVAC companies and I find them to be about 1/2 the cost of the big guys who advertise in the Yellow Pages and on TV.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:07AM

Just Don

448 posts
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Icon_minipost Oct 17 '09, 05:31 AM

Possible sources:
local newspaper ads
craigs list ad
your hvac guy may know a used source of them

they get them as a course of biz,,or should.

I find a decent used one is as good as a brand new one. Nobody knows the difference,or cares. Cooling season is over 'here' so more bargains to find. Off season equipment doesnt sell as high.

think I paid like 150 dollars for a 3 ton unit I last bought

they are alot like storm doors,,,no sense buying new when used is so cheap

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:07AM

Rich Weese

Real Estate Investor · sioux falls, South Dakota

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Icon_minipost Oct 17 '09, 06:53 AM

Go to flea markets. You'll find a lot there. They're used and no one seems to know where they came from????????Rich

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:07AM

Eddie Ziv

Real Estate Investor · Studio City, California

1803 posts
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Icon_minipost Oct 17 '09, 07:18 AM

Here are some options:
http://www.budgetheating.com
http://www.pexsupply.com/affiliate.asp?siteID=ZxnD.TVtnD4-bjQ2VPyJ3j0D2noE0kQzbA
http://ingramswaterandair.com/index.php

The last one also sells surplus and used ones. I would suggest that you find the unit which suit you best and Google it to find the best price based on the model number

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:07AM

Steve Babiak

Real Estate Investor · Audubon, Pennsylvania

3895 posts
74586 Influence
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Icon_minipost Oct 20 '09, 03:20 AM

Some contractors do not care to deal with materials that they have not acquired from their own sources. What type of warranty should they offer? Their labor could be perfect, but if you bought a junk unit, then you might expect them to re-do things - but would you pay them to re-do in that case?

Ask your HVAC contractor what he / she can do and if it isn't within your budgeted numbers, then ask regarding alternatives to meet budget.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:09AM

Dennis Treacy

Real Estate Investor · Philadelphia , Pennsylvania

81 posts
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Icon_minipost Nov 09 '09, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by P NW

Talk to your HVAC guy first. Years ago, I was offered a screaming deal on a furnace. I got bids for having it installed and they weren't any different than having the HVAC install a new unit that they provided themselves.

It's very unlikely that you could install an AC unit yourself. My electrician will install and wire heat for a lot less that the HVAC guys, but he can't do AC. You need specialized guages and a licence to handle coolant.

It's very possible that your HVAC guy can buy the unit cheaper than you can.

I've done some serious shopping and haven't found AC or heat pumps at any sort of price that made me sit up and flap my front flippers and bark.

One suggestion, though. There are little one man HVAC companies and I find them to be about 1/2 the cost of the big guys who advertise in the Yellow Pages and on TV.

Do you know why this is? Call you local Yellow Pages salesman. A full page add in the book is about $70k the last time I threw the salesman out of my office.

Some advice take your Yellow Book and in any category tear out all of the full page adds, when you get to the 1/3 page adds and smaller you have the contractors who do not have to rip you off to pay for their advertising.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 10:27AM