Please help - new heat pump installed

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I feel like an idiot, and I'm really embarrassed about it. I think I might have gotten bamboozled. My central air and furnace are both 20 years old. AC wasn't working so well - furnace is working, but I was told it's got issues and could go at any time.

I wanted a heat pump because I'd get both main heat and AC in one, and I'd have my existing furnace as a backup. But I don't think that's what I got. The AC is fine, but when I turn the heat on, it goes directly to the oil heater. No talk of auxiliary heat, etc. I mean, I definitely bought a heat pump, but I'm confused about the heat situation.

Doesn't the reverse-action of a heat pump mean you automatically get the heat, down to temps of 30 degrees or so? What did I miss?

Featured Answer

mike_home

11 years ago

You need to speak to the owner and tell him you asked for a heat pump. If he starts to give you any problems then ask it to remove it and get a refund. If he does agree to installing a heat pump, get a formal quote of what he is going to do and the model numbers of all the equipment.

Ask about the 3 day guarantee. Make it clear if this can't be resolved with the 3 day window you only course of action would be to ask him to remove the equipment tomorrow.

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Comments (10)

tigerdunes
11 years ago
What is model number of your heat pump? Matching coil installed at same time? New thermostat installed? Keep in mind, you require not only a HP thermostat but one that is dual fuel plus outdoor sensor.

IMO
PinkDahlia (Zone 6B)
Original Author
11 years ago
I will look for those in a minute - or possibly later, I htink I might have to run into the office. It's a Lenox, I know that, and I think they gave me new coils. New thermostat, including an outdoor sensor.

Thank you for responding. I will followup later with the details.
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PinkDahlia (Zone 6B)
Original Author
11 years ago
they sold me an air conditioner. I can't believe it. It's a Lennox XC14, and I just looked it up. I told the guy I wanted a heat pump and he sold me an air conditioner. I'm so angry I could cry.
dovetonsils
11 years ago
Pink Zone - I think it is worth a try to tell the contractor that you expected a heat pump and see if he is willing to change it. Unless it specifically says "heat pump" in your work order, I don't think you have any legal recourse - that type of contract must be in writing, not verbal. But the contractor may fix it for you to protect his references.
tigerdunes
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
That's the problem....should be XP14...
PinkDahlia (Zone 6B)
Original Author
11 years ago
I feel like an idiot. But I know I was clear on what I wanted, because there was absolutely 0 confusion with the other estimate. And this guy was so busy talking about any parties I was going to this summer, any vacations I was taking, etc. He did NOT listen to me. That he was giving me an estimate for something other than what I specifically said I wanted honestly didn't occur to me.

I'm an idiot, I know. But, you know, I showed him the estimate from the other contractor, and THE MODEL of heat pump it was. I mean...why did he keep telling me the only difference was that they offer 8 years labor & parts. It's an entirely different kind of system!

I mean, aside from the fact that I got the wrong thing, I way overpaid for it, thinking I was getting heat AND ac.
PinkDahlia (Zone 6B)
Original Author
11 years ago
Right, so the co-owner called and said he wants to "make it right". Now, I'm not calling him back tonight because 1) it's after 5, and this isn't an emergency that can't wait until tomorrow , and 2) I need to think about what I think "makes it right". Not that I'll get it, but I wouldn't go into a phone call like that without knowing what that means to me.

They do have some sort of guarantee that the sales guy showed me that said something about 3-day change of mind. There were several of those kinds of "we want you to be happy" guarantees, but I don't know what the loopholes are, and I'm sure there are some. Do I want 1) a refund that brings me down to what seems to be a "correct" price for this AC - which seems to be somewhere around $3500 (I paid $7000, which I thought was a good quote because it was in comparison to a heat pump quote for $7500), or do I want him to uninstall and get my money back.

Again, I don't know if either of those two things will even be on the table, but for me, those would be my top two options. The only thing against the uninstall - I really did want a heat pump - would be taking yet more time off from work to be home for it. Another day for the uninstall, another one to get the other company to do the heat pump install.

If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be grateful to hear them.
energy_rater_la
11 years ago
give him a chance to make it right.
it isn't unheard of that they picked up the wrong unit.

best of luck.
PinkDahlia (Zone 6B) thanked energy_rater_la
PinkDahlia (Zone 6B)
Original Author
11 years ago
Well, they're saying it was a "misunderstanding". Which, ok, but then maybe your guy should have stopped talking long enough to listen to me. Anyway, his original price for the Lennox XC14 was $9100. That kind of tells me everything I need to know. Again, I thought that price was high for a heat pump, and I told him it was way too high. To think it was for an AC unit!! (They're a very big company, by the way).

Apparently I have three days in this state to change my mind and have them remove it. I really hate having it come to that, but I don't see much choice.