The $55,000 system that pays my customer $600 a month
A friend with a big home had a $1,200 monthly electric bill and quotes around $12,000. I told him the truth about what it would really take. Here is how it turned out.
A friend with a very large home was paying about $1,200 a month for electricity and had quotes of $12,000 to $15,000 to replace two systems. I told him honestly there was no way I could get near those numbers, and that to do it right we would be between $40,000 and $55,000. He chose the $55,000 system, two high-end furnaces, two 20 SEER air conditioners, and air filtration, and his electric bill dropped to about $600 a month. The house is finally comfortable, and the savings pay him back like a dividend for as long as he lives there.
The honest conversation
One of my favorite customer stories is actually about a friend of mine. He has a very large home, and his electric bills were running about $1,200 a month. He had quotes from other companies in the $12,000 to $15,000 range to put in two new systems.
My number was a lot higher. As low as $40,000, and as high as $55,000. I just told him straight, there is no way I can get to those other numbers. I do not know what they are planning to do at your house, but for us to do this right, this is where we have to be. We can absolutely make it happen and give you an excellent system, but I am not going to pretend it costs less than it does.
I would rather lose a job being honest than win one by lowballing and cutting corners later. That conversation is the whole ballgame, and it is the same reason we always give good, better, best pricing with real payment options instead of one take-it-or-leave-it number.
What he actually got
He originally signed up at $40,000, then decided to go with the full $55,000 system. Here is what that bought:
- Two really nice furnaces, properly sized for his home with a load calculation.
- Two high-end 20 SEER air conditioners, sized and commissioned the right way.
- Whole-home air filtration to clean up the air while the system runs.
This was not about selling him the biggest thing on the truck. It was about designing a system that would actually make a big, hard-to-condition home comfortable and efficient.
The math that makes it a no-brainer
Here is the best part. Before, even with that $1,200 a month bill, his house was not comfortable. After, the home is genuinely comfortable, and his electric bill is now about $600 a month. That is a $600 a month difference.
So think about it like an investment. Would you put $55,000 into something that pays you $600 every single month for the entire time you live in the home? That is an incredible payback. And remember, he had to replace those failing systems anyway. The fact that the new system hands him a $600 a month dividend on top of finally being comfortable, that is a total win.
Why I tell this story
I was glad he saw the value in my company, but the comfort and the return are what make me proud. He spent a lot more than he would have with the cheap quote, and he got exactly what he paid for. Cheap is expensive when the system is undersized, poorly installed, and never commissioned. The right system, designed and installed correctly, pays you back. If you are weighing a big quote, we are happy to walk you through the real numbers and the financing options so the decision is yours, with eyes open.
The quick version
- A friend’s large home cost $1,200 a month to run and was still not comfortable.
- Other companies quoted $12,000 to $15,000. I was honest that doing it right meant $40,000 to $55,000.
- He chose the $55,000 system, two furnaces, two 20 SEER air conditioners, and air filtration.
- His electric bill dropped to about $600 a month, a $600 monthly savings, and the home is finally comfortable.
- A properly designed high-efficiency system pays you back like a dividend, especially since you have to replace a failing system anyway.
I told him there is no way I can get to those numbers, but I can give you a system that actually works. He spent way more than the cheap quote and got exactly what he paid for.
Would you put $55,000 into something that pays you $600 a month for as long as you live in the house? That is an incredible payback, and the home is finally comfortable.
David WahlCEO & Master Plumber, Wahl Family
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Call 1-855-GET-WAHLFrequently asked questions
Why would one company quote $55,000 when another quotes $12,000 for the same job?
Because the scope and quality are not the same. A low quote often means undersized equipment, no load calculation, and skipped commissioning. The higher number on this job covered two properly sized furnaces, two high-end 20 SEER air conditioners, and whole-home air filtration designed to actually make a large home comfortable. You usually get what you pay for.
Can a high-efficiency HVAC system really cut my electric bill in half?
It can in the right situation. On this large home, the bill went from about $1,200 a month to about $600 a month after a correctly designed and installed system. Your savings depend on your current equipment, your home, and how it is used, which is why we run a load calculation before quoting anything.
Is it worth spending more on HVAC if I have to replace the system anyway?
Often yes. Since you are buying a system regardless, the real question is the return. If a better system saves you several hundred dollars a month and makes the home comfortable, that monthly savings acts like a dividend on the extra you invested. We will lay out the numbers so you can decide.
What does ’20 SEER’ mean on an air conditioner?
SEER is a measure of cooling efficiency, and a higher number means more cooling per dollar of electricity. A 20 SEER unit is a high-efficiency air conditioner. Efficiency only pays off if the system is sized and commissioned correctly, which is where a lot of installs fall short. See how to pick an AC for more.
Does Wahl offer financing on a large HVAC project?
Yes. We offer a range of options, from long-term financing to short-term zero-percent credit cards, plus cash and check. The goal is to make a properly designed system affordable on a monthly basis. You can learn more on our financing page.
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Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, since 1980. HVAC, plumbing, water treatment, sewer, and bathroom remodeling, all under one roof, all done the Wahl way.