Had a heat pump fail during a 100 degree week in Phoenix

Last July my heat pump just quit on a Tuesday when it hit 108. The repair guy said the compressor was shot and a new unit would run me $4,200. I ended up buying a cheap window AC for $180 to survive while I saved up. Has anyone else dealt with a major HVAC failure right when you need it most?

2 comments

2 Comments

parkerrodriguez14d agoMost Upvoted

$4200 for a whole new unit actually sounds like a steal in this market. Most people I know have paid double that for a decent install in the Southwest. Window units work fine for cooling one room, but if you've got a family or anyone with health issues, that $180 gamble gets risky real fast when temps hit 110+. The real kicker is people don't factor in how much longer their fridge, freezer, and electronics last when the whole house isn't baking at 95 degrees while you wait. I'd argue that dropping $180 on a bandaid fix while your house slowly cooks your appliances, your food spoils faster, and your pet suffers isn't really saving money in the long run. Maybe just me but I'd rather eat the $4200 and finance it than try to MacGyver my way through a Phoenix summer with a single window unit.

mason20914d ago

Hold up, you're acting like 95 degrees in the house is gonna melt your fridge into a puddle. People have been surviving with window units and cold drinks for decades. A new HVAC is nice and all but calling a window unit "MacGyver" is a little dramatic.