HVAC....here we go again! Going to be a hot summer.

[TAftonomos]

So, to fix the first floor lack of cooling problems....I'm attempted to enlist the services of professionals.

Contractor #1 Says "the furnace is 2 ton, the outside unit is 1.5.....we'll upgrade the outside unit (just that) and it will make all the difference".  Cost $1300 for the R22 or $1900 for the 410a

Contr #2 "The system is totally undersized for the house, needs a 2.5 ton unit downstairs.  $5200 to remove the old unit, and replace it with a new 16 seer lennox unit (that sells for 3K online).
keep in mind, he wasn't/didn't say anything about adding a return, or more ducting, just to replace the unit itself.

Contr #3 "Add a return to what you've already got, and upgrade a 2 ton outside unit"

Cont #4 " systems needs duct fans, as it isn't pushing enough airflow down to the first floor"

Contr 5-9 didn't show up.


I need some help with this one, and I'm willing to pay for it.  Our electric bill is $350 a month in the summer, and the downstairs of the house will only get to 82, nothing lower.  Unit runs all day long and night.  Upstairs with a 3 ton unit, no issues.  No problems during the winter with heat, only the downstairs with cooling.

NO ONE has done a manual J or S load calculation to size equipment of ducting.  How are HVAC "tech" going to come in, look at something, and decide what needs to be fixed if they don't figure out what the problem is in the first place?

Anyone near Atlanta?  I've got a basement to finish, and HVAC is the first thing to go down there as well....but I need to sort out the 1st floor issues first.

[Lars D]

1 ton for 700 square feet is the norm.

[DW]

HVAC is shady here in Louisville also.  Two different responses to my 9 year old 18SEER heatpump/ac unit quitting.

I had one vendor come out and say that the system needed $4,700 in parts alone.  He suggested I replace the whole system for, get this $6,300.  Multiple parts broken and totally out of freon due to a leak that he had isolated.

Vendor #2 fixed the whole thing for $440!  No leak whatsoever, freon didn't even need serviced.  System was still under warranty for all parts, only paid labor.  

Shady vendors suck

[TAftonomos]

1 ton for 700 huh?  The bottom floor is ~1100 sq ft, top is 1500 or so.  There is a 3 ton unit upstairs which is why I'm not having any problems up there.


My biggest concern, is the current ducting.  Since the furnace is a 2 ton unit, is it ducted for the 2 tons (and there for I could replace the compressor with a 2 ton and be done), or will I need ducting to be added (in which case I'll upgrade the whole thing to a 2.5?)

[zooom]

I have a couple old window units that are collecting dust that are perfectly functional and good for $50 ea I'll sell ya!

[cyrus buelton]

I have a couple old window units that are collecting dust that are perfectly functional and good for $50 ea I'll sell ya!

My condo has central air, but still use a window unit in our upstairs bedroom.

really keeps the electric bill down and I like to sleep in a freezing room.

[zooom]

I got these units because the circulation in the house I was in at the time was an older home that had newer A/C equipment, but the house wasn't exactly refitted for the best efficientcy, so these were a great little suppliment to equal out the house in peak season....where I live currently I am not in that situation and they are sitting....where I move to next later this summer, I would hope I don't need them, but we all know how that song and dance goes...

[TAftonomos]

A seemlingly honest and knowledgeable contractor came by today.

Couldn't figure out why the thing passed code in the first place.  The 1.5 outside/2 ton inside unit has a single, 10" flex duct for the return air.

Going to start with the cheapest thing...increasing the duct size to 14" which there is space for, and see where that takes us.  He said we'd need to do that anyway if I upgrade the size of the system, so I'm not going to loose anything if it doesn't solve all the problems (he thinks it will)

[1KDS]

Having a half size larger coil than condensing unit isn't unusual, in fact most newer higher seer units are sold that way to get the efficiency out of them.
Some electrical service providers will come out and give a free heat load on your house to keep your consumption down.
700sq'/ton isn't at all the way to size equipment.  Thickness of outside walls, windows, insulation, ambient etc. etc.
If the added return fixes the problem, great.  One 10' definitely won't move 800cfm, the 14 *should* (I don't have a ductulator handy)