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Heating & Air Conditioning

Central A/C Proposal

13 years ago

Hi- I would appreciate any experts' opinions on this proposal:

I have a 1929 solid masonry home with radiators located in PA. It is about 2700 sq ft with LR, DR, K, sunroom on 1st floor, 4 BR of equal size (about 13X13) 1 BA on 2nd floor and 2 BR (each about 14X16) 1 BA on 3rd floor. I have a proposal for a single high efficiency system 5 ton, 17 seer, 60,000 BTU system intalled for about $16,000 with a rebate from Carrier. It will be installed in the crawl space above the 3rd floor and the ducts will branch off and come down. The main duct will be insulated galvanized steel and the branches will be flexible/insulated. I am satisfied with the proposed number and placement of the registers on all 3 floors.

Does this number seem reasonable in terms of # of ton and cost? Are there any concerns with static electricity from the flexible ducts? Anything else I need to worry about? The pipes will also be adequately concealed (bump-out of walls, not through closets) and the registers on the 1st floor will be in the ceilings, designed to blow across the ceiling, not straight down. They (owner of company) "guarantees" me my house will be cool with only this one system.

Thanks for your help.

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Comments (5)

chestnut3
Original Author
13 years ago
I should add it also includes an Aprilaire media air cleaner.
ryanhughes
13 years ago
Did they do a load calculation to determine that you needed a 5 ton unit? It wouldn't surprise me if a 4 ton unit is more appropriate, but it's all guess work unless they do a formal load calculation. Bigger is not better in terms of comfort, upfront cost, and operating cost.
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Since you live near the shore, I assume humidity control is important to you. Therefore I would suggest you stay with the 2-stage units. Your variable speed furnace should be a match to all of the condensers you have listed. Option 3 is overkill in my opinion. But it is not that much more expensive after the NJ rebate. See if you can get the Carrier 10 year labor warranty included in Option 2. The labor charges for repair can be very expensive. I don't think a heat pump makes sense. You have a 95% efficiency furnace and I suspect you electric rates are in the 18 cents per KWH range. The gas furnace is cheaper to operate at almost all temperatures.
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1. Prices are irrelevant, based on location and some locations are less/more expensive than others. 2. Prices are based on small things, and it is the small things that take time and that adds up. A good contractor will give you options and should catch things to take care of for a complete install. The price seems ok though for what he is doing. 1st question what do you have for heat? next I'm not a fan of that condenser they first quoted, it's carrier's low end, not that it's 13 SEER but it's made to compete with the goodman products. To be honest it's a lesser model of equipment for me that doesn't meet my quality expectations so I would definitely think about upgrading. If the contractor offered to do zoning, I would first look into the infinity product line with the infinity zone system. It is a top notch zone system, almost as good as the bryant evolution zone system. :) actually it's the same. But if you want a precision modulating zone control that is it. It's the best. The second option is Arzel zoning for the non data communicating systems, this tells me they know something about zoning but then they didn't offer the 2 speed compressor with it, good grief. If you choose the Arzel zone then I would recommend the 24ACB7 or 24APA7 models. These have 2 speed compressors and work well with the Arzel zone control. It's worth the cost and when done well nothing beats it. for the purifier, I would pass and just get the 4" media filter cabinet. Put the money into zoning.
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Thanks Tiger and Mike Do you mean that this: 3 ton,up to 16 SEER, Puron, Performance Series, Condenser Model # 24ABC636A003 Is not a Performance model but actually a Comfort one? Do you recommend the performance over the comfort? I see your listed models above are for the comfort series. As for the second part: 3 ton, Deluxe Fixed Fan Coil with Puron, Comfort Series, Model # FX4DNF037000 Is this where I should be looking at getting a variable speed to decrease noise? This will be the unit in the attic - correct? As for returns, there will be a single return at the top of the stairs on the second floor. The layout is very open downstairs and the expectation is that warm moist air would easily rise up there and be returned. Haven't heard anything on the filtration. Good point on labor warranty. Plan to be here 20+ years. Will inquire. Thanks again. Really appreciate it (as you can tell, totally clueless on this). E
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chestnut3
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for responding Ryan. No they did not do a load calculation. Is that something I should request that they do? The windows are old and inefficient but something we hope to replace in the very near future so I imagine it would only improve.
ryanhughes
13 years ago
Since this isn't a typical replacement but rather a completely new installation with new ductwork, a load calculation is necessary. A new system sized and designed based on guesswork will do you no favors down the road. It's possible that one has been done, although often times they are not done, especially if it is a straightforward changeout and the previous size equipment "did the job." You should ask for the heating and cooling loads, in btu/h, from Manual J (method for load calculations). If a 4 ton is more appropriate, even if it's a 2-stage unit, a 5 ton system will be less efficient, cost more upfront, and likely dehumidify worse (due to running shorter cycles).
ryanhughes
13 years ago
Also, square footage alone is not an acceptable means of sizing a system -- in case you are told this.

I heat and cool a similar sized home (different construction type, in MD) with a 3.5 ton system. Each home is different, however, so a load calc could very well reveal that a 5 ton system is appropriate.

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