I am AC illeterate, but I am trying to be an informed consumer.

15 years ago

Good Morning,

We moved into our Southern California home appx. five years ago, and the ac has never worked properly. So know after five years we are able to afford to purchase one. We have a family friend that is a reliable individual, and he is giving us a quote of $5,000 for a 5 ton 13 seer combo rooftop packet. He is going to include the ac unit, removing and hauling away the old one, replacing all of the duct work and changing out my new registers, since I purchased the wrong ones. Also, rewiring the electrical wires, since they need upgraded wires because we are going with a higher tonnage and the existing wires wonÂt do the trick. Last but not least a thermostat box or control box. He is willing to either put in a Carrier or York. I haven't read too many good things about York, but he stilled a York unit at my motherÂs home appx. three years ago and it does the job well.

Oh, I can upgrade the seers on the unit but it would be an addition $500 to $600 dollars depending on the seer upgrade I want. My home is 2120 square feet. I do have shutters on most of the windows, and it is a two story house. Consequently the top floor is like an oven. I want to make a wise choice in choosing either Carrier or York and also should I increase the seers? I live in the Inland Empire which at times gets up to 110 in the summer months. Thanks for helping me.

Elsa

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Comments (8)

ryanhughes
15 years ago
The price is good, but are you sure you need 5 tons? That's a lot of cooling. Ask your friend if he can do a load calculation/analysis to determine sizing. Oversizing decreases efficiency, lowers humidity control, and shortens the life of the equipment (more starting/stopping). Does the quote include a new thermostat? The Honeywell VisionPRO is a nice thermostat. Also, are you looking to get a variable-speed blower? If not I would recommend you look into doing so for more efficiency and comfort. York makes good equipment, especially their Affinity line. York's rooftop units are VERY popular and pretty much sell themselves (in commercial mostly).
grdnchik
Original Author
15 years ago
Ryanhughes,
Yes, the quote includes the thermostat, however I have no idea about the variable-speed blower. Thanks for the heads up on York's rooftop units. I will do a little reading on the blower thing. So, should I increase the seers for the few extra hundred dollars?
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ryanhughes
15 years ago
To increase a SEER or two, I don't think I could justify that extra cost. The variable-speed blower would probably raise the cost a bit. I would compare York and Carrier rooftop units, as well as Trane if your dealer could offer Trane as well.
udarrell_2007
15 years ago
There are many things far more important than the SEER Rating!

The cost effective move would be to do everything possible to reduce the 2nd floor heat-gain.

There is no way that it should take 5-ton to cool that square footage. Do to lack of airflow, chances are that a 5ton won't be delivering anywhere near 5-ton!

Additionally, They probably only have enough airflow for 3.5-ton. The airflow determines the tonnage it gets.

Put lots of large Air Returns on the 2nd floor. Check to see if the 2nd floor ducts & registers are properly sized!

If possible, have dampers installed in the ducts so you an balance the airflow to the rooms.

Do what ought to be done & I'm betting a 3.5-ton system will cool your home. Have an accurate manual J done.

I would NOT go above a 15-SEER unit. - udarrell

Here is a link that might be useful: Air Conditioning System Sizing for Optimal EER & SEER Efficiency
udarrell_2007
15 years ago
I didn't see the 110 degree (dry desert) heat, but still believe, "if you do everything possible to reduce the heat-gain," an optimized 4-ton system ought to handle the load. After the heat-gain reduction upgrades, follow the manual's J,S & D. - udarrell

Here is a link that might be useful: Correct Sizing of Residential Ductwork Systems
garymunson-2008
15 years ago
Sholud be hot enough where you're at to include a heat recovery unit to provide free hot water (if the water heater is close enough to the condenser unit to plumb it) and increase the A/C efficiency.
ryanhughes
15 years ago
"Sholud be hot enough where you're at to include a heat recovery unit to provide free hot water (if the water heater is close enough to the condenser unit to plumb it) and increase the A/C efficiency."

On a package unit?
zl700
15 years ago
Ryan,

Iregardless of a split condenser system or packaged, these units are installed on the hot gas side and are piped in-between the compressor and condenser coil.

That being said a competent installer would need to recover system, splice into compressor discharge, braze piping and exit and reinter either cabinet type properly with drilled holes and sealed with grommets to protect piping.

After that usually this is where the install goes wrong, installers fail to make sure it is or replace the condenser fan motor with a ball bearing type to handle slower RPMÂs and a head pressure controller to perform the fan control function to maintain proper refrigerant temps.

If itÂs a heat pump forget it, controls and reversing valves are difficult (donÂt want to cool the water.

I am AC illeterate, but I am trying to be an informed consumer.

Comments (8)

ryanhughes

grdnchik
Original Author

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I am AC illeterate, but I am trying to be an informed consumer.

Comments (8)

ryanhughes

grdnchikOriginal Author

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udarrell_2007

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grdnchik
Original Author