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Heating & Air Conditioning

New A/C system

9 years ago

I am new to the forum but I have been remodeling years. I was quoted this system for a customer and I wanted to find out how good this system is. Seems like a good system and the model numbers are included. I thought of changing the thermostat to a nest thermostat. Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

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Comments (9)

udarrell
9 years ago
The equipment is not my big concern... but Comfortmaker is not high on my list

My concern & yours ought to be if the equipment is 'sized right' for the application, - along with the ductwork & the Return Air Filter Area.

Does it actually need 4-Ton?
Do a load-calc

Here is a link that might be useful: load-calc
tigerdunes
9 years ago
Location?

Coastal?
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The old American Standard system has corrosion. Warranty won't cover corrosion. They are not recommending a heat pump for us in S. Fla. Thanks for your input. I think we will go with the recommended 3-ton XR15 single speed system vs the 20i with two compressors. Will shop around some more, though. Our electric bill averages $450 monthly. We are trying to significantly bring that cost down & hope a new a/c system on one half of the house will do it. Plus, installing sun control blinds in Florida room with morning sun. Many thanks for your help.
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By the way, my decision to replace the entire a/c system is due in part to these factors: 1. Outside condenser broke down and it's 24 years old and uses R22 freon which is now being phased out in favor of R410A refrigerant. I didn't want to get a replacement R22 unit and I prefer to switch to R410A. 2. Evap coils are 24-years old and full of R22. Can't be cleaned because they have too many curves in the copper tubes, so they have to be replaced. 3. Existing lineset is full of R22 freon and the oils that go into the liquid. Many installers prefer to flush the existing lineset, but I got a lot of advise on this board to replace the lineset with a new one. This way you don't have to worry about the flush being done right. At minimum, I wanted to replace the evap coils, lineset, and outside condenser. Unfortunately, my existing gas furnace was installed upright in the attic and the evap coils are about 5 feet from the gas furnace. Even though the gas furnace works fine, I decided to get a variable speed high efficiency motor gas furnace to get the best possible SEER-15 with the new matched evap coils and new outside a/c unit. So, I'm getting a complete new system with new ducts, new lineset, new gas furnace, new coils, and new a/c condenser. If parts of my existing ductwork weren't original from the early 1950s and I wasn't using R22, I would have only replaced the broken outside condenser. It would only have cost me about $2000 to do this. I would have been happy with SEER-13.
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ronhome
Original Author
9 years ago
Location central Florida, Near the beach. 2300 sq.ft.
tigerdunes
9 years ago
Because of corrosion to HVAC due to coastal environment. I would want Trane/AmStd and a var speed air handler for best dehumidification. Yes it will cost more.

As far as Comfortmaker, pay extra for VS air handler.

I will assume you have made the decision to heat by straight heat strip rather than consider a heat pump.

IMO
ronhome
Original Author
9 years ago
Look at the quote, it says heat pump system. I thought comfortmaker was made by Trane?
ronhome
Original Author
9 years ago
Look at the quote, it says heat pump system. I thought comfortmaker was made by Trane?
mike_home
9 years ago
I don't have experience with Comfortmaker. I do know it is not made by Trane. It is part of the ICP brand of companies. Comfortmaker tends to be builder's grade equipment.

Your quote says heat pump but I can't find the model number quoted on the Comfortmaker web site. I also question the need for 4 tons. You live in a humid climate so you don't want to over size the cooling. I also question the need for the heat strips. It seems a little overkill, but then again I am not familiar what is typically done in Florida.
ronhome
Original Author
9 years ago
We do get down in the upper 30's at times and the unit we have now is 4 tons. we do have a 2 story house that is about 2300 sq. ft. and there are times that the temps do stay in the upper 40's and lower 50's for days, so yes a heat pump is good down here, why be cold?
mike_home
9 years ago
The heat strips are needed when the outdoor temperature is too low for the heat pump to produce enough heat to keep the house warm. Most houses in the north will lock their heat strips until the temperature hits the mid to upper 30s. I would think a 4 ton heat pump would provide enough heat without the heat strips.

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