What exactly is the benefit of a 2-stage compressor over a 1-stage?
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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- 8 years ago
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Is my two stage compressor really using both stages
Comments (8)If you have a thermostat with menu's, check to see if you have basic and advance setting buttons on the stat. I have a 2 stage cooling system and I have these. Here's how I get to the menu to check to see what cooling stage my compressor is in. Yours might operate in a simular fashion. Hold in the advance button for 10 seconds. A menu called "Install/Service pops up, highlight "Service" and select it. Another menu pops up and amongst one of the selections, there is one called "AC Status" - select it and the info you desire will come up. This is assuming you have very simular features as my Bryant thermostat. Now on another note, Its possible your compressor is behaving like mine. I can force it into high stage by dropping the temperature down 5 degrees from its setting and I would have to leave it there until a comfortable humidity level is reached and then turn it back up to the regular setting. But the system will not automatically go into 2nd stage during hot weather like its supposed to. These two stage cooling systems with some exceptions will always start out in 1st stage and when extreme heat exists, it will switch over to 2nd stage cooling. I suspect that is not happening with your system and if so, then it sounds like a fault between the thermostat commands and the compressor. Watch your technician closly, he may force it into 2nd stage, do some other checking and then say he cannot find anything wrong. Well, you tell him that it will not go into 2nd stage automatically (when high temperatures exist) and that you expect him to fix it before you pay him for the service call. This is the situation I am facing with my Bryant dealer. I had to call the Factory regional manager about this and I expect a reply this week. Good luck with yours....See More2 Stage vs 1 Stage
Comments (2)I don't understand why the contractor is saying a 2-stage AC would not work well with 12 ft ceilings. That makes no sense to me. A 2-stage AC is more about comfort than savings. There may be some savings in that it is more efficient to have longer run times on the low stage, but I think that savings is small and will most likely never offset the additional costs. There is some savings if the decreased humidity level allows you to raise the temperature setting a few degrees. But as Tigerdunes pointed out that probably does not apply to houses in Arizona. How big is the house and what size condenser is the contractor proposing? If he is proposing a 4 or 5 ton condenser, then I think getting the 2-stage is a good investment. I would rather have the AC cycle on and off on the low stage then having the hear a 5 ton air handler constantly short cycling. The additional on and off cycles is extra wear and tear to the equipment. That would be important in Arizona if you run the AC 9-10 months of the year. Get quotes for single and 2-stage. You should also ask for a load calculation. It seem every AC in AZ I read about on this forum is 5 tons. I know it is very hot, but the best way to save money is not over size the equipment....See MoreHow does this A/C Quote look ? Is 2 Stage worth $1700 over 1 stage
Comments (19)None of the 6 Contractors who came in with estimates wanted to do the Manual J Calculations, they all say the Manual J calculations done when the house was built (2000) are good for now as they were no additions since. They said getting down to 4 Tons will have the A/C struggle in the summer time. the 70% of a 2 stage 5 ton unit will be less than 5 tons working anyway. The Ducts are in good shape still since the initial install. After many deliberations & negotiations today I finally signed up with who I thought has good reputation in the area, for a TRANE 5 Ton, 2 stage XR 17 Heat Pump with 16.25 SEER matched to a Trane variable speed fan motor Air Handler & a TRANE Thermostat for $9220 cash. I is scheduled for next week install. I thank every one for participation in this thread, it was a great help for me to sort out the ins & outs of the AC equipment, which I did not know anything about. I thank this Houzz forum to make the exchange of information possible. My best regards to every one.....See MoreSingle stage or 2-stage and sizing for our home?
Comments (52)If your plan is to add solar, then running in heat pump mode for heating and your operating costs could go to near nothing depending on a few variables. Like if the solar is grid tied requiring utility hook up. I think the more and more people choose solar, there's going to be a reckoning day where grid tied solar solutions start paying for the grid connections in other ways. There's the idea that utility companies are going to keep maintaining the grid, producing power only to provide supply when the sun isn't shining. I suppose you then go out and buy a power wall or something to fully free yourself from grid tied power. So I don't know that it will end completely by even just adding in solar only. Due to electric costs without solar it would be pointless to heat with the heat pump. Gas heat would rule the day. If you get the rebate and spend it on power consumption by running the heat pump it doesn't make sense to do that. If you do the hybrid heat pump + gas, run gas heat until you get solar -- then you avoid those high energy costs of actually using the heat pump. PSC vs ECM vs Variable Speed ECM --- the argument is mostly about efficiency, but when talking about efficiency as related to these motors --- the cost of replacing ECM or Variable Speed ECM will render any efficiency gains (what you spend operating them) obsolete. The amount you save running them will never equal what it costs to replace them when they wear out. PSC the argument is this motor is louder and less efficient. But these motors tend to last much longer and cost less to replace. They will argue that this motor needs a capacitor to operate while the others of the ECM variety do not --- which is not completely true. The capacitors of the ECM either rendition are internal to the motor. When those capacitors fail you replace the motor or a module that attaches to the motor in the case of the Variable Speed ECM. I have found that it's not wise in my climate to only change a module or a motor that attaches to a module when it comes to the variable speed ECM --- the cheaper ECM there is no module even if there was it wouldn't change much. So why an ECM or Variable Speed then: efficiency requirements. When you buy a completely new system the efficiency of the furnace / AH paired with your AC or HP condenser will help your manufacturer hit those higher SEER, HSPF and AFUE Ratings. But when considering these things the savings you get from the motor in operational efficiency will never = the cost of replacing this motor. The variable speed motor (ECM) is the most efficient of these three motors and also the most expensive. That said the gain these furnaces / AH's typically provide is about 1 SEER of efficiency toward the over all efficiency of the system. Yes E-coil selection as well as configuration of that coil (upflow, downflow, Horrizontal) can impact efficiency ratings positively as well as negatively. -- usually this disparity is minor in the grand scheme of things. But when trying to get a rebate for something specific and you don't pay attention to detail -- they will tell you don't qualify for the rebate if what you do doesn't measure up....See MoreRelated Professionals
Brockton Solar Energy Systems · Dana Point Solar Energy Systems · Emeryville Solar Energy Systems · Lodi Solar Energy Systems · Maplewood Solar Energy Systems · Phoenix Solar Energy Systems · Ashburn Home Automation & Home Media · Fort Lauderdale Home Automation & Home Media · Half Moon Bay Home Automation & Home Media · Norwalk Home Automation & Home Media · Pasadena Home Automation & Home Media · Safety Harbor Home Automation & Home Media · San Mateo Home Automation & Home Media · Winchester Home Automation & Home Media · East Setauket Home Automation & Home Media- 8 years ago
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