5 ton compressor and air handler for two floors - design and cost?
Shadow's Owner
2 years ago
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5 ton and 2 ton system replacement
Comments (7)Thanks, TigerDunes. We're about 7 miles inland with nearby rivers. 1st floor is about 2800 sq ft with 800 upstairs. The coils and/or tray is leaking so water is affecting the ceiling even after changing the ceiling drywall and wrapping the lines, not enough to cave in (yet), but I really think the air handlers need to be replaced to avoid mold, etc. I do not want to keep a leaking system. Although we could just pull the upstairs air handler (the likely culprit), repairing doesn't make sense to me if by replacing I can also increase efficiency since the system is more than 13 yrs old. One could reasonably expect it to fail in a couple of years. Might as well bite the bullet, but I could wait if new and theoretically better technology is about to emerge. Currently, the system cools well and we haven't been in this house for a winter, but it should keep the house comfortable enough for us since I don't like excessive heat (I know, FL is hot!). We have gas fireplaces which DH likes to use. Again, since I wanted to cure the handler problem, it seemed prudent -- if not mandatory - to replace the condensors, reduce electric consumption and get the tax credit, at least from the fed if FL doesn't move forward with their rebate . He will flush the lineset and said the new system requires a smaller, not larger, size than the existing. If you don't think it a problem to have a slightly larger copper run, then I could happily forego opening up the walls and resultant drywall repairs. But if I need to, I will buy the new linesets. I don't know the heat strip info right now, but I recall it will have emergency back-ups and will be sized to what we have now. Is there anything specific I should request regarding the heat strips? I have new programmable commercial Honeywell thermostats which will work with the new system. Don't have the model #s here, but you can program heat and cool times and temps on one screen. I agree FAD, and he is. Since anyone can have a bias and get used to their tried and true, I just wanted to learn more from you guys. Thanks for your help!...See MoreExpect to pay $20,000 for a new 4 ton AC compressor + air handler ?
Comments (13)Thanks to everyone for their feedback. Some extra info: There are two issues here, proper sizing and price. Regarding price, the research I did indicated that a reasonable price for the two systems together is $16K to $20K, counting the fact I am in a HCOL area. The two quotes so far have taken me by surprise, I will have at least 2 more next week and will provide an update. I am going through a similar issue with getting my sump pump system replaced - it is 8 years old and it looks like all of it needs to be replaced. The parts are $700, the first quote I received is for $2700 installed. Waiting on some other quotes. As far as sizing, the house is 3400sf plus a 900ft basement which is finished to a level comparable to the rest of the house, and is used a lot. I like to keep it at 72 or less to control the humidity, rest of house is warmer. Another factor is that the first and second floors have 10 ft ceilings, and the first floor is mostly open space, and I have a lot of windows, more than 50. I know I should have someone do a test, I might do that, but it is difficult enough to even get free quotes around here - many places want to count it as a service call. Currently, when the temp gets over 90, it is very hard to keep the upstairs below 80. The basement and a room over the garage were added after the initial HVAC installed, and both systems were then split into two zones. Interesting that one quote was based on sq ft measurements, the other was based on existing duct sizes and compressor sizes and taking down a history of how well it was working for me. Again, thanks, Andy...See MoreRepair or Replace 5 ton system
Comments (10)Thanks for all the feedback. Access to the system is not really problematic for maintenance - it would just be removal of the old air handler and installation of a new one that would exceed the size of the current access. The HVAC company I am now working with is being very constructive. Right now the system cools enough for us to get by (but can’t keep up on 95 degree days) so they are going to wait for a cool spell next week and then do a pressure test. Their quote is much more reasonable than my previous quotes and they seem much more engaged and focused on identifying the problem and then creating and considering alternatives (including potentially replacing condenser and coil), rather than squeezing maximum $ out of every call or visit. Also, in answer to one of the questions - the insulation was a whole bunch of air sealing (the house basically flunked the blower door test - they literally could not get a reading it was so leaky), blown in insulation in all flat areas of attic, and also hard panel insulation + expanding foam anywhere else. I don’t recall what the exact materials were but it made a huge difference in terms of comfort and bills. We did not have the wall cavities re-filled, though that is in the plan in the next year or two. Thanks again. Will post updates as I get them....See MoreDoes it really cost $5k to replace a 2.5 ton condenser?
Comments (11)Aly, The Guardian is garbage in my opinion. It's a micro channel condenser. I would view that thing as only a temporary solution. Don't expect a miracle out of that thing. I had a guy here in my area contact me that had an old R22 Goodman condenser where the coil was flaking apart. People razz ma tazz on Goodman brand, but aside from that condenser coil flaking apart the thing was still running. This guy really needed all new equipment, inside and out, not to mention duct work as well. So that's what I originally quoted him. A month or so went by and he contacts me about just replacing the condenser and doing as you suggest going with the Guardian and using R407c. Given the problems with micro channel I told him no. I told him I wanted to put him in a better position so he won't have to replace that condenser out side again in relatively quick fashion (less than 10 years most likely). He doesn't plan to own the home beyond about 3 years. I told him look you're gonna have to sell this house to someone else. So I installed another Goodman R410a condenser and converted his old coil to use R410a. This requires skill to do, most HVAC companies have installers doing this stuff and so they lack the expertise this kind of stuff requires. It also contains risk that the coil may leak refrigerant and if so -- it will have to be replaced at additional cost. In some cases what I did here CAN NOT BE DONE. Realize this requires not only skill, but also experience. Things can go all kinds of bad if not done properly. There is risk, I don't carry that risk -- the home owner does. If that Indoor coil or whatever fails then it's going to cost more to fix it and that fix is most likely going to be more new equipment. So why would I do that? I fixed his unit before. I fixed his unit again. It breaks again I fix it again. The nature of an AC repairman. What ever you do, it will break again. But picking better pieces will make that less likely. NJ is a lighter use climate than my neck of the woods in Katy, Texas. So if I lived there and had the experience of that climate I might think the Guardian had a better chance. In fact that guy called me back a few weeks ago to replace 1 duct that had come loose and it was so crusty it would just crumble to pieces. The AC was working just fine and in record breaking triple digit heat here. RunTru is chinese made, although it's a stretch that even the Trane brands are that great. I just replaced one this past weekend not even 10 years old had an Alliance compressor in it. Trane is no where near what it once was -- it's comparable to any brand these days in terms of quality. Dealers are just selling it for the brand recognition is all. The cost? It was only marginally more than your Guardian quote, but that also included replacing one duct as well as a new emergency drain pan for the E-coil in the attic. The most important part aside from cost? That it will work. (blows cool) I service the Katy, Texas area....See MoreShadow's Owner
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