new A/C time after only 3 yrs

[mike02vr6]

I am looking some information about having to switch my 3 y.o A/C unit, we are currently putting an addition on my house, when we had a/c installed we went for the bigger unit to accomidate an addition we currently have an american standard allegiance 14 14 seer 2.5 ton unit. after the addition my house will be about 1900 sqft. The unit that the HVAC guy is going to put in is comptrol or compstar (he said carrier non name brand) 3 ton 14 SEER unit. My American standard is very quiet and I am quite happy w/it unfortunately the company that installed it is under new management. Is this a decent unit and would I be happy with it? I am going to look around and see if I can find a new dealer that sells american standard. Any help would be appreciated or if anyone knows good dealers in New Haven county Ct Thanks alot

~Michael

[BaldLoonie]

If you are putting on that big of an addition, how about a small system just for the addition? Our experience says tying on a large addition to the rest of the house doesn't make for good comfort even if you do put in larger equipment. Just something to run by your dealer.

Be nice to know what they are proposing. Carrier's sister company ICP (Carrier's parent owns both, they aren't a Carrier non name brand) has Tempstar and Comfortmaker which sound like what you could be trying to come up with. If you get their deluxe model, they are every bit as good as Carrier's deluxe models. They standard A/Cs are the units Carrier & Bryant used to sell under their own name.

[smokin68]

You could also look at a mini-split just for the addition, Ct doesn't have a long cooling season.

[mike02vr6]

OK could be Tempstar, thanks for the replies guys. A small system is going to cost just as much if not more than updating the whole system my furnace is just fine and will handle both. I will throw it out there and see if the company suggests it. what is a split system? Thanks again

~Michael

[dash]

How large is the addition?

Did the do a load calc. to determine the 2.5 ton wasn't large enough?

Wondering why,if you went larger for the addition,it's now too small.

[udarrell]

I agree with smokin68, a mini-split system (if needed!) would help eliminate new equipment costs.

In CT you probably have a lot of light-load cooling days & the mini-split should be less costly to purchase, install & operate (if needed, my advice is - wait & see!).

Additionally, a 2.5-Ton unit in your climate if operating optimally should handle the cooling okay! I cool perfectly, over 900-sq. ft. with a half-ton 6,000-BTUH window/room A/C in SW WI.

If your 2.5-ton is matched to its coil & to the ductwork & airflow with as much heatload as you can get on the evaporator coil, it should do a good job cooling under nearly all conditions you will experience in CT. We have efficient operating 2-ton systems cooling 2400-sq.ft. here in SW WI & in Ohio.

Hartford, CT is the same Summer Outdoor Design SW WI, 88-DB 73-WB, New Haven is 84-B & 73-WB, little higher humidity than Hartford. You need longer runtimes when it is not real hot.

Would your existing furnace handle the heating if ductwork were added? Heating is much longer demand period? You could try it, or go with a high efficiency furnace.

However, it is your decision, we are NOT responsible for your decisions, either way!

Never make decisions based on what we say, but weigh all information with the advice of the local contractors. Pay attention to your area contractors & make prudent cost-effective decisions! Why not try the existing equipment you have now, (you might be surprised) if it can't handle it you can always utilize other options later.

Get the ductwork & airflow right, SEER is far less important in your climate:
http://www.udarrell.com/external_static_pressure_readings.html
- udarrell

[mike02vr6]

the addition is 640 sq ft broken down into 3 rooms with only 2 large windows 1 reg dble hung and then 3 (I think) awning type windows. We have one wall coming completely down between the old and the new and between the kitchen and dining room we will have a half wall. Unfortuntely I was not home at the time they came and checked everything out, so I am not sure what calc they did. Originally our house was 1197 with a 14x15 sunroom that we wanted heated and cooled (boy that didnt work out well) We were told we needed a 2 ton unit so we decided to go to 3 ton (we didnt realize the addition would be as big as it is getting...good news is my wife cant change her mind ...that much anymore foundation is all done)

Thanks
~Michael

[dash]

So if the original 1197 sq ft needed a two ton,and I think yu really went with a 2.5 ton,the extra 640 sq ft,may only need .5 ton.

I'd get it checked out.

They need to calc the house and addition as one,so the the common wall/windows between the two,doesn't get counted as an outside wall/windows twice,I've seen that mistake made before.

[captainrat]

You Have plenty ! seek out a contractor that can do proper load calculation & zoning, click this link & learn about zoning. This is your solution I have been satisfying customers for ages. get it done right A bigger system wont solve as many issues as zoning can & may actually make matters worse
http://www.arzelzoning.com/

[mike02vr6]

thanks alot for all the feedback guys. I have calls out and I will have a total of 4 est (maybe a little over kill but first one was from contractor and I called 3 more)and hey its better safe than sorry. You all have my mind working to think this has to be a better way.

~Michael

[dash]

Originally posted by mike02vr6
thanks alot for all the feedback guys. I have calls out and I will have a total of 4 est (maybe a little over kill but first one was from contractor and I called 3 more)and hey its better safe than sorry. You all have my mind working to think this has to be a better way.

~Michael


Save yourself some time,call back and let each one know that you want a ManualJ,S and D,done to size it,select it,and design/redesign the ducts.

Betting two will decline if not all three.

Then call some more ,until you find a total of 2 or 3,that's all you need if they can do it right.

check

http://www.acca.org

http://www.natex.org

for contractors and post your location here,might be a great contractor on this site in your area.