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My upstairs heat pump replacement saga continues.

My contractor (friend of mine) started the install yesterday. He is pretty good at explaining things to me, but I stay out of his way when he is...

From a homeowners perspective, how hard was it to use HVAC Calc?

Forgot to add this. One benefit of putting the filter in the return grill is that I don't have to go up in the attic to change filters.

Also, changing the existing flex duct to 14" may be...

The new return will be in addition to the existing return.

The run will be about 10'.

I would think that a 14" flex would fit without any problem.

One reason to go with 12" for the new...

The return air grill is probably about 30x14. But it only has a small plenum (12" from grill to flex hose) before it transitions to the 12" flex duct. This flex duct goes to a plenum on top of the...

My contractor did not do any measurements. He relied on his experience and what the equipment supplier told him.

But I did like you did, I figured my contracotr knows best. So I am going with 8Kw.

What is the downside of installing a large resistance heat strip?

Won't it just run for a shorter time when needed?

Maybe that will cost a little more power used, but at least you will have it...

It sounds like I should go ahead and buy HVAC Calc and do the calculation myself so I know what I have. That will give me something to gage what the contractors are telling me. I don't want to get...

That is what I am wondering. The temp has gone down in the low teens on occasions here in SE Virginia, and lower maybe once every 5 years or so. As I recall, the system was doing all it could to hold...

I was thinking that another 12" return made sense, especially since it would be fairly easy to install in the ceiling of the hallway.

From reading here I am aware that individual returns in each...

My old heatpump had 14.4 Kw total of heat strip backup (9.6 Kw + 4.8Kw strips). The upcoming new Goodman unit has "8 Kw" (what contractor told me) of heat strip capacity. He said this was plenty and...

Replacing my upstairs heatpump with 2.5 ton, 13 SEER Goodman heatpump.(see http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=139961).

Contractor plans to use existing ducting. Says it worked before so...

I need to replace my upstairs 17 yr old, 2.5 ton heatpump (see http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=139961).

BaldLoonie suggested staying with Rheem (Rheem RPNE) instead of switching to a...

I have had 3 Rheems and 2 of them developed leaks in the evaporator at about 12-15 years. I guess I should be happy they lasted that long.

Are evaporator leaks a common problem with Rheem?

The unit is on top of a 5-foot tall platform to put it above (hopefully) flooding from the nearby Chesapeake Bay.

So it is pretty well protected.

BTW I noticed that Payne only shows one heat pump (PH13) on their website.

It looks similar to the 3 year old unit I have on the house. Both of these look similar to older Carrier units I have...

Your right in that I do get too hung up in details sometimes.

Having perused this forum off and on for a few years has given me great respect for the true professionals in the HVAC business,...

I have to replace my 17 year old upstairs heatpump unit (there is a separate Payne 12 SEER system for downstairs)

It is a Rheem 2.5 ton system servicing about 1500 sqft of living space..

My...

smokin

Last year I replaced the air handler on one system to match a 1 year older condenser unit (Payne 3-ton 12 SEER system). This unit, though cheap and a little noisy, cools and heats fine...

I don't think it is worth it to replace the coil on a unit this old.

One reason I have been holding off on replacing the unit (besides the fact that I'm cheap) is that I wanted the new 13 SEER...

I am not an HVAC pro, but I do know some basics about AC (mainly automobile AC).

I have a very slow leak in my 16 year old heatpump that requires about a pound or 2 of freon every other year (the...

I got these filters at Target about a year ago on closeout. They do have an "added layer of anti-microbial protection".

I just changed the filter in my 2nd story attic heat pump air handler. The filter is a pleated Lysol brand.

At first I thought the filter was dirty, but looking closer the "dirt" was actually...

It is the outside unit.

It has a date of 1996 on it.

I have a Bryant EvenTemp heatpump condenser unit Model HA1CJ024-B (or maybe HAICJ024-B).

How can I find out what the SEER is on this?

A friend's 1960's era home's crawlspace has rigid steel air ducts. They are insulated with what looks like fiberglass with a layer of cardboard on top. The insulation is coming off in a few places....

A recent post mentioned insulation thickness required on heatpump freon lines. My freon lines have varying thickness and quality of insulation. Some is foam, with the copper line showing in places....

My new Payne 3 ton Heatpump has 15KW electric heat for auxiliary/emergency heat.

In emergency mode I get 20 degrees of temperature rise from the electric heat. The installer confirmed that the 3...

ward,

I don't like "hijacking" this thread but I don't know any other way to get you this info.

I was in the same situation as you (I think). My outdoor condensor unit failed (Rheem 3 ton unit,...

I am a homeowner, not an HVAC profesional. But I am an engineer (no sneers please) and I think I can tell gross differences in the levels of equipment quality.

I had a 12 SEER Payne Heatpump unit...

I would run it until it dies. Then see what the warranty company is going to do. If they offer to replace the entire system then take them up on it. They will put in the cheapest system they can, but...

Go buy a cheap PC box (emachines is OK) and a Keyboard/Mouse/Monitor switch and hook it up with your existing Mac. That's what I do and it works great.

I have used Virtual PC and it is OK but I...

Think about when you sell the house. You can make a point in your advertising that your system meets current SEER requirements. Use that to justify your asking price, which you increased by $1k or so...

Sorry if my previous posts over the last couple years have brought confusion.

First I need to say I found out I had been wrong all along about the system I am discussing today. I thought I had a...

You are right, I should get a load calculation done.

My hesitation is that the guy doing my work has done a good job before (nice guy, systems worked, heated and cooled fine, very reasonable...

A load calc has not been performed. I am almost certain he does not do load calculations.

I asked him to replace the unit. I did not ask him to upsize. I told him I was happy with the performance of the old unit.

My other concern is that the air handler is in a closet that the unit...

I am having my 15 year old Rheem unit replaced. TXV gone bad and coils very rusty. The Model number is RPGB036JAS.

The old unit cooled and heated fine, except on the coldest of days when the heat...

Will the 2006 requiremnts for 13 SEER on replacement units cause a reduction in prices of 13 SEER systems?

Will there be a "fire sale" of 10-12 SEER equipment starting soon?

I have 2 Heat Pumps...

I was in a similar situation last year when my Rheem Compressor unit (13 years old) went out 1 month after we bought the house. Had an AHS warranty. They said they would only install the Payne,...