if the house was completed last fall did the installer ever come back to check over the system?? charge may need to be balanced. call installer and have them check system over.
Well I live in Georgetown, Ky, and bought a new house in December. Ranch with full walkout basement. Main floor has vaulted ceiling in main room. Didn't notice any problems with heating during the winter, but this summer, ouch. Can't get the house under 78 on a hot day, sometimes it's 80 in the house. Wev'e had a lot of over 90 degree weather this summer. I've got a 2.5 ton tappan, all the vents are closed in the basement, blinds and drapes are shut which helps some.
I've started asking around the neighborhood, specifically basement homes and everyone has similar complaints, except for one person who upgraded to a 3 ton since they had a previous ball home in the older subdivsion. He actually had my model without a basement.
My 6 month checklist is due this month, and I need some advice on how to handle this. I mean if I knew they would of offered an ugrade, or they were going to put in the minimum standard by law, I would of paid for a bigger unit.
Should I get a petition of some sort going? I could also contact the owner of ball homes too. advice...
Right now on sunday it's 88 degrees about 92 with humidity and the thermostat says 78
Thanks,
John
[Edited by johnkline on 08-07-2005 at 02:50 PM]
if the house was completed last fall did the installer ever come back to check over the system?? charge may need to be balanced. call installer and have them check system over.
Should I get a petition of some sort going?
1) you could get a pettion going , for what I dont know, maybee a pettition for kool aid stand on the corner
2) your builder should have an hvac contractor that actually did the installation. that hvac contractor -----
should have----(the company that I work for does not and should)--a copy of the manual "j" and manual "D" that was supposed to have been done on your house to determine the proper size unit and the proper size ducting, and these documents should be on file. Manual J will tell you how big the unit needs to be
When doing entire subdivisions with the same homes , they wont actually go measure every home like they need to.
also as mentioned , the hvac contractor should have been back out to test the system
Have you thought about calling the hvac contractor and asked him about your concerns?
he may even want to sign your pettition
i'm not sure about you area, but systems are designed for a specific outdoor ambient (90-110 degrees), and an indoor setpoint of 75-80.
you, like the rest of the u.s., are experiencing an unusally hot summer. when you hit the extremes, the unit will not cool properly and run continuously. this is normal.
wait for the o.a. temps. to drop and see how it performs.
and as was stated, perhaps they should have come back to check the charge in warmer periods, there is no way to properly charge an a/c system in low ambient temps.(other than weighing in thge charge).
good luck
ct2: I really don't need or appreciate your smart ass comment, I just signed up on the board and I have to read something like that?you could get a pettion going , for what I dont know, maybee a pettition for kool aid stand on the corner
john
Are you saying you've had this trouble all summer long, and are only now beginning to want to do some thing about it.
I wouldn't wait for the 6 month check up, I'd call them Monday, if its charge related, it could be harming the compressor.
If its size related, by the time they agree to change it, it could be winter, and you won't know if they got it right the second time, till next summer.
Unless they suddenly learn how to do a Mnaul J, if they didn't the first time.
It could be duct size related.
How often do you change air filter?
I agree with the other guys.. Did the installing dealer come back and did a start up? Check temp drop, system charge...
Also like T said, it been a hot summer this year.
So you blindly and ignorantly followed you building contractor, nodding like a bobble-head doll every time he told you about your mechanical systems, and now that you've moved in you are unhappy? Did you have heating and air conditioning in your old home? Did it work to your satisfaction or were there some areas of unsatisfactory performance you were concerned about? You should have tucked these concerns under your hat and pulled them out at the time the roughh-in work was being done. What makes you think we, as professional HVAC gods, would encourage you to start a petition? Do what you think is right. Don't come here expecting us to stroke you and tell you what to do.
John,have you tried to contact the original installing company?
They will probably be willing to look into your concerns.
Have you set up a Google alert for Carbon Monoxide yet?
Click here to find out how.
75 to 80 degrees is heat. I would not want an AC system that puts out those kind of temps, no matter what the humidity is.Originally posted by billva
i'm not sure about you area, but systems are designed for a specific outdoor ambient (90-110 degrees), and an indoor setpoint of 75-80.
you, like the rest of the u.s., are experiencing an unusally hot summer. when you hit the extremes, the unit will not cool properly and run continuously. this is normal.
wait for the o.a. temps. to drop and see how it performs.
and as was stated, perhaps they should have come back to check the charge in warmer periods, there is no way to properly charge an a/c system in low ambient temps.(other than weighing in thge charge).
good luck
John
You need to take a chill pill, a light hearted comment should not upset a grown up!
Quality and Value Service and Repair
He wouldn't be the first ho that did that.
It might be his first house.
A petiton for the builder to stop using cheap hvac contractors could be a good thing, but too late for him.
I would have to say that the system is probably a little overcharged,listen to what the other guys are saying and have someone come and look at it.Most of the time simple problems don't show up until the weather is very hot for a long time without much relief.When I first signed on to this sight,the other guy's were razzing me to don't let it get to you it's just fun.
ct2: I really don't need or appreciate your smart ass comment, I just signed up on the board and I have to read something like that?
john
Dear John . I am so sorry to have offended you with my comment about the kool aid stand, but it has been warm out lately and there is nothing like an ice cold kool aid on a hot summer day
I could tell that you just signed up here with 2 posts thats what I would have thought. John , what do you do for a living? Do people come to you for free advise about your work ? Do they come to you for free information that will be used for the sole purpose of trying to get someone else to pay for your mistakes
Ill bet that you and your neighbors that are aLL TRYING TO blame the contractor will never believe that your systems are working normally-----and BTW-DO NOT BLOCK THE REGESTERS
IN THE BASEMENT OR ANYWHERE ELSE. The system wasnt designed to run that way and you are damaging your unit
Before you all go off and start to blame someone else for your inexperience in home ownership, try using your system as it was intended to be used
its a track house so yes the contractor is going to use builder grade equipment does not mean it is sub quility
just no thrills and less expensive. the contractor would not get the bid if he install more expensive equipment.
the problem as i see it is in the moving in process the heat worked fine. since there is not much to do to set up the heat i am not suprized at all. seems you or your nieghbors didnt call the contractor to do a start up on the ac unit and just assumed it was ready to go. with out a man j i am going to take a guess and tend to think the equipment is sized ok or at least close enough but you need to have it set up properly before you go any farther.
stop guessing about call your instalation contractor or get an outside contractor to set the unit up and see how it preforms when it is working properly
You mean you have a ~3,000 Sq. Foot residenceOriginally posted by johnkline
I live in Georgetown, Ky, and bought a new house in December. Ranch with full walkout basement.
I've got a 2.5 ton tappan, all the vents are closed in the basement, blinds and drapes are shut which helps some.
Right now on sunday it's 88 degrees about 92 with humidity and the thermostat says 78
including the basement?
2.5_Tons sound a bit small.
What are the inside temperatures and R.H.s
on each level at 9 PM?
Designer Dan __ It's Not Rocket Science, But It is SCIENCE with Some Art. _ _ KEEP IT SIMPLE & SINCERE ___ __ www.mysimplifiedhvac.com ___ __ Define the Building Envelope & Perform a Detailed Load Calc: It's ALL About Windows & Make-up Air Requirements. Know Your Equipment Capabilities
John,
Take some pictures of the units installed. Take some pictures of the ductwork. Let the guys on here take a look at the pictures and they can tell you what other information you need to determine if the units are sized right and the installation was done correctly.
Given enough information, these guys have your answers.
I just had a new American Standard 2.5 ton air conditioner installed in my 1200 sq. ft. home and it's doing a fantastic job. A 2.5 ton unit in a 3000 sq. ft. home does seem to be undersized. I also had a American Standard 56,000 BTU 90% efficient furnace installed which the installer said will do a good job in heating the house. It seems a bit small but he assured me it'll work just fine. Would you experts out there agree? My home s pretty well insulated with new windows.
New Windows can be either tight or somewhat leaky.Originally posted by Bmuelle
I also had a
American Standard 56,000 BTU 90% efficient furnace installed which the installer said will do a good job in heating the house. It seems a bit small but he assured me it'll work just fine. Would you experts out there agree? My home s pretty well insulated with new windows.
Infiltration rate is generally stated on the window spec.
MFG ___ Model ___
Low E
Double pane, Insulated ___ ?
U-Value ____
Square feet ____
Well insulated
Ceiling R-30 +
Walls R-19 +
If these windows and rest of house are Tight,
56,000 BTUh seems quite appropriate.
If the installer Actually ASSURED you,
a specific Manual J calc must have been provided?
How does one really know how to reply this thread,
do you care to mention your city/ state?
Design Temperature ? ___ 10'F
Initial guess: Most likely, you WILL be comfortable.
Designer Dan __ It's Not Rocket Science, But It is SCIENCE with Some Art. _ _ KEEP IT SIMPLE & SINCERE ___ __ www.mysimplifiedhvac.com ___ __ Define the Building Envelope & Perform a Detailed Load Calc: It's ALL About Windows & Make-up Air Requirements. Know Your Equipment Capabilities
Ten degrees under outdoor ambient is not very good.Originally posted by johnkline
Well I live in Georgetown, Ky, and bought a new house in December. Ranch with full walkout basement. "Main floor has vaulted ceiling in main room."
Didn't notice any problems with heating during the winter, but this summer, ouch. Can't get the house under 78 on a hot day, sometimes it's 80 in the house. We've had a lot of over 90 degree weather this summer. I've got a 2.5 ton tappan, all the vents are closed in the basement, blinds and drapes are shut which helps some.
I've started asking around the neighborhood, specifically basement homes and everyone has similar complaints, except for one person who upgraded to a 3 ton since they had a previous ball home in the older subdivsion. He actually had my model without a basement.
My 6 month checklist is due this month, and I need some advice on how to handle this. I mean if I knew they would of offered an ugrade, or they were going to put in the minimum standard by law, I would of paid for a bigger unit.
Should I get a petition of some sort going? I could also contact the owner of ball homes too. advice...
Right now on sunday it's 88 degrees about 92-heat index with humidity and the thermostat says 78
Thanks, John
[Edited by johnkline on 08-07-2005 at 02:50 PM]
Square footage of your home, not that it matters much.
Where is the manual J data on heatgain? There ought to be a code requiring a documented manual J be filed, for the (future) owner, on every HVAC installation
Lexington, KY, (near Georgetown,) Outdoor Summer Design Conditions: 91-Dry Bulb 73-Wet Bulb, 39% RH.
There could be a lot of things wrong. Take the temperature rise off the condenser and compare it to the outdoor temp.
Take the supply air and return air temps at the registers.
List the temps here!
http://www.udarrell.com/ac-trouble-shooting-chart.html
http://www.udarrell.com/ac-trouble-s...ubcooling.html
Every performance detail needs to be checked; you may only be getting a portion of the rated Btu/hr of the equipment.
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