New system performance

[larrytbm]

I posted last yr about replacing my old 3-1/2 ton heat pump system. My calculations showed I only needed about 20 kbtu cooling with a design temp of 98 degrees. I decided on an Amana 3 ton 16 SEER two stage HP system with variable speed blower. This year we are having record heat, so far 66 days over 100 degrees and will break the all time record in a couple of days.

Even with afternoon temps at 106-107, the Amana system maintains 78 degrees using the lower stage and running about 2/3 of the time. I'm really happy and the variable speed blower is pretty quiet.

My house is an all electric 1400+ SF double wide, 2x6 exterior walls (R19), vinyl framed dual pane windows, metal roof with R30 and R22 in the floor. I do have major east and west exposures unfortunately. Also, water well and booster pumps, an exhaust fan in the garage, two elec garage door openers, and at times power to my RV. With just one day under 100 degrees, my last elec bill was $115 and change on 957 kWhrs. Guess I could have downsized some more if I had had the guts to try it. But I'm happy with the overall results.

[motoguy128]

Great results! Thanks for sharing. I think there can be some fear in downsizing, but clearly you probably could have gone to a 2 ton unit with some capacity to spare. Insulation and tight construction definitely makes the different.

[SkyHeating]

What were your electric bills the prior year?

I just had a customer call me on friday that had a Rheem classic X three ton unit and we upgraded them to a new Trane XL20i and variable speed fan furnace and they saved $60 a month in our mild climate(they keep the house at 71 during the day and 68 at night, very low for my Portland Or area)

[garya505]

I posted last yr about replacing my old 3-1/2 ton heat pump system. My calculations showed I only needed about 20 kbtu cooling with a design temp of 98 degrees. I decided on an Amana 3 ton 16 SEER two stage HP system with variable speed blower. This year we are having record heat, so far 66 days over 100 degrees and will break the all time record in a couple of days.

Even with afternoon temps at 106-107, the Amana system maintains 78 degrees using the lower stage and running about 2/3 of the time. I'm really happy and the variable speed blower is pretty quiet.

My house is an all electric 1400+ SF double wide, 2x6 exterior walls (R19), vinyl framed dual pane windows, metal roof with R30 and R22 in the floor. I do have major east and west exposures unfortunately. Also, water well and booster pumps, an exhaust fan in the garage, two elec garage door openers, and at times power to my RV. With just one day under 100 degrees, my last elec bill was $115 and change on 957 kWhrs. Guess I could have downsized some more if I had had the guts to try it. But I'm happy with the overall results.

You grossly oversized and wasted your money on the 2-stage. A single stage 2-ton would have worked just fine. In addition to your calculations (how did you do them?), the cycle times on your old 3.5-ton should have been a big hint.

[54regcab]

You grossly oversized and wasted your money on the 2-stage. A single stage 2-ton would have worked just fine. In addition to your calculations (how did you do them?), the cycle times on your old 3.5-ton should have been a big hint.

+1, a 2 ton single stage would have done the job for a lot less money.

[beenthere]

A 3 ton 2 stage running 2/3 of the time in first stage when its 100 plus outside, is removing the same amount of heat as a 1.6 ton running 100% of the time.

So a 2 ton 2 stage would have worked very well.

But as long as your happy with your end results. Glad to hear it working fine for you.