OT: Looking to get a new outside AC and need opinions

[Zarbok]

Current unit has been on lifesupport for long enough and I'm tired of throwing money at it. We live in a 2500ish sqft single story house thats decently insulated. Current unit is 2.5 tons which is drastically undersized and doesnt quite running at 75 in the summer. So I'm looking at maybe 2 options.

1. Upgrade to a a bigger 4-5 ton unit.

2. Upgrade to a slightly smaller 3.5 ton unit, but install a mini split in the kitchen/ living room that's at the end of line.

Anybody got any experience here?

 

[thatsbaseball]

There is also a hell of a variance in price between one brand and another . Sorry, no advice.....just saying good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Dawgbite]

I’d suggest cooling the inside rather than the outside. When I replaced my last unit I wanted to go bigger but my AC guy talked me out of it. He said going too big is just as bad as going too small. An AC unit running constantly is more efficient and less expensive than one constantly coming on and cutting off. I don’t know but I assumed he did and listened to him. It cost him money that was on the table. As far as brands, there’s only 2-3 manufacturers just with many different brand names on them. Buy from the guy that will answer your phone call on a hot Saturday afternoon.

 

[Dawg Raid]

Put a chiller on it

 

[CochiseCowbell]

 

[johnson86-1]

Current unit has been on lifesupport for long enough and I'm tired of throwing money at it. We live in a 2500ish sqft single story house thats decently insulated. Current unit is 2.5 tons which is drastically undersized and doesnt quite running at 75 in the summer. So I'm looking at maybe 2 options.

1. Upgrade to a a bigger 4-5 ton unit.

2. Upgrade to a slightly smaller 3.5 ton unit, but install a mini split in the kitchen/ living room that's at the end of line.

Anybody got any experience here?

Probably not helpful super helpful, but 4 tons is enough for our downstairs which is approximately 2400 sq feet. But we are well insulated and we have an upstairs with a separate unit, so maybe we'd need the 5 ton if we just had insulated attic space above us instead of more living space.

I will say we had to replace our 4 ton unit and our quotes varied from $6k and change to $14k, so definitely shop around. Not sure where you are, but apparently some places have had PE groups come in and buy a few residential HVAC companies and jack up prices. Don't think that's what was going on with ours; apparently another thing is they essentially outsource their marketing and pricing and get a bunch of training. The ones that were $14k had a very refined sales pitch and process. Basically have a closer come over and give final pricing.

 

[Captain Ron]

I got one of these a few years back. https://www.daikin-ksa.com/en_us/about/daikin-innovations/inverter-technology.html

Power consumption was down over the previous system and there is no start surge or noise.

A couple of neighbors have also purchased these and are very pleased.

 

[BonzoGoesToCollege]

I got one of these a few years back. https://www.daikin-ksa.com/en_us/about/daikin-innovations/inverter-technology.html

Power consumption was down over the previous system and there is no start surge or noise.

A couple of neighbors have also purchased these and are very pleased.

Variable speed drive units have to be way pricey, don't they?

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

You need an appropriately sized unit (probably 4 ton for your house). A unit running too much can actually be better in some situations as it removes the humidity from your house better. An oversized unit, that doesn't run as much, can lead to humidity building up.

Mini splits are fine, but a good HVAC tech may be able to balance out the cooling in your house.

if possible, use redneck bubba rather than a large HVAC company.

 

[Zarbok]

Probably not helpful super helpful, but 4 tons is enough for our downstairs which is approximately 2400 sq feet. But we are well insulated and we have an upstairs with a separate unit, so maybe we'd need the 5 ton if we just had insulated attic space above us instead of more living space.

I will say we had to replace our 4 ton unit and our quotes varied from $6k and change to $14k, so definitely shop around. Not sure where you are, but apparently some places have had PE groups come in and buy a few residential HVAC companies and jack up prices. Don't think that's what was going on with ours; apparently another thing is they essentially outsource their marketing and pricing and get a bunch of training. The ones that were $14k had a very refined sales pitch and process. Basically have a closer come over and give final pricing.

Yeah I got a couple family friends in hvac to call, I'll never go to a name brand company again after Ball wanted to charge me 400 apiece to have two drains snaked. But I wanted to have a beginning understanding of what I might need first. Hearing a 4 ton was good for that size is nice. This unit is probably 20 years old, still using the old old freon so I would hope energy efficiency would go up

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

My unit is up against the clock also. It's got a slow leak but it made it through last summer pretty well. Bout to get it checked again but I think this is the last summer I'll let it limp by. Time to bust out the wallet.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Current unit has been on lifesupport for long enough and I'm tired of throwing money at it. We live in a 2500ish sqft single story house thats decently insulated. Current unit is 2.5 tons which is drastically undersized and doesnt quite running at 75 in the summer. So I'm looking at maybe 2 options.

1. Upgrade to a a bigger 4-5 ton unit.

2. Upgrade to a slightly smaller 3.5 ton unit, but install a mini split in the kitchen/ living room that's at the end of line.

Anybody got any experience here?

75??? The battle in our house is between 70 and 71.

 

[jwbigcreek]

I’d suggest cooling the inside rather than the outside. When I replaced my last unit I wanted to go bigger but my AC guy talked me out of it. He said going too big is just as bad as going too small. An AC unit running constantly is more efficient and less expensive than one constantly coming on and cutting off. I don’t know but I assumed he did and listened to him. It cost him money that was on the table. As far as brands, there’s only 2-3 manufacturers just with many different brand names on them. Buy from the guy that will answer your phone call on a hot Saturday afternoon.

Agree with this. Father in law is a retired HVAC guy & he says don't get too big of a unit. It won't run long enough to dry the air. Seems like there are online calculators to size your HVAC.

 

[JackReacherDawg]

Current unit has been on lifesupport for long enough and I'm tired of throwing money at it. We live in a 2500ish sqft single story house thats decently insulated. Current unit is 2.5 tons which is drastically undersized and doesnt quite running at 75 in the summer. So I'm looking at maybe 2 options.

1. Upgrade to a a bigger 4-5 ton unit.

2. Upgrade to a slightly smaller 3.5 ton unit, but install a mini split in the kitchen/ living room that's at the end of line.

Anybody got any experience here?

There's no easy answer. Any AC guy that tries to tell you how many tons you need based only on sqft, isn't a good AC guy. 2.5 tons doing ok for 2400 sf is really good honestly, and probably means your house is shaded and insulated well. No harm going up a ton when it isn't holding at 75, that shouldn't lead to running too short and having humidity issues. Especially as newer units (and newer installs) tend to be less efficient.

General tips are to ask if they top off the refrigerant after install, and if they warranty their work for general craftsmanship. Be wary of a replacement that isn't a simple swap out. A yahoo will want to just tape it all together without building a proper plenum.

Plus, these days, you can resolve humidity issues by using a programable thermostat and changing the set point at times of the day. This will cause even an oversized unit (to a point) to run for a bit to hit a new lower set point, which will take out the humidity.

 

[Zarbok]

Current count is 4 window units and 3 fans going lol

 

[Zarbok]

75??? The battle in our house is between 70 and 71.

Honestly any lower and it doesn't shut off for more than minute in the summer. House is almost all tile so it helps keep it cool, coming in from the pool on a hot day and it's downright freezing inside. But yeah I wouldn't mind it closer to 71 or 72 lol

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

The rule of thump is about 500 sq ft per ton of A/C depending on environmental conditions and insulation. Most people replace only the condenser because the compressor is usually the first to go out. If you replace the evaporator coil make sure it is a quality unit with aluminum coils (copper is expensive). I once ordered a condenser from a wholesale company and they shipped it to my house and I had my HVAC guy install the unit and saved a ton of money and got the right brand and product. Good luck.

 

[TheDawg-Pound]

Thank trump for getting the regulations off the units. They need to do the washer, dryers next

 

[DawgsOnTheWing]

2.5 ton unit def too small for your sf, prob need a 4 ton. I just replaced last year the original Trane unit in our house that was almost 40 yrs old. Went with an American Standard unit, which I understand from my (very trusted) HVAC guy is built by same people as Trane. Been very pleased with it. FYI, it is a heat pump, so gets double duty in reverse during the winter. Do your research on SEER ratings, higher not always better. Good luck.

 

[JackReacherDawg]

The rule of thump is about 500 sq ft per ton of A/C depending on environmental conditions and insulation. Most people replace only the condenser because the compressor is usually the first to go out. If you replace the evaporator coil make sure it is a quality unit with aluminum coils (copper is expensive). I once ordered a condenser from a wholesale company and they shipped it to my house and I had my HVAC guy install the unit and saved a ton of money and got the right brand and product. Good luck.

I got a 4.5 ton unit for a 1800 sqft house. It wasn't enough. All brick house with minimal shading and crap for insulation. Plus the ductwork they did is crap. I had to fix up all of it, but haven't gotten around to replacing all of it (which it needs).

They didn't realize the new system didn't fit any of the existing structure until they were doing it. And just tried to jam it all together rather than build it right.

 

[Zarbok]

2.5 ton unit def too small for your sf, prob need a 4 ton. I just replaced last year the original Trane unit in our house that was almost 40 yrs old. Went with an American Standard unit, which I understand from my (very trusted) HVAC guy is built by same people as Trane. Been very pleased with it. FYI, it is a heat pump, so gets double duty in reverse during the winter. Do your research on SEER ratings, higher not always better. Good luck.

Goodman seems to be the go to brand here on the coast for whatever reason. Our power company offered a 200 per ton rebate on SEER2 14.3 rating units so I definitely want to get that at least.

 

[Captain Ron]

Variable speed drive units have to be way pricey, don't they?

I would have to go back and look at the final numbers, but it was the most expensive quote. We did negotiate a few things into the deal, but after talking to a few friends who had the same unit, the warranty etc I was willing to pay the premium.

One brand I avoided because of the short life span (at least around us) was Goodman.

 

[ETK99]

I've got two 3 ton units for 2700+ sq ft and my bill gets above $200 no more than 3 months a year.

 

[patdog]

Goodman seems to be the go to brand here on the coast for whatever reason. Our power company offered a 200 per ton rebate on SEER2 14.3 rating units so I definitely want to get that at least.

House I bought last year has Goodman A/C. When I had my A/C guy check it out he said it was a good brand & in good shape. It does a good job & my power bill is reasonable. Someone mentioned American Standard / Trane. My understanding is that brand is not what it once was.

 

[RocketDawg]

Variable speed drive units have to be way pricey, don't they?

Probably. I had a 3-ton Amana side discharge installed a couple years ago for $14K. It might have been less expensive if I'd bargained with them, but State Farm paid for it because of storm damage. I have another 3-ton Amana for the upstairs that's a little older.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Current unit has been on lifesupport for long enough and I'm tired of throwing money at it. We live in a 2500ish sqft single story house thats decently insulated. Current unit is 2.5 tons which is drastically undersized and doesnt quite running at 75 in the summer. So I'm looking at maybe 2 options.

1. Upgrade to a a bigger 4-5 ton unit.

2. Upgrade to a slightly smaller 3.5 ton unit, but install a mini split in the kitchen/ living room that's at the end of line.

Anybody got any experience here?

Get the most efficient unit that you can get without all the variable speed crap that will break. A reputable AC shop will know if you are undersized or not. If you get too large, the house cools too quickly, and leaves the humidity hanging around, so sizing correctly is a must. I have high ceilings in one area of my house and the AC guy my builder used apparently just looked at square footage rather than volume of air. I was undersized. I've replaced all of my units and had good luck with Lennox from Environment Masters. They will not be the cheapest but they do very good work and they stand behind it.

 

[WrapItDog]

We live in a 2500ish sqft single story house thats decently insulated. Current unit is 2.5 tons which is drastically undersized

How high are the ceilings? My house is 2400 sq ft with 10 ft ceilings & I have a 5 ton. No shade w decent insulation. I do level billing & my elect bill is $150ish a month every month.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

I did a complete revamp 3 years ago and went with a two-stage unit, and a two-speed air handler/furnace unit. The two-stage was a good compromise for me cost wise, variable speed units are significantly more expensive, and the DC motors and controllers are more complex to fix when they break.

A few others have said it on here, but you don't want a unit so big that it is constantly kicking on and off. My unit will cool down to temp, then kick on the low-speed to maintain temp. This gives longer runs, which is better for dehumidification and circulation of the inside air. I did see a small but meaningful change in my electric bill. a big plus of the two stage is when the low speed is running you can barely hear it, my old unit was loud.

I went with American Standard, I think they make several brands but I liked the dealer and they seem to be high quality units.

 

[johnson86-1]

House I bought last year has Goodman A/C. When I had my A/C guy check it out he said it was a good brand & in good shape. It does a good job & my power bill is reasonable. Someone mentioned American Standard / Trane. My understanding is that brand is not what it once was.

I don't know that many (any) of the brands are what they once were. A combination of regulatory requirements causing units to be less reliable as well as cutting corners on quality control to save a few bucks at the expense of reputation.

 

[Zarbok]

I've got two 3 ton units for 2700+ sq ft and my bill gets above $200 no more than 3 months a year.

Wow! 200+ is like my normal bill, usually closer to 300 in the summer but I'm sure the pool pump adds a decent bit. Hopefully it'll come down to something like that afterwards.

 

[Zarbok]

How high are the ceilings? My house is 2400 sq ft with 10 ft ceilings & I have a 5 ton. No shade w decent insulation. I do level billing & my elect bill is $150ish a month every month.

I believe they're 8 ft.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Current count is 4 window units and 3 fans going lol

Window shakers are absolutely the best way to cool a room.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

The only time we ran the AC was when Grannies stories were on….. otherwise we ran the attic fan…nowadays if it gets above 73 inside I can’t sleep.

 

[MtPigsmore]

Current unit has been on lifesupport for long enough and I'm tired of throwing money at it. We live in a 2500ish sqft single story house thats decently insulated. Current unit is 2.5 tons which is drastically undersized and doesnt quite running at 75 in the summer. So I'm looking at maybe 2 options.

1. Upgrade to a a bigger 4-5 ton unit.

2. Upgrade to a slightly smaller 3.5 ton unit, but install a mini split in the kitchen/ living room that's at the end of line.

Anybody got any experience here?

You are definitely not in MS. No chance you will see a 2.5 on a house that size.

A lot of your cost is involved in upsizing your lineset from 3/4” (units up to 3 tons) to 7/8 (3.5 and greater). Make sure your quotes reflect that upgrade.

I run my company solo here in the Jackson area. Even though you’re not in my customer area I’d be more than happy to talk specifics. Dm for contact info.

 

[PapaDawg]

4 years ago we had to replace our entire Air handler, furnace, and AC system.We went with a 5 ton Trane variable speed system. We live in the Houston, TX area so high temps and humidity are normal. Our home is an extremely energy efficient 3k sq ft single story house.
We have been very pleased with the system. It is extremely quiet and efficient. The variable speed means longer run times that help lower humidity. Our indoor humidity stays in the low 40%.
We barely hear the until running when we are outside. You can’t hear it inside the house.
We saw a noticeable drop in our electric bill with the new unit. A typical electric bill is not over $250 in the months of August & September and we have a pool included on the bill. We keep our unit set on 75.
My best advice is find a dealer or company you trust and do some of your own homework. Make sure you get a quality installation from someone you trust and will warranty their work if a problem arises.

 

[Jacknut]

2600 sq ft poorly insulated ranch here. I have a 5 ton basic Trane. I didn't want any variable compressor/fan crap to reduce reliability. Recommend.

 

[bolddogge]

When I purchased my home I knew the AC unit was old and likely not going to last much longer. It went kaput just as we were finishing an addition making it the perfect time to replace it with a larger unit. My AC guy recommended I plant something to shade the new unit since it was on the west side in full sun about 9 hours a day. He said it would run more efficiently and extend it's life. So I planted a cluster of crepe myrtles about 10 feet from it and now it never sees full sun. That was almost 20 years ago and it's been running ever since with only a yearly cleaning.

 

[vhdawg]

When I purchased my home I knew the AC unit was old and likely not going to last much longer. It went kaput just as we were finishing an addition making it the perfect time to replace it with a larger unit. My AC guy recommended I plant something to shade the new unit since it was on the west side in full sun about 9 hours a day. He said it would run more efficiently and extend it's life. So I planted a cluster of crepe myrtles about 10 feet from it and now it never sees full sun. That was almost 20 years ago and it's been running ever since with only a yearly cleaning.

Bringing truth to the adage that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.....

 

[DawgsOnTheWing]

The only time we ran the AC was when Grannies stories were on….. otherwise we ran the attic fan…nowadays if it gets above 73 inside I can’t sleep.

"stories".......that's what my grandma called the soaps, too. Haven't heard that phrase in years....

 

[bolddogge]

Bringing truth to the adage that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.....

The good thing about crepe myrtles is that they do grow relatively fast and can be pruned such as to make a tree, but they don't snap easily like many fast-growing trees. I also have several growing just south of my greenhouse. They keep it from cooking in the summer, but their spindally limbs allow pleanty of sun in the winter.