Expensive Week

[1BLU I]

Good job James. You’re fortunate to have 2 systems, one breaks at least one works. Make sure your dealer has registered your equipment for 10 year parts warranty. Check with dealer if offers parts AND labor warranty service agreement. Labor can get expensive even if parts are covered. No dealer can stock all parts for your unit. Dealer relies on distributor. Get comfortable with next day air charge if part must come from factory, otherwise 3,5 days. You will be lucky is installed in 3 days. Welcome to the service end of HVAC.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by aigel

Another thing people forget about when rushing to move to TX ...

Except for a couple weeks, usually late summer, I could do without A/C here. Similar for heat in winter.

In TX, FL, LA etc. you need a/c just to dehumidify!

G

Originally Posted by red-beard

Yep it is HORRIBLE here. And we have really big bugs too!

Case in point

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

I'm not following the language, so please help me out. When you say 2 stage, do you mean that it has 2 compressors? Or the evaporator fan is 2 speed?

My parents had a Trane XL19I (19 SEER) installed about 12 years ago, I was living there finishing my degree at the time. Dual compressor, very quiet. They had a concern about the noise, well, because the old one was noisy. So, my brother moved the whip to where they wanted it, pad laid down, then the a/c guys ran new lines, installed the condenser, dampers, two thermostats, maybe the handler too. $10K. Two story house, 2600sqft, Dallas.

They went solar later, because that's what my brother told them to do. He set them up with the best system out there then, because he could. My brother then worked for a company that is now Tesla, was Solar City. I don't know the particulars, but it has all paid off, and they have little to no electricity bill. From what dad has told me, he basically pays for the electricity consumed at night.

Last spring I installed a 14 seer 2.5ton Rheem. The house never had central air, 1200sqft. $5K. I haven't gotten around to insulating the house, and it doesn't have any, anywhere. It can't keep up. These past few days (105f) you have to turn the place into a meat locker at night and hope that it maintains throughout the day.

Wife just walked in the door, and it's too cold, maybe 74f is better for her. Not for me.

two stage is two compressor.

As your 2.5 ton unit. The cooling output btu's are not enough, insulate and it'll prolly do much better...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

two stage is two compressor.

As your 2.5 ton unit. The cooling output btu's are not enough, insulate and it'll prolly do much better...

Not mostly. Most of the newer units are single compressor, two speed motor. Some of the older units used two compressors. My RHEEM is single compressor, two speed.

https://www.airconditioningarizona.com/understanding-variable-speed-air-conditioning/

See below to the section on "Dual Stage".

[red-beard]

My air-handler is multispeed, which allows for a dehumidification cycle.

[Arizona_928]

LOL that's nice confusing brand marketing. My two stage has two compressors. My two stage has one compressor... I would be confident to say a two stage commercial would be two comps...


It's like dual turbo setup. Little turbo feeding big turbo vs big turbo with variable vane...

[biosurfer1]

Did you look into a multi-zone split system?

I am going to have to change out my whole system soon (20+ years old) and the more I look into multi-zone MS, the more it seems like the future. Targeted cooling with an infinitely variable refrigerant flow...every room gets it own thermostat and can heat/cool however the occupant wants, and 20+ SEER seems the average these days.

Manufacturers actually spent some $$$ on the design of the fan units so they aren't just a big white box on the wall now.

I looked casually when I got into the HVAC world out of college and today's systems are light years better and WAY cheaper.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Did you look into a multi-zone split system?

I am going to have to change out my whole system soon (20+ years old) and the more I look into multi-zone MS, the more it seems like the future. Targeted cooling with an infinitely variable refrigerant flow...every room gets it own thermostat and can heat/cool however the occupant wants, and 20+ SEER seems the average these days.

Manufacturers actually spent some $$$ on the design of the fan units so they aren't just a big white box on the wall now.

I looked casually when I got into the HVAC world out of college and today's systems are light years better and WAY cheaper.

I diy a split level in a 20 ft shipping container "Work shop". Solar setup on a 1kw battery bank. Something I could not do with the conventional window a.c. Units.

[red-beard]

Update:

First full "normal" weekend day yesterday. We are down to 93 kWh in a day! Today will be the real test.

This is about 25-80 kWh less than it had been

[sammyg2]

House has 2 complete systems, one up (3.5 Ton) and one down (4 Ton).

Wow, you guys have some really heavy air conditioners, are they made out of lead?
Mine only weighs a couple hundred pounds.

[gsxrken]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Wife just walked in the door, and it's too cold, maybe 74f is better for her. Not for me.

This is a big issue here too, lol. She hates AC, although she’d deny that. She just doesn’t like when it’s on.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Did you look into a multi-zone split system?

I am going to have to change out my whole system soon (20+ years old) and the more I look into multi-zone MS, the more it seems like the future. Targeted cooling with an infinitely variable refrigerant flow...every room gets it own thermostat and can heat/cool however the occupant wants, and 20+ SEER seems the average these days.

Manufacturers actually spent some $$$ on the design of the fan units so they aren't just a big white box on the wall now.

I looked casually when I got into the HVAC world out of college and today's systems are light years better and WAY cheaper.

I have 3200 Square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 4 bathrooms, dining room, kitchen and an office. And we already have the ducting in. It would be huge labor for that many heads on multiple mini-split systems.