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If I had 10 contractors come out, I'm sure I'd get 10 different recommendations! So far it's 3 and 3 so I'm trying to understand what will be best for our house then have the one contractor that I feel the most comfortable with do the work.
We have a 2500 sq ft. house that's about 13 years old. We're in North Texas so we get hot, and we can get cold. Current unit has 1 14" return and 1 12" return both pulling through multiple registers in the wall. Condensing unit was replace 5 years ago and is a Heil (we were in a pinch)
I'm looking at Trane. I know we want the XV80 variable speed furnace. If we replace the condensing unit as well, I'm torn between going ultra high efficiancy although I know we won't get the savings to offset cost. Our cooling cost isn't that bad now but I like the "other" gadgets like dual compresor, quieter operation etc.
I have a few questions:
1. with a 5 ton unit, I understand we can go with a XR 12 (12 SEER) and get an effective 13 SEER. If we go with a XL14i we'll still only get 13 SEER. A XL19i should only yeild 16 SEER, although one contractor told me it was a true 19 SEER and that the tonnage didn't affect efficiency. He also said 410 was more efficiant than R22, but I've seen where same units are 1 SEER less when running 410 vs. R22. If our cooling cost is already pretty good, does it make sense to go with anything over the XR12? Unless we just want the fancy "stuff" and cool look of the XLi series?
2. W/O seeing the house, does that return seem sufficient? ONe says more than enough, one says new units need much more etc. etc.
3. Do the newer compressors require 1 1/8" suction line or is the old 7/8" good enough? Again, one says one thing, the other say another.
4. Coil??? I haven't figured that out yet. It sounds like there are 2 different coils that could be used. A standard 5 ton coil and a coil that has some other features that "may" be required with some function rich condensing units. If we keep the current Heil until it dies, should we plan ahead and ask for a specific coil over and above a "standard" coil?
5. Filtration. Ug. One good 5" filter on the furnace, or filter all return registers? UV Light or not? Electric filters sound like that have a lot of maintenance and may not be worth the $$$.
Whew, so there you have it. I could talk on and on about it, and I'll probably know more than I ever cared to about HVAC once I'm done. I'm just frustrated that I'm getting so many different opinions. In one case, I think the guy was a salesman and not much on HVAC. He just said some things that were a clear sign of not being "fully" aware. Things I've learned along the way.
I have a short list and I know who I htink I want to do the work. He's also higher $$$ and I'm not sure that maybe on a couple of things he could be a little overkill on, like return air.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
We have a 2500 sq ft. house that's about 13 years old. We're in North Texas so we get hot, and we can get cold. Current unit has 1 14" return and 1 12" return both pulling through multiple registers in the wall. Condensing unit was replace 5 years ago and is a Heil (we were in a pinch)
I'm looking at Trane. I know we want the XV80 variable speed furnace. If we replace the condensing unit as well, I'm torn between going ultra high efficiancy although I know we won't get the savings to offset cost. Our cooling cost isn't that bad now but I like the "other" gadgets like dual compresor, quieter operation etc.
I have a few questions:
1. with a 5 ton unit, I understand we can go with a XR 12 (12 SEER) and get an effective 13 SEER. If we go with a XL14i we'll still only get 13 SEER. A XL19i should only yeild 16 SEER, although one contractor told me it was a true 19 SEER and that the tonnage didn't affect efficiency. He also said 410 was more efficiant than R22, but I've seen where same units are 1 SEER less when running 410 vs. R22. If our cooling cost is already pretty good, does it make sense to go with anything over the XR12? Unless we just want the fancy "stuff" and cool look of the XLi series?
2. W/O seeing the house, does that return seem sufficient? ONe says more than enough, one says new units need much more etc. etc.
3. Do the newer compressors require 1 1/8" suction line or is the old 7/8" good enough? Again, one says one thing, the other say another.
4. Coil??? I haven't figured that out yet. It sounds like there are 2 different coils that could be used. A standard 5 ton coil and a coil that has some other features that "may" be required with some function rich condensing units. If we keep the current Heil until it dies, should we plan ahead and ask for a specific coil over and above a "standard" coil?
5. Filtration. Ug. One good 5" filter on the furnace, or filter all return registers? UV Light or not? Electric filters sound like that have a lot of maintenance and may not be worth the $$$.
Whew, so there you have it. I could talk on and on about it, and I'll probably know more than I ever cared to about HVAC once I'm done. I'm just frustrated that I'm getting so many different opinions. In one case, I think the guy was a salesman and not much on HVAC. He just said some things that were a clear sign of not being "fully" aware. Things I've learned along the way.
I have a short list and I know who I htink I want to do the work. He's also higher $$$ and I'm not sure that maybe on a couple of things he could be a little overkill on, like return air.
Any help would be greatly appreciated