Hi,
Our 3 story house, including basement is about 3600 square feet.
9 foot ceilings.
Duct work is about 8"
We have a 3.5 ton AC that can't keep up. State of Kansas. Our bills last summer were $700-$900 a month and we lived in an oven. It never got cool except on rainy cool days that were cold anyway.
I have had several AC folks out to talk to us.
I want the best system without overkil. I have the money, although ideally, I don't want to overspend if it's more than we need.
Problem is, one guy says we need a 4 ton unit, and 5 would be pushing it, because our duct work can't push through air from a 5 ton+ because it is too small.
But on the other hand, I don't see going from 3.5 ton to 4 ton would do much of a difference.
I read somewhere that calculate 1 ton for every 400 square foot. That would be 9 tons.
Another said 600 sq. ft. That would be 6 tons.
Anyone know an accurate calculation? I think the ones low-balling us aren't considering we have 9 foot ceilings too. That has to account for something.
We have already done due diligence with our windows. It is an 8 year old home. The AC unit put in here was obviously too small for the house. As well, the venting off the system from the filter, I don't know what you call it, was pointed out too us that it is waaay too wide for the unit and wasting air or something.
Anyway, recommendations please. I don't want freon, I want the other.
Also, we've talked to two Trane guys, one last fall and one two days ago. Their recommendations and price differences were $4,000 apart. Go figure.
Another guy says he has an Everest that is far less than both of those guys and has a lifetime warranty, as opposed to Trane's 10 year warranty. We have also talked to Sears.
We have talked to folks about just adding another AC unit, since there is nothing wrong with our heater. But on the other hand, if I'm going to do this, I feel we should replace the entire system, including heater and get a system that has the two motors, the one that runs and the other that shuts down and runs only when needed.
Any ideas on that?
thanks.
Start Free Trial
