Hi Everyone,
I am a homeowner in central Florida. It is hot here. That is the extent of my HVAC knowledge.
I have a 2000 Sq/Ft home (1997 ft^2 to be exact), and I’m pretty sure it’s time to replace my air-conditioning system. The current system still has cool air coming out of the vents, but a) it is extremely loud and b) i have noticed over the past few years the electric bill is going up substantially. And this is all with the thermostat set to 79 – it is not cold in my home.
The current condenser unit is from 2006, is 3.5 Ton and i’ve been told is a 10 Seer. Also, I have a Gas furnace that was replaced in 2012.
I have had a few companies out to get quotes and so far the info they are giving is not consistent – this goes beyond the price.
1) A Home Depot sent out a contractor, who quoted me $TwiceAsMuch for a Carrier 4-Ton, 16 Seer system. He said that i should increase from the 3.5 Ton system because of something about the modern coolant that is used (I don’t remember exactly what he said). He said that back then, the general rule of thumb was 600 SqFt per ton, and now it is more like 500SqFt / Ton. His quote included replacing the Furnace, but he said the copper was fine.
2) Local Guy #1 quoted about $HalfAsMuch for a Goodman 3.5-Ton, 16 Seer system. This included replacing the copper, which he said he recommends doing with the new system. This also included replacing with a Goodman 80k BTU furnace
3) Local Guy #2 hasn’t got back to me with an official quote, but he said it would be about in the $HalfAsMuch range, for a 3.5-Ton, 16 Seer system, but said the furnace and copper are fine and do not need to be replace. He mentioned Carrier, but again I haven’t seen what’s on the quote yet. He did however say that the “box” underneath the Furnace/Coil is not large enough (it is roughly 8 inches tall). He said it should be more like 18-24 inches, and that he would increase it by a foot.
Local Guy #1 said that I do not need to raise the “box” because I have two intakes (returns…. something). Anyway, he said no way to needing to raise the Furnace/Coil to allow more room underneath.
I am going to try to get one more company out, but already i am having trouble figuring out what I actually need. So far, my questions are:
1) Does the 4-Ton system from the Home Depot contractor explain the huge price difference in his quote (Pretty much $TwiceAsMuch more than the others)?
2) Do i really need to increase from the current 3.5-Ton system to a 4-Ton system?
3) What about the “Box” area underneath the Furnace/Coil? Does that need to be raised? Does having 2 air intakes matter as far as that is concerned?
4) Should the copper lines be replaced regardless of their current condition?
5) Does the brand matter? i.e., Carrier vs Goodman?
I have included a picture of the closet where the Furnace and coil (and water heater) are located.
Thanks in advance for any help and advice!
-M