Replacing HVAC - Recommendations

Hi Bill, I have a couple of questions for you. How long do you plan on staying in your home? I ask this because if you plan on selling your house before the next time you need to replace your HVAC system, not having a "furnace" or a heat pump w/o emergency heat capabilities could be a deterrent to potential home buyers.

Maybe I'm confused, in your description, "My HVAC systems is a 17 year old Trane gas pack, then you ask, Like old refrigeration lines isn't it replace or clean...". Is your system a 'packaged unit',(furnace/AC combo as one unit, either on the roof or on the ground) or are you talking about a 'split system', (where you have an indoor furnace and AC Evap.coil in the furnace housing and an outdoor condenser unit)?

And "B", your "Thinking 3 ton - 18 - 19.5 SEER (trying to order minus electric heater if possible). Your wanting to buy the upper end of the price range, but you don't want to spend the extra money for the "electric heat strips". I'm assuming your looking at maybe a Heat Pump. I, personally have never been a big fan of heat pumps, for 2 reasons, (1) they run on electricity(more expensive than natural gas) and (2) more moving parts that can break. But that's up to you and your preference, but, I would recommend investing in the 'emergency heat strips' for a heat pump, even if you don't see the need for them now.

As far as changing freon lines or cleaning them, that I think would depend on what what part of the system your up-grading,(split system), anything to do with system capacity used you'll have to size the lines accordingly. And it maybe cheaper to change the freon lines if you have to change the type of freon. DJ

No intent of selling this house barring winning the lottery. We use LP not Natural gas. With the gas logs being so good we only really need cooling or air conditioning for the warm months. Yes to a heat pump. To me originally from Florida we call it a reverse cycle air conditioner. Great for cooling but lousy for heating if the temperature gets below 40 degrees. The heat strips are for that are they not? The electric company gives you a $1,000 rebate for using electricity now when buying a more efficient unit. The LP company doesn't. Don't know if Natural gas company provides a rebate but since I'm not in the city didn't check. Current system is a one piece Trane unit called a gas pack with a LP conversion behind the house. Nothing on the roof. The second floor unit is an electric heat pump - again only use it to air condition as heat rises and those gas logs at 100% efficient make upstairs the warmest area in the house...Again, looking for recommendations on what should I make sure is changed. This is like getting a new roof. Some quote a price and put new shingles on over the old shingles - some remove the old shingles and even replace the membrane and check the plywood for damage replacing that. The largest roofer around here does it the second way and will replace your skylights too when he does the roof and he's cheaper than the guys who do the roof on a roof way.

What does your neighbor,(Supervisor and Training Specialist in HVAC), have to say, he'd be the one to go to, being he's familiar with your area and it's microclimate. DJ

Whether as an employee or manager at IBM, in Product Development Lab or as the Lab rep to manufacturing sites where most time was always in test and debug; I learn two things when starting a project; learn as much as one can and trust no one 100% of the time on 100% of the subject.

As I never mentioned my neighbor in this thread you obviously read the other thread. Hint: he forgot and so did the plumbing supply person taking the order that 160 PSI Black Pipe should have been used. Free labor on an install is great but you really want it installed properly.

How much of the house do you use?

why do you feel you need to replace your system?

you could just go with a modular unit [PTAC] in the living room & bedroom

Bill,

Welcome to the forum. It's a pleasure to have people here who actually give some thought to the question before asking it. And who ask for something other than homework help, urgently.

I'll defer to the guys who have already given input.

Cheers.

Now if we could just figure out what to do with the guys who feel the need to post even when they have nothing to add to the conversation

Such as yourself?

Bill,

I agree with Lyn, good to see a well thought out post.

I am not an HVAC professional by any means but have you considered Geothermal.

I bring this up because my neighbor's down the road had one installed three springs ago and they are still raving about the efficiency of this system.

I know these are very expensive to install but my neighbors are boasting a 45% energy savings over the oil fired furnace (installed circa 1965) and the AC system (installed circa 1988) that was added to their air duct system.

Our local electric utility has given them a special rate for all electric utilities (which they give to all - all electric homes) and the installer (Geo is the only system he installs) told them that they would realize a 9 year payoff from savings.

This is probably OT but I thought I would throw this out there anyway.

Good Luck!

Hi,

am I on the air?

Long time listener, first time caller.

Air conditioning not my field & have nothing to add, just thought I'd say, Welcome to the forum.

I'll take my answer off the air.

With a Gas-Pac, the refrigerant lines are all within the Package Unit, so no need to consider replacing lines as the new unit will have all new.

Package units aren't as high SEER as splits so I doubt you'll find an 18/19 SEER unit.

Might want to look into a Heat Pump Package unit,electric heat pump,may now or in the future cost less then gas.

Replacing windows may reduce the load to a half ton less then you currently have, Ideally do the windows first,and right size the AC system,to prevent humidity issues of oversizing.