Replacing your home's HVAC System?
 

It's the time of year where many are considering replacing their HVAC systems here in the Villages. Whether you have a furnace or heat pump system, when getting estimates for a new system, make sure you have a sizing calculation for your home done. There have been many cases of undersized systems installed when homes here in the Villages were originally built so just replacing the old system with the same sized new system may not be correct. Also, you may have made some changes which could also effect the size system you need.

When comparing estimates, make sure your get the details on what's going to be changed so you can compare apples to apples. Just because company #1 comes in cheaper than company #2 doesn't always mean company #1's installation is the same eventhough the equipment may be. There is always a reason why one company's estimate is significantly different than another. Also, you can't compare what you paid up North for a system since it might have only been the change out of the A/C part of the system where here in the Villages we have mostly heat pumps and furnaces (mostly in the older sections).

Most of the reputable HVAC companies here in the Villages should come in close to each other when replacing with the same equipment and with the same install. It's also not important to have the company who originally installed your system replace it since the homes should have all been installed to code and should all be very similar.

If you get a "low ball" price, look to see what's being re-used for the installation, are they are undersizing the unit? are they pulling the permit that you have to have with an installation like this? are you getting a larger air filter cabinet? Are they providing a surge protector and or over and under voltage protection at the condenser disconnect? Are you getting the base efficiency model vs a more efficient unit? are they trying to sell you an "off" 2nd tier brand vs something like Carrier or Trane which is used all over the Villages so parts and knowledgable techs are always available?

These days you have a choice of a basic single speed system like what was installed with the home was built, a 2-stage system and a variable speed inverter system that uses the same technology as in the mini-splits everyone is installing these days. Check to see which units qualify for the Federal Tax credits that are expiring this year and or credits from your utility company. The tax credits and instant rebates may make more desirable and more expensive units cost closer to the basic systems. Better systems will have a cheaper 10 year labor warranty that you can purchase because they have a better history of being more reliable. And for new systems even the most basic ones these days that have a 10 year parts warranty, you probably want to seriously consider a labor warranty as well if it's reasonably priced. Then you don't have to worry about anything.

Remember, although our electric rates are fairly cheap here in the Villages, they might not stay that way in the long run so you might want to pay a little more now for a more efficient unit to save on energy in the long run. Also, remember the installation is the most important part of the job and will determine the longevity of your system so, choose wisely when selecting a HVAC company to do your replacement.

Great suggestions jrref

Do not pick the smallest unit such that there is little reserve capacity when there are multiple weeks of very hot weather. Spend the extra money for a size larger than the minimum for your square footage, with the dehumidifying capacity as well.

For FL, minimum would be a 3 ton unit for 2,000 sq ft, 3.5 ton is better and up to 4 ton unit for slightly larger houses.

This is one of the items which skimping on size/price is probably not the area you want to be cheap

YMMV

Thank you for the information.

I always overpower, like a big V8 in my car.

Well, you don't want to oversize either. For heat pump systems which we have here in the Villages it's not "rocket science" unless you have some special situation. Most systems come in 2, 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, 4 and 5 ton. Your house should fit into one of these sizes. The reason for my post is recently myself and two of my neighbors replaced our systems and the ones that Munns installed, for some reason, were undersized when they were installed when the home was built. I'm not saying it was Munns fault since I have no idea who sized the units but it put up a red flag to make sure you re-analyse which size you need when replacing and not just go with what was originally installed. I also wanted to point out there are more equipment options available these days that you might want to consider if you plan on staying in your current home for a while since energy costs are not predictible and will probably increase over time like everything else. When I read discussions on Next Door and other local blogs, all you see are Villagers purchasing the cheapest HVAC system they can get their hands on without any regard to actually what they are purchasing and just "trusting" the contractor. There is nothing wrong with that as long as you are aware of what you are doing. Most HVAC companies, large and small are trying to be reputable but they also know many here are price driven so they will offer you "basic" models and hope the price will entice you to go with them. The truth is, the many HVAC companies serving the Villages all have their favorite systems to sell which in part are the ones they can make the most money on and also provide a "good" system to the customer. But be aware, some of the larger companies like Sunshine and Sun-Kool for example, because of the volume they sell will get better pricing from Carrier for example and may be cheaper to use when replacing your system. Just something to be aware of as well.

Just remember, if you get a price from any company that's significantly cheaper than the rest, there is always a reason that you should to look into. And if you are fine with what they are offering and understand what you are buying compared to the rest, then that's fine.

When choosing the size of a new AC/Heat Pump do you go by tons or seer?

Tons. The SEER has nothing to do with cooling power, only efficiency. A 3-ton AC unit will deliver 3 tons of cooling regardless of the SEER. But if you have a high SEER, you will use less electricity.

My number one suggestion is to ensure that the evaporator(inside) coil is has a corrosion resistant coat applied to reduce the risk of leaks(disimilar metals). If you look at your present coil it probably looks like this. It will be well worth the money.
AC Evaporator Coil Leaks: Causes, Fixes & Prevention

Also, you will significantly extend the life of your compressor if you get the option with a soft start or variable speed. It will also mitigate that annoying clunk sound everytime it starts up.

Good info.

Don't forget to ask about the refrigerant is in new system. Federal rules have changed. An old refrigerant system will cost more to repair (if possible) in the future. Then again, being OP it most likely be new owners problem.

410A will be available many years to come. There are also replacment refrigerants for 410A. But at the beginning of this year all production of 410A HVAC components have been prohibited by law.

Master Tradesman’s recommendation: If your system is already nearing the end of its life, consider replacing it now. R-410A will remain in production and circulation for several years, so you’ve got quite some time before you’ll have to worry about being unable to find a compatible refrigerant.(may not be available now)
R-410A Phase Out in 2025: What Homeowners Need to Know for AC Replacement

I guess this is why Carrier says do not pour Vinegar down your condensate drain.
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Corrosion is one of the leading causes of AC cooling coil leaks. The coil’s material, usually copper or aluminum, can react with chemicals in the air. These reactions, especially involving formic acid or acetic acid, eat away at the metal, creating small pinholes over time. Common sources of these chemicals include household cleaning agents, adhesives, and paints.
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The new R454B refrigerant is no big deal. Yes, it's slightly flamable and yes there was a shortage of tanks for a while but when they installed my new system, I didn't see any difference in the install and handling of the refrigerant from 410A. The only thing you will see is in the new units, there is a refrigerant sensor in the evaporator area that will shut down the system if it detects a leak. With all other refrigerants, if you had a small leak and you were going to replace your system or change the coil, they would charge up the system so you had A/C until they came back. HVAC companies won't be able to do this anymore since if they charged the system, the leak sensor would just shut it down.

I asked Chat GPT. After filling in a lot of information it told me I needed a 3.5 ton unit. Start by asking " How do I size a heat pump unit" at the end of each answer Chat GPT asks if you want to go further just say "yes". I got recommendations for 4 Carrier units and 3 Mitsubishi units with pricing. (Hint: Model # of present unit helpful)
Also sq. ft. is on this site Attention Required! | Cloudflare

You make a good point. But if the repair is far less expensive than replacing the entire system then it might be a preferred option. If the 410A componenty is no longer available, then there will only be one choice.

I would just add that the Federal Government requires HVAC companies to account for and to recycle refrigerants that they remove from old HVAC systems that they remove from service. They cannot dispose of these refrigerants. That is why there are usually older refrigerants available for use for HVAC repairs.