I am replacing a 30 year old AC unit and I have had 4 estimates. 2 of the 4 people did not even take any measurements and the other two took a lot of measurements. I am leaning towards the ones that took measurements, but they are giving me two options. I live in Florida. Here are the two options: 3.5 tons 13 seer straight cool 3.5 tons 13 seer heat pump What is the difference between the above two? Does anyone know some important questions I could ask the installers to see which one maybe more qualified or knowledgeable in installing the unit I found paperwork on the house and it indicates that a 3.5 ton was installed in 1984. The two people that did not measure apparently were salesmen. One from sears told me this: OK great give me a call or send me an email when you ready. You currently have a 2 Ton and I can see going to above 1/2 ton more or a max 1 Ton more not 1 1/2 Tons more. I will install what you want, and our system and service will be better than any company out there.

When you contract with Sears you don't get a lot of plastic and thin metals you get a good quality system that will last. I don't understand how Sears can tell me I have a 2 ton when I have a 3.5 ton. Something smells fishy here? The heat pump can move heat indoors to outdoors ("air condition") as well as from outdoors to indoors (heating). The cooling only unit can only air condition.cost to install air conditioning brisbane If the house already has heating or you rarely need heat, you can save some money by getting a cooling-only unit, and maybe supplement that with portable electric heaters as needed.air conditioner heater through wall unit As to brand comparisons, I strongly recommend you review the Consumer Reports reader reliability report of air conditioners and heatpumps: that can be done online by paying a fee, or visiting a library.ac unit has ice build up

As for some installers carefully measuring and the others not, the latter could be fine if your dwelling is not especially unique: an experienced installer has run the numbers so many times that they know what the result is. That experience is helped by there being a coarse choice of capacities: 2 ton, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7.5, 10, 12.5, etc. On the other hand, not measuring could be a sign of an unknowledgeable installer. Do they also propose a 3.5 ton unit? As far as questions to ask, I like to elicit being assured that if anything goes wrong for X years, they will fix it for free. If they can say so confidently, that is a very good sign that they don't think anything will go wrong. It might be useful to ask an installer why they choose 3.5 tons and not 3 or 4. There is a certain degree of assumption about worst case and average case conditions. If the a/c can't quite keep up on the 5 hottest days that is one thing, but if it can't keep up on 30 of them, that is quite a different matter.

Likewise, an oversized system can chill the air so much that it doesn't have to run much, making the air stagnant and possibly muggy. Questions asking about how they balance those factors are good for you to understand and for the installer to reflect upon. Differences: none and probably made by the same, or comprable, manufacturer. 13 SEER is the lowest efficiency HVAC system a contractor can install. There are much better systems out there that would significantly reduce your electric bill. 2 ton or 3 1/2 ton? there is a nameplate on the outdoor unit that will have a model number. Something like xxx24xxx etc,. the 24 means 24,000 BTU/hr or 2 tons (12,000 BTU/hr per ton). I have a freind that has a variable speed system the runs on low speed all the time and he has a $90 electric bill, in FLORIDA! I sell Ameristar and have for several years. Very good equipment almost no warranty work ever needed. A lot depends on your installer and his competence. The problem with both Ameristar and Goodman is that anyone that has a licsence can buy them at the local wholesale shop, that doesn't mean they know what they are doing when it comes to installing them..

trust me when I say there is a reason that I get paid 80 bucks an hour to fix those screw ups. Get someone that makes their living in HVAC not a buddy that used to do HVAC or a fresh grad from a trade school or a guy that works as an installer for a plumber that a buddy knows. Be sure your contractor can and does do warranty work on the brand you buy,,,what ever that brand may be. I have installed Goodman for years with hardly any problems. The warranties are very good (10 year parts and compressor) plus you can purchase a labor warranty. I warranty my labor for a year after installation. Also if you need parts after the manufacturer warranty they are less expensive than most other brands. It does depend on the installer. If Goodman is installed right, you should not have problems.What is the typical size of a central air conditioner in square feet? Central air conditioners range in size from 600 square feet to over 3,300 square feet. The square footage is determined by its tonnage as well as the geographic location in which it will be used and the total square footage of the home where it is to be installed.

A 1 1/2-ton air conditioner in the southern United States is 600 to 900 square feet. That same air conditioner in the northern part of the United States is 700 to 1,100 square feet. Air conditioning units increase in size by half-ton capacities. In general, the steadier the climate, the smaller the air conditioner needed. The square footage range for each half-ton varies about 300 square feet, so a 2-ton air conditioner in the southern United States is 901 to 1,200 square feet. A 1-ton air conditioner distributes air at a rate of approximately 400 cubic feet per minute. It is recommended that each square foot of a home receives 1 cubic foot of air per minute. So a home with 1,000 square feet in the southern half of the United States would need a 2-ton air conditioner. Equally, experts caution against purchasing central air conditioning units that are too large for the home because they will not be able to humidify the home properly. As of 2015, Robinair produces air conditioner servicing equipment rather than air conditioners.