Hi Tom,
I have replaced both of my AC systems in my 3000 sq ft 40-year-old split-level home. I bought the hype and bought a big brand name. I have cystic fibrosis and I’m on a transplant list, so humidity and dust and mites are a big deal for me. So I bought all new ducts, spent money we didn’t have due to these medical issues, but I’m just not seeing the promises of what I was sold.
I’m getting a higher temperature and I’m using more electric. The sizing is in line with Manual J. Upstairs it might be a 1/2 ton big, just due to weird duct runs because my house’s architecture can’t change. But it just isn’t removing enough humidity. I’m trying to reach 50% but it just doesn’t make it. I have a 3 ton cooling 2200 sq ft with R-58 insulation.
Thanks,
Jason
Tom: Okay, first off if you have a 2 story home, the upstairs has to have a little more capacity so it’s usually bigger upstairs then downstairs if they’re pretty equal in square footage.
Secondly, manual J conditions do not take into consideration our weather conditions that we’re having to deal with. In this case cooling the house, keeping the house dehumidified during mild times, and of course when we get in the heating system, it’s going to be a whole different story.
As far as 3 tons for 2,200 square feet, that’s way too small. The coils are running too warm and you’re not dehumidifying and that’s the problem. There’s a couple of things we could do here maybe to get it fixed. You’ll have to call someone out to take a look. Absolutely Comfort Air would be the people I would tell you to call. You want to get about a 25 to 27 degree drop across the coil. I don’t know if you’re going to achieve that. This time of year, you probably will. Summertime, probably not because the units are too small.
Secondly, this is a medical condition. This is just not someone trying to stay cool in their house. I would definitely look into, especially if humidity is an issue, get a separate dehumidifying system for those days you really need it because you’ve got to control this more so than just an every day average Joe air conditioner. I’m being serious.
Charlie: I’m listening to you, I’m taking notes. Trust me.
Tom: I would definitely do some air quality testing and make sure that you’re getting your humidity just right and maybe a separate HEPA filter where you’re sitting around a lot, whether it’s in your bedroom or where you’re watching TV or whatever. Those things are important when you’re in this kind of situation.
Charlie: I’m sorry. I’m just a little distracted here.
Tom: Let’s talk about the medical conditions. We’ve got so many you can deal with. That’s right, back up generators, so important if you have equipment you have to keep running. It could be as simple as your air conditioner or your refrigerator with insulin like my grandmother had after hurricane Andrew, they couldn’t get ice to keep her insulin cold. You’ve got all these situations.
You’ve got humidity in this case because I do believe it’s a breathing issue, I’m not a doctor. You’ve got cooling, there’s just so much going on with this stuff, so you’ve got to be careful when it’s medical. It’s got to be more than your average house air conditioner.
Charlie: Agreed.
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