HVAC Installers: Recommendations and highely efficient system?

[crusinsusan]

What does Ht mean?

[The Bear Hunter]

Originally Posted by crusinsusan

What does Ht mean?

Heat Load/Gain. They will measure the square footage of your home, windows, doors, insulation R-Factor which way the house faces for A/C, N.S.E.W. Matters which way you have windows facing. Especially if you have a lot of windows.

[crusinsusan]

Ah. Thank you.

[Hollywood]

I've already replaced two units with 410A units. Why spend $2k or more fixing old units that might break again when you can get a new one with a 10 year warranty.

[crusinsusan]

So is that what I should look for? A unit called "410A"? I'll go research the term.

I swear, it's like learning a new language. lol

Do you mind telling us what it cost?

[crusinsusan]

For those looking for the rebate from Duke: https://www.duke-energy.com/home/pro...r/hvac-install

It shows the rebate amount depending upon seer, but also has recommended installers.

[mlhm5]

For 1500 sq ft in a condo, which I am guessing is not well insulated in an area where the temps go above 90, the arrangement of your condo, you would need ~30000 BTU and if it were me I would buy a Daikin Tri Zone mini split. . IMO Daikin makes the best and usually their dealers are very knowledgeable. There is not much of a price difference between 24000 and 36000. - $200

[Hollywood]

Originally Posted by crusinsusan

So is that what I should look for? A unit called "410A"? I'll go research the term.

I swear, it's like learning a new language. lol

Do you mind telling us what it cost?

R-22 is just the old refrigerant. I think it went by the brand name Freon.

R410A is the newer refrigerant (also called Puron). It has to run at higher pressures to get the same effect as R22. IIRC, it does less damage to the ozone layer than does R22 if released into the atmosphere.

R410A refrigerant is way less expensive now. Also, I believe it's now illegal to manufacture or even import R22, so whatever amount is out there is all there is. So it's quickly becoming more cost efficient to replace than to repair. Plus the new units are more energy efficient. I could have gotten a 16 SEER as opposed to the 14 SEER that I bought for $1000 more. Since it was a rental home, I just went with the lower SEER unit.

[crusinsusan]

Thank you both. I will look into the Daikin tri split (which I now see is something I can do), and shoot for 17+ seer to get that ("up to") $600 rebate (not sure what "up to" will turn out to actually be).

But I'm just getting educated and I suppose I'll leave it to the pros who come.

Oddly enough, no one has yet recommend an HVAC company. Hmmm.

As has been suggested, I will rely on the recommendation(s) from my inspector, but still, it would be nice to know if suggestions from posters align with the inspector's. (Whose name I don't want to give out just now.)

[Hollywood]

Did you ever say where your condo is?