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Before I go & contact A/C dealers, I'd like to do some research on my own on available systems. But I am not usre just waht kind of system to look for.
I know I need a Heat Pump.
But it is my understanding that the building has some kind of central cooling tower, and the units draw from that for cooling. Not sure how that works, nor what that means with regard to the type of system I can get for my COndo. I know there is a 13 yr old Carrier unit in there now, but I cannot find model #.
I think that I would ask the maintenance person for some more information. Ask if there is a contractor who cares for the building on a regular basis or a maintenace person on site. Ask them the questions. also call a Carrier dealer to look at what you have and what it takes to replace it and what options Carrier has.
There IS a contractor who deals with many people in this bldg & does the stuff for the bldg. I have an informal estimate from him ("Could you stop in for a minute and give me an estimate to replace my system?" ), but having trouble getting details. THus I want to research things.
He gave me an estimate of $6500. That seems high, but maybe this untypical type of system does cost that much. The condo is approx 1600 sq ft.
The Control panel is shot. The former owner wired the thermostat control to bypass the controller so that the fan cannot be kept in the ON position. It can only operate on AUTO. That can be replaced for about $600. But in light of the age of the A/C Unit, I am wondering if I am better off replacing the entire unit with a new unit with a higher efficiency.
OR - I just live with it as is, never running the fan fulltime. A reason I want the fan to ON position is to get air flow thru the filter fulltime, not just for several minutes at a time.
Hmm, thought I replied last night, but it apparently didn't come through.
I would either replace the controller board or take the fan out of the circuit and power it on its own IF I wanted to mess with it. Running the air through the unit constantly doesn't have much effect other than adding to the cooling costs (motors generate heat), adding to the power bill, and increasing the number of filter changes.
If you were to do a replacement of the entire unit, you would have to either pay interest or lose investment income. The efficiency gain would not be all that great.
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