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Started By
Message
OT HVAC peeps...variable speed really worth it?
Posted on 2/25/14 at 10:35 am
Posted on 2/25/14 at 10:35 am
Building a house and im looking at the HVAC stuff thats about to get installed. Original quoted stuff is 13 SEER and im definitely looking to increase that to 16. To go to just 16 was maybe a grand more. To go to a 16 system that was supposed to be more quiet (comfort vs performance series) among other things was like 2 grand more. To go to a 16 seer variable speed system is was more like 5k more. I dont have the quote in front of me to know exactly. I really dont want to go up 5k more on the price...but is variable speed hvac systems THAT much better?? The brand is Carrier...house has blown in cellulose in ceiling and exterior walls, silver heat shield stuff on the roof decking, and all low E 366 windows.
TIA
TIA
6
Posted on 2/25/14 at 10:42 am to NOLAGT
quote:
Building a house
We know.
I just built one too. The variable speed was rec if I went with spray foam so it would remove the humidity since the louse was sealed tight.My AC guy said the variable wasnt necessary since I went with batts and cellulose
Posted on 2/25/14 at 10:44 am to NOLAGT
In the biz... New home, go 16 Seer or better. 
Posted on 2/25/14 at 10:45 am to NOLAGT
quote:
silver heat shield stuff on the roof decking
I don't know about the AC stuff, But I heard the heat shield stuff can significantly reduce your cell phone coverage in your home. Our builder said he has received multiple complaints and does not install it anymore. Not sure if true though.
Posted on 2/25/14 at 10:45 am to NOLAGT
Spend the extra money on better insulation and more energy efficient windows... best energy savings is when the unit does not run at all
Posted on 2/25/14 at 10:49 am to ATOlurker
quote:
I don't know about the AC stuff, But I heard the heat shield stuff can significantly reduce your cell phone coverage in your home. Our builder said he has received multiple complaints and does not install it anymore. Not sure if true though.
I had horrible cell coverage, so i got a M-Cell. I have the heat shield, but also have bad reception outside as well
Posted on 2/25/14 at 10:53 am to NOLAGT
I would get single speed outside unit with a variable furnace/air handler. Use the savings to upgrade the insulation to spray foam.
You'll get enhanced dehumidification with the variable speed blower ramp up. The furnace running at single stage in our climate is good too as the furnaces are oversized for our climate.
True variable speed (indoor and outdoor) tend to have dehumidification problems. I had a Tech installing my system tell me he had to add a whole house dehumidifier to get the humidity down with his Trane xl20.
You'll get enhanced dehumidification with the variable speed blower ramp up. The furnace running at single stage in our climate is good too as the furnaces are oversized for our climate.
True variable speed (indoor and outdoor) tend to have dehumidification problems. I had a Tech installing my system tell me he had to add a whole house dehumidifier to get the humidity down with his Trane xl20.
Posted on 2/25/14 at 11:11 am to NOLAGT
Got 2 of these... 4 ton Mitsubhshis
Work unbelievably well... but my house is like a big ice chest.
Work unbelievably well... but my house is like a big ice chest.
Posted on 2/25/14 at 11:12 am to pdubya76
guess yall sick of hearing it. Just figure a lot of different people on here with lots of varied input so I ask...and I dont feel like working at the moment. I thought about the foam route but it was pricy and idk if im sold on it. I have read great things and bad things. I also have some friends that did it in there home...and they wound up with a leak (not from the foam) and they had to redo whole walls to fix it. The foam made it impossible to figure where the leak was originating from.
Thats interesting about the cell reception in a house with that silver stuff. Too late now but ill keep that in mind if my reception is doo doo lol.
I did opt for the best low E windows in hopes to just keep the unit from running a lot in the first place. I think the variable speed seems like a nice concept I just wanted to get some real world feed back from users or installers.
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