Hvac question

[noway2]

It’s one of the biggest “wink wink, nod nods” in any industry. I’m no real estate mover and shaker, by any means. But the 3-4 appraisals I’ve ever had done for loans/refi’s ALL have magically been damn near bull’s eye to the sale/refi amount.

Go ahead and try to tell me how ethical and professional the banking and real estate world is...

I had a conversation with a ham radio friend that does real estate appraisals for a bank. I forget what exactly he said to justify the process, but in the end agreed with me that if you want a true sale value appraisal it isn’t fair for them to go into it knowing the target price.

 

[noway2]

So now a 4 ton unit is too big?

I’m going to hazard a guess that it’s probably about right, but it’s impossible to say absolutely without running the numbers. My wife’s shop runs a 3ton. It’s 1200 sq feet with 2x6 construction and well insulated. It’s about perfect. Your house is bigger so it’s makes sense to go up a little. My parents hours is 2x6 with brick on a basement with all LED lighting, high efficiency windows. etc. it too runs a 3 ton, but it’s also a geothermal system which will have an easier time rejecting heat even in the hot dry days. Factors such as shade, how tight the air envelope is, where the condenser is located, etc, will all make a difference.

 

[Ikarus1]

Efficiency may make a difference nowadays.
I am not sure about a single level but on a 2000sq ft older 2-story home with split systems, the downstairs unit I had from 1992 was 2.5 Tons and 10 SEER rating. It died a horrible death (air handler valve quit, and with R-22 not worth fixing due to cost of replacing the refrigerant and other failed components) and I replaced the units inside and out myself with help from 2 friends.
I replaced it with a 15 seer 2.5 ton. It blows MUCH colder air now set at the same thermostat setting and the house cools down quicker thanks to the variable speed air handler.

The upstairs 1.5 ton SEER 10 unit is still on it's last legs but with us looking to GTHO of this home soon, I'm not putting any more money into anything than I have to.

Just to sum up: Downstairs unit is 2.5 Ton, brick outside walls and crappy 1992 level insulation. 10 foot ceilings. Approximately sq ft cooled is around 1,300sq ft

Upstairs unit is 1.5 Ton, ancient with dirty coils and wood exterior walls, vaulted ceilings in the master, all the heat from downstairs rises into my return. Approx sq ft cooled is 800.

Anyhow, we stay comfortable with the T-stat set over 74 deg

 

[BlackGun]

If he puts in a 4 ton system then all the ducting will need to change to an increased size. Not to mention the number of outlets will increase.

A 4 ton heat pump will need no less than 15 kW of auxiliary heat strips but that depends also on true sizing. Hopefully you have enough electrical panel capacity for that. Usually that’s a 90 amp or a 30 amp and 60 amp breaker. Did you ever find out if the install was permitted?

FYI- anytime you buy a house you should search the local GIS site for permits on the house. Any room additions. Added baths, new comfort units, electrical panel changes will be listed unless you live in a very poor rural county. Real estate agents are prohibited from listing square footage not on the county system, such as finished basements done by homeowners. No comfort systems should be listed as NEW that are not permitted.