Home AC efficiency

[SomeGuy]

You comparing temps in moose country to Texas is just like a ricer spouting off HP per liter bs.

Its almost 10pm here and its currently 90deg.

100f is 100f...but we definitely don't have it for weeks on end.

I think the biggest difference is our construction techniques up here....we have to deal with swings of nominally +90f down to -20f as the seasons change, and hence our construction is very well insulated and energy efficient. I've been to Dallas a few times in the summer and you can just tell the buildings can't keep the heat out nearly as well.

 

[Tiha]

Yeah we are spoiled up north. I am at 2000 sq ft and I am at 2 tons and that is enough when working correctly. I know down south they are typically at least twice what we are in tonnage.

There might be things you can do to improve it. Like fans to help move cooler air around the house. Dark blinds to keep the sun out.
Does sound like something is off though.

 

[Kyle]

Stupid question but how's the return air side?

Got caught up.

it pulls up the wall from the grates at ground level Into a big box. Has two tubes into a square box that feed the filter. I’ve never seen a setup like that before so I’m sure it’s pulling who knows what kind of air from the wall cavities.

so I checked the evaporator and it looks ok. No noticeable dirt or debris on it looked clean. Running with the cover off it blows a ton of air. I’m going to have to look at the ducting more. I put a thermometer in the attic after the sun set and it was a few degrees warmer than ambient outside.

id love to live somewhere that you don’t need ac to keep cool but family and my job is good here so here we are.

 

[45acp]

100f is 100f...but we definitely don't have it for weeks on end.

I think the biggest difference is our construction techniques up here....we have to deal with swings of nominally +90f down to -20f as the seasons change, and hence our construction is very well insulated and energy efficient. I've been to Dallas a few times in the summer and you can just tell the buildings can't keep the heat out nearly as well.

Bumping 100 degrees every once in a while and staying 100 degrees for months on end is apples and oranges. It doesn't cool off at night here. The ground is warm. Our house slab is warm. You're in a new build and Kyle is in a 50yr old ranch with possibly little to nothing in the walls, questionable windows, only thing that's good R is his attic. Your typical "pretty hot out there" 3pm is what it is here at 3am for months on end.

Dear Kyle,
When you want to heat your house or possibly install a wood stove, listen to this guy. He'll probably give good advice. When you need AC help- don't listen to this guy. His house is metric, he gets 100 during daytime then opens the windows at night because its 69 with a nice breeze, and cannot fathom 100 straight days of relentless +/-100temps with 90's every night.

 

[88mitsu]

It’s a 3 ton. 1200cfm max air handler. Today with no one coming or going temps were 108 outside and inside was 70 when I got home at the thermostat near the return. Our bedroom was significantly warmer and the kids rooms cooler (one exterior wall vs our bedroom has 3). So it barely does it with no doors opening all day. I came in and out a few times and it went to 71. I’m sure the kids going in and out it can’t keep up.
like I said it was in the House when we bought it last year and inspector said it was sized approprSiately. But alas here we are. Lots of good info to make a plan.

Expecting it to cool down 40 degrees is your problem.

 

[Kyle]

Expecting it to cool down 40 degrees is your problem.

nah it’s possible. Our old house would hold 65* and it had basically no insulation.

I hate being hot lol.

 

[speed bump]

Without replacing your furnace I would dig into what if any insulation your bedroom walls have. I'm going to bet it is none based on your location and house vintage.

 

[gunracer1]

i have 1600 sqft running 2.5 tons with good insulation and good shade. i went from a 3 to a 2.5 last time i upgraded. i do industrial ac/refrigeration for a living. when i went smaller i had added more insulation to the roof plus 18"s in the attic. i put 1 5/8" foam board on the roof and metal on top of that. i keep it at 71 and its just fine unless the grand kids are running in and out all day. then it might hit 73 before i threaten to lock them out. we have some pretty good humidity to deal with also.
kyle it sounds like you need a bit more capacity to fix your problem. at least that is what i am getting out of it.

 

[ev13wt]

Hot, always hot, humid as fuck. Hot at night, hot all day, a thunderstorm rolls through and you'd think it would get better but it gets way worse as soon as the sun comes out.

I hate Germany's summers.

 

[SomeGuy]

Bumping 100 degrees every once in a while and staying 100 degrees for months on end is apples and oranges. It doesn't cool off at night here. The ground is warm. Our house slab is warm. You're in a new build and Kyle is in a 50yr old ranch with possibly little to nothing in the walls, questionable windows, only thing that's good R is his attic. Your typical "pretty hot out there" 3pm is what it is here at 3am for months on end.

Dear Kyle,
When you want to heat your house or possibly install a wood stove, listen to this guy. He'll probably give good advice. When you need AC help- don't listen to this guy. His house is metric, he gets 100 during daytime then opens the windows at night because its 69 with a nice breeze, and cannot fathom 100 straight days of relentless +/-100temps with 90's every night.

I think the advise is solid...basically what I'm saying is getting the house sealed up and insulated can make it much easier to cool, even with big square footage. You said it yourself, a 50 year old ranch versus a new build is a huge difference. Rather than spending money on a bigger AC unit which is just going to cost more to run forever more, maybe spend a few bucks on getting basic insulation into the walls and only if that doesn't do it, upgrade the AC. Even if the insulation isn't enough, it will still save money with a larger AC unit.

 

[Clemson13]

3 ton and 2300ft? Holy fuck thats undersized.

Pretty sure that's what I have at my place. Not new ranch house, ~2300 & a 3 ton. House can hold 72 on a 100deg day and the AC doesn't run all day either. Insulation and windows aren't the best I. SC is hot as Baldacci and 100% humid in the summer. Not Texas hot, but almost and constantly damp.

 

[Stingray]

3 ton is a goddam single wide unit in Fort Worth.

Don't poke fun at a single wide.
I have a 700' single wide in AZ, that I can keep low 70's in 115* days and 100* nights

**
5 ton unit with floor vents,
The trailer is frosty like the outside of an ice cold beer can....... Not your usual setup though.

 

[2big bronco]

Just thought I'd let you guys know I slept all day with the ac at 60* not sure it ever shut off but it sure was cold everywhere except under my comforter. When I woke up around 430pm it was a scorching 85 out. I have no idea how everyone outside didn't melt in these conditions

 

[billdacat]

Just thought I'd let you guys know I slept all day with the ac at 60* not sure it ever shut off but it sure was cold everywhere except under my comforter. When I woke up around 430pm it was a scorching 85 out. I have no idea how everyone outside didn't melt in these conditions

Pussies... It was 110+ today; last night at midnight it was a nice cool 90+ and blowing wind. Sort of like standing in front of a heater. Death valley got to 130 yesterday, now that is fucking hot!

 

[Kyle]

Pussies... It was 110+ today; last night at midnight it was a nice cool 90+ and blowing wind. Sort of like standing in front of a heater. Death valley got to 130 yesterday, now that is fucking hot!

Now add humidity. Heat index here was up 115 or
so. Feels like you are walking into a vat of hot vasoline when you step outside. Yay for Texas.

 

[smracing]

3 ton and 2300ft? Holy fuck thats undersized.

Not for a house that isn't a piece of shit. Our house is that size with a 3.5 ton unit and cools to 70 on a 110 degree day.

 

[billdacat]

IMHO: Have your AC contractor take a good hard look at your duct work. MIght be the reason the installer installed such a small unit is because your duct work is undersized.

 

[Firstram]

Hot, always hot, humid as fuck. Hot at night, hot all day, a thunderstorm rolls through and you'd think it would get better but it gets way worse as soon as the sun comes out.

I hate Germany's summers.

It was like that here on Saturday. Humid as fuck, 90° and it rained for 5 minutes at least 7 times. Absolutely miserable! I put a mask on, it didn't help in any way but I felt better about myself

 

[45acp]

Not for a house that isn't a piece of shit. Our house is that size with a 3.5 ton unit and cools to 70 on a 110 degree day.

A 1969 Texas ranch is going to be a piece of shit. We've already established that.

I know what I'm talking about because i lived in the same house, slightly smaller, same great attic insulation/ terrible walls and windows, in very similar climate, and a 3.5 ton was barely enough.