I live in a 9 year old home. It is two stories, 2500 square feet.
I am going to move the AC condensor around the corner from it’s current position. It currently sits right next to the back patio. So it a little annoying during those times when I want to sit on the patio but keep the house cool.
My question is the unit is a 5 ton unit and obviously 9 years old. It is a Trane TTB060C. While it works well, Since I was going to have it moved. I was wondering if it might be worth replacing the unit for a new more energy efficient one?
If you think it is worth while. What would you recommend?
BTW. This would be contractor installed.
Thanks in advance for any information.
Hi, I’m Len and I’m a Toolaholic…
Replies
I can't find your particular model on the Trane web site, but the TTB prefix indicates it is in the standard 12 SEER category. It also indicates that after 9 years of service, it is only 4 years out of warranty.
Looking only at Trane's web site you could move all the way up to a 19 SEER rating intheir product line, or any where in between.
This is where your HVAC contractor can help you with cost verses pay back figures. Your energy cost and local have a big impact on those numbers. A higher rated unit in a low or nominal cooling area of the country with mid price energy cost may take a long time to recover the difference in cost of the units. The opposite is true if you live in high cooling area with the same energy cost.
Look at the numbers and make your decision based on them.
Remember most HVAC contractors are in the business of selling equipment, as well as service and installation. High end units mean higher cost (higher profit), because there is not as big a demand for them. The supply side of HVAC products are geared to meet the demand for the standard to mid range market. That is the meat and potatoes of the business. The high end stuff is the gravy.
Talk to several contractors and look at what products they are selling with the above in mind. A 9 year old unit is not near death as many of them will lead you to believe, nor does the effiency fall of dramatically over its' life, if properly maintained.
Though you are moving the unit location for noise, you need to look at the new location for what effect it will have on any unit set there. Condenser units set in a shade site have an effiency advantage over the same unit set in direct sun light. A good, honest contractor will point all of this out to you.
Dave
Thanks for the information.
I still have the original documentation and it states it's a 10.00 SEER.
It was pointed out to me by a neighbor, (who's an HVAC guy) that for the size of our house the 5 ton unit is the largest residential available and slightly under sized for the house. He has the same floor plan.
It's good to know that it's not near the end of it's life. The location it is currently at is shaded most of the day, as the new proposed location. It really is about 6 feet away.
Thanks again.Hi, I'm Len and I'm a Toolaholic...
Also remember that the SEER is based on matched evaporator and condensor units. (And you need to check the specific combination that they are buying. A unit advertised at 16 SEER might actually have one combination of 15.9 but the one that you are buying is more like 14.8).
So if if you want to ugrade to something much different that what you have expect to have to also repace the evaporate coil.