Here's the story...
Last fall, Mama decided we should get our A/C unit replaced. It was originally installed back in the '70s, best we could tell. Anyway, it was cooling the house OK, but just not very efficient. Soooo...Mama gets a few estimates for the A/C only, as the heat was no problem. Had several companies come by and look around, and give estimates for what the recommended.
Mama picks one, and gives them the job of replacing the A/C system.
Now the REAL story...
these goobs installed a new system, but it just wasn't anywhere NEAR large enough to cool our house. It is supposedly a 3 1/2 ton unit, but I have my doubts about that. It was also supposed to be a 13 SEER rated unit, but it ain't...it's a 10 SEER... Which, by the way, is not even legal to be installed in a home in Texas, as of Jan. '06!!!
So, here we are this summer, and it's 100+ every day for several weeks, and it was hotter than Hades in this house. We've had the installer out at LEAST 6 times, and every time they came, it was a different excuse as to why the A/C wasn't working right.
Mama & I were startin to get into arguments about the thermostat settin....I don't like arguing wid Mama....
Last Friday, we had another company install another new A/C system, but this time, we went whole hog, and had a complete HVAC system installed. It sure is COLD in this house now! I'm a happy as a pig in slop about that, but now, I've got this practically NEW Carrier A/C system setting out on my deck I need to do something with. I'mma thinkin REAL hard about having it installed in me garage, as it's prolly just the right size for that...but...I might try to just sell it.
Anyway, I was just wondering if there was anyone here that could possibly explain to me why the heck anyone would try to convince me that this cheesy little Carrier unit would cool my house?

Oh....on top of all this, I'm putting in new/additional insulation in me attic, too. Let's see...today's high temp was 105....and, according to my trusty infrared thermometer, it's a chilling 128deg in th friggin attic! My brain, or what little I had at that point, has completely melted...I spent about 2 1/2 hours up there, and got about 160 sq.ft insulated, and I quit...just TOO dang hot...


Wanna see the difference in the two units, and see which one YOU think would work best???

                                                       Click for link


(thanx, Micki...the ONE recommendation you ever gave that turned out gud...)

Ah huh......SIZE does matter.

Sorry Joel, I no i aint none u dat long butt me is surprised you let dat appen.

So u guna put a baby ruth bar in that guys service truck gas tank? 

Boy did they sell you a shorty. You'd be lucky if that was even able to cool the garage!

ok adam, I own and operate an hvac plumbing co,, first, look at the model number of the unit,,if it is a 2 ton unit it will have a 24 in the number,,a 2.5 ton is a 30,,a 3 ton is a 36. a 3.5 is a 42, a 4 ton is a 48, there are 12k btus in a ton,, next as for efficiency if you give me the make and model # I can clarify it for you,,, Is it a split system(2 componants) or a package unit,,All in 1 outside casing,,so mANY VARIABLES TO CONSIDER,,RD

Thanks, Rick!

Imma thinking there is a 38 in the model number, but...I could be wrong(it could happen!).
The guys that installed our new unit said it( the baby unit) was a 3 ton....they also said it was "Cute"... One of the guys said there was no way in H-e-double-l that it would ever cool the house, which we had pretty much figured out ourselves!
Anyway, it is a two piece unit, with the condenser/compressor unit outside, and the evap inside the house.
The unit they took out, the original one, WAS a 3 1/2 ton unit...I know this for a fact. They tried to tell us the smaller unit was more efficient, and would cool better, even tho it was physically smaller. I knew better, but...as I said, I hate arguing with Mama...
I'll P/M ya with the complete specs on the Carrier unit when I get home this eve, and maybe you can tell me if it would even be big enough to cool a two car garage....or maybe an outhouse?
Thanks!

btw...The new system is kickin butt & takin names!

Joel, The Trane unit is the better unit, in fact the compressors are made in Tyler, Texas (corrected spelling). They are pretty much bullit proof. The unit that I installed in my home is a 19.5 seer. It's rated as 4 ton, but uses two compressors. The larger compressor is actually a 3 1/2 ton. The smaller is only 2 ton. The thermostat stages either the larger (when necessary), but runs mostly on the two ton compressor. Carrier AC "USED" to be the best (years ago), now they are crap made in Mexico. All the safety controls are now optionally added by the installer. Even guys that work for Carrier don't recommmend them.........at least the ones that I know. Yes by all means install the Carrier in your garage. I installed  2 tons of cooling in my garage, but my garage isn't in Texas and probably isn't as large as yours. My garage door is insulated, the side walls are also. The attic is insulated and I even have an insulated zippered cover that you open after pulling down the folding stairs. It really does help. As far as oversizing the AC for you house.........you really want to get the proper size, due to short cycling of the condensing unit. You are better off having run for longer cycles, to get a steady drop in your relative humidity level. Best of luck....you do have a better unit ......now!      corvette440hp2008-08-01 07:39:17

 i dont know if they changed the INDOOR AND OUTDOOR unit during the first episode,, Sometimes you can make an old Indoor unit match up to a new outside unit if you  change the expansion valve inside,,like i said b4,,there are lotts of variables inplace,,, If I had to guesss,,Id say you shouda  got a wet sloppy kisss the first time around,,,hope all is coool now,, thanks 4 all you do on this website,,If it says 38,, in the model #,,its a 3 ton unit,,rd,,,pssss,, Trane is 1st class equipment

Thanks, fellers. I KNOW this Trane is better...it works a lot better, anyway. It doesn't have to run continuously just to get the inside temp down to 85!! Mama sits here now with an afghan over her all the time, and it's 105 outside!

Rick, I'm a-fixin to send ya a P/M with the specs on this Carrier...(it is Made In Meheko, btw, Larry..)

They did replace the inside coil/evaporator assy too the first time...it's aboot the size of a lunch box... for your first grader...

Mama says the guy she talked to first said he installed the original A/C system in your house 100 years ago...well...maybe it wasn't 100 years, but it was a LONG time ago!
Only complaint I have about the install was where the guys threw all their ciggy-butts
Other than that, I'm happy...so far, anyway.