Yes includes installation and condensate pump.

With limited space in closet, have to be careful with air handler measurements.

Concerned about seer at 14, but will be an improvement. Old unit 10 seer.

Also includes UV light, but not sure if they are worth it.

I looked up the model number and see this is an AC condenser. He plans to install a heat strip. It makes more sense to spend a little more money on a heat pump and spend a lot of money on heating with resistance heat.

Are you getting a thermostat? Did you get a model for the coil? Does this include a new line set or is he going to flush the old one?

It seems Ameristar has a very limited equipment line up. There is a 16 SEER condenser available which is rated to be quieter. Get a quote if you are looking to have lower operating costs.

Yes new digital thermostat. Will flush and vacuum the line.

Was the actual owner who came out not an employee.

Where are you located? Above Orlanfo/Tampa or below?...if below, then I would forget HP and go with AC and small 5 KW heat strip. Check warranty on Ameristar, not comparable with a Trane or Am Std....even for SE Florida, difficult to believe that you require more than a 3 ton....

IMO

Southeast Florida, below Orlando.

Think 3 ton ok.

Know installation is key?

How many windows?

1100 sq ft is small. If windows are not too many, reinsulate the house you could get by with a 2 ton unit.

2 ton?...not for SE Florida...

Douglas we are in Florida not California. It's 20 years old, has a leak.

Walls are concrete block stucco. There is insulation in attic.

1100 sq ft / 3 = 367 square feet per ton.

I would be more concerned with humidity for a climate like Florida and upsizing does not handle humidity concerns well.

367 feet per ton is ridiculous.

You are proposing installing a 2 ton system with a 5 ton duct work? No concerns about this mismatch?

Austin's math does not match SE Florida climate...

First of all, you need an accurate assessment of your home's size. 5 tons seem waaaaaaaaay oversized even for 2000 sq ft. In your location, humididty is the biggest concern - an oversized unit will leave you with a cold clammy home - very uncomfortable, but boy, will it cool!!!!. For 1100 sq ft, I would think 1.5 ton or 2 at the most would be needed. For 2000 sq ft, maybe 3, 3.5 ton. Depends on your heat load - instead of guessing, why aren't they doing a load calc?.

I wouldn't worry too much about oversized ducts - I'm sure the original ducts were way undesized and, while air velcity will be reduced, it should still be sufficient to distribute air throughout the home.

Austin said 2 ton, not me.

We have quotes for 3 ton.

Our house is 1,106 Sq ft under air.

One a/c contractor said our house was 2 thousand Sq ft. Needless to say I won't be using him.

Ductwork should be checked for both condition, size, and insulation...I would be wary of the Ameristar brand...because of your location, I would forget HP and go with AC with small heat strip. A 5 KW heat strip yields about 17 1/2 KBTUs. Of course, electric service should be checked.

IMO

Mike we don't know the duct system is a 5 ton duct system. That would involve magic 8 ball theory and you must be certified to operate one of those....

Now Florida has got some mystical climate that I know nothing about... LOL.

8 kw heat strip. Electric updated and checked.

for OP....you may not need an 8...what is average winter temp?...

IMO

Low to mid 70s. Cold snaps of a few days can be get down into 40s or 50s

5 KW would be fine...

Ray, in another post when it was suggested replacing a 4 ton condenser with a 3 ton size, it was you who brought up the concern about operating with an over sized duct work. In this case you are recommending a 2 ton condenser, but have not mentioned anything about potentially over sized duct work. In the former case there was a 25% reduction in air flow, in this case the of air from 3 ton to 2 ton is 33%. I was trying to understand the science why it would be a problem in one case but not another.

The duct size does not require magic 8 ball theory. You measure the duct work with a ruler. I happen to agree with you and think a 2 ton condenser is probably a better size given how bad the humidity can be in south Florida. In this situation it is better to be a little undersized than over sized in my opinion. However this is a ranch house and we don't know if it has a flat roof or the amount of attic insulation.

The fact that the previous owner installed a 5 ton condenser is interesting. Perhaps this house has a higher heat load then the rule of thumb using area would suggest. You don't know unless you are on site to measure and to the proper calculations.

Has a "hip" roof. Slopes down on all four sides.

ALSO....roof is dark asphalt shingles and we may have to replace in the near future. Think originally had tile, as is most of neighbourhood.

Absolutely lighter or white roof next time!!

How much insulation is in the attic?

As per home inspection in 2009....limited attic access due to A/C ducts and insulation. That's all I know.

With being hip roof, and small house, roof pitch is low. Obviously have soffit and 2 turbines/whirlybirds?

Again, roof replacement as some point.

" Absolutely lighter or white roof next time!! "

White/light colored roofs can look absolutely awful with the slightest hint of mold/mildew. Check neighbors roofs to see if you have this problem in your location.

Ray, in another post when it was suggested replacing a 4 ton condenser with a 3 ton size, it was you who brought up the concern about operating with an over sized duct work. In this case you are recommending a 2 ton condenser, but have not mentioned anything about potentially over sized duct work.

Yes Mike you are absolutely right... why would I do that?

That log cabin in question is 2500 sq. ft. --- the size of the structure will require more duct work will it not?

This structure is 1100 sq. ft. Do you realize the kind of ductopus duct system that would have to be installed on a 1100 sq. ft. structure?

How many rooms does a 1100 sq ft. structure have compared to 2500 sq. ft.?

This thought is lost on you... because you can't see the forest from the trees. It is 'more likely' the 1100 sq. ft. structure has a smaller duct system no where near capable of handling 5 ton HVAC equipment... simply because there is not enough room.

Many of these kinds of homes built in Florida in the 60's were vacation homes. They weren't lived in all year long like they are now and all they had was heating that was rarely used. These homes were lived in a few months in the winter time, those who came to escape the cold northern climates. You know another aspect that makes Florida's climate so elusive to me...

To be fair: the biggest wild card is windows. But the OP stated it has west windows that are protected or 'shaded' by some type of awning. Because this place is so small, if there 'were' some magical heat load discrepancy you could easily make it up by adding more insulation. That would be the better approach (re-insulating). Over sizing does the exact opposite of what is needed when it comes to dehumidification. The system simply won't run long enough to dehumidify & Dehumidification is typically needed all year long for Tropical climates... even when summer time temperatures fade.

This can pose dehumidification problems. The cure if this happens... is to rip out the over sized equipment and install proper sized equipment.

If the system is slightly undersized, you can always reinsulate the structure.

Boy, you come here for advice only to have grown "men" bickering like little kids on a playground. One trying to outdo the other.

No wonder the consumer is confused and misled.

Vacation homes? Friend and neighbor, born here, remembers the area being built and bought his house. His father also built property. Many are waterfront as built on ocean access canals with

varying degrees of updates and remodoling. Initially these homes had NO A/C, then they put in wall units. We still have original floor plan.

I`m out.

The internet is a dangerous place for advice. I'm not bickering I'm explaining my point, to a group of homeowners that have too much time on their hands....

Friend and neighbor born here? So why not ask them for advice? They live in the area and I assume the construction is similar or the same to some extent as this house.

Father built the property... ok ask him for advice.

But when posed with a challenge you run away because the advice you get doesn't meet your standards?

Welcome to the real world.

Florida is known as a retirement destination. Just because your small group of friends aren't apart of this group doesn't mean much.

Wow!!

You just proved exactly what I wrote.

The father is DEAD.