Erby Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Somehow it doesn't seem like enough! 3,900 square feet on three floors. 3 ton unit. Your thoughts? Click to Enlarge 54.34 KB Click to Enlarge 72.12 KB Click to Enlarge 52.22 KB In case you can't read it the Bryant model # is: 213CNA036-B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Manufactured by Carrier under the Bryant label. Carrier numbers are the most troublesome to decode. I suspect it's a 5 ton. If the vapor line is a 7/8th, it's not a 3 ton. 7/8th begins at 3 1/2 ton. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 So you're telling me the divide by 12 thingy doesn't work anymore, i.e, the 036 in the model #? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Minimum circuit size is twenty amps. I would think 3 ton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 I did find this for a model # decoder for this unit. Still seems like 3 ton to me. Click to Enlarge 14.08 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjr6550 Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Somehow it doesn't seem like enough! 3,900 square feet on three floors. 3 ton unit. Your thoughts? Click to Enlarge 54.34 KB Click to Enlarge 72.12 KB Click to Enlarge 52.22 KB In case you can't read it the Bryant model # is: 213CNA036-B It appears to be 3 tons. That sound does not look like 3900 sf. By three floors, I assume you are including the basement. Even if you take 1/3 of the SF away 3 tons is small, unless the house is very energy efficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 It could be fine depending on the insulation or any other energy efficiency options they've provided. Or not. I'd call it a 3 ton. Ala Erby, is the divide by 12 thingie no longer accurate for Carrier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 When I last worked for an AC company as serviceman, we'd call the manufacturer for the tonnage if it was a Carrier make, but only Carrier. Most had that '36' in there but weren't 3 tons. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Kienitz Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 What kind of insulation package was used in the home's construction? Spray foam by any chance? That might cause a mechanical adjustment for the A/C. I recently saw a new home down here that had been foamed throughout during construction with the foam at the bottom of roof decking. They had a bit smaller A/C unit in there as well. I'd have to dig to find the file on the site as I can't recall #'s off the top of my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Standard fiberglass batts and blown fiberglass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 I shopped online for a Hi-Eff Bryant 4 ton...max Breaker size is 40. Erby's is 35...it's likely a 3 ton after all. I'd still call a local Bryant or Carrier dealer to be sure. If it's suspected to be undersized, that's important for the buyer to know. Is the site up in the mountains? Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 It is a 3 ton unit. Erby, in your area I would say that will not be enough to to cool and heat both levels of that home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 It might be OK. All studies of the last 20 years show that equipment is routinely oversized, and a lot of those ballparking gambits we use (1 ton per 700-900 sf, etc.) are outdated. It's easy enough to ask for the calcs. OTOH, 3 ton Carriers are one of those container items; they ship thousands of containers of 3 ton units, everyone stocks the crap out of them, and one sells what one has in stock. I'd get the calcs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSpermo Posted April 30, 2014 Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Erby, As you know a lot of aspects go into sizing a HVAC unit. I am presently air conditioning my 4100 sq ft 2 floor house in south central Texas mostly with a 3 ton unit. I do have a 4 ton unit that is zoned that comes on very sparingly. As others have said the insulation, the infiltration rate, the sensible/latent split and other aspects must be considered. Have a reputable HVAC contractor run a load calculation. As least then you will have a recognized number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted April 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2014 Report said: === I note that exact air conditioner sizing requires calculations that go way beyond the scope of a visual home inspection. However, this appears to be a 3 ton unit. A general rule of thumb for this area is 500 to 700 square feet per ton. Paul told me that the square footage of this house is about 3,900 square feet. Unless there's a heck of an insulation package this unit may not be large enough to properly cool the house. Ask the builder for the calculations that were used to determine the size of unit needed for this house. If you have a problem during the heat this summer, ask the builder to come back and fix it. === I just don't see that Bryant heat pump pushing cold air from the basement up to the second floor very well. We'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlparham Posted May 1, 2014 Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 If it is a zoned system could it be set up to only serve one floor at a time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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