Central air conditioning

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Drury18

Ducay, may I ask what brand you went with for A/C? I know Lennox and that's a big name, but just curious if I should be researching into other brands.

I went with Bryant (same maker as Carrier). York makes good ones as well. I just generally avoid Lennox based on feedback from people in the HVAC industry, but thats not to say one wont work well or suit your needs.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Haven't you heard?

"You don't need AC in Calgary."

We are building a house in Vancouver and I was insistent on air conditioning. My wife didn't think we needed it. Her and her parents were the people who say it's only warm for like five days a year. It's been pretty hot out here the last couple weeks and she finally caved and said she needs air conditioning as well. It's only June and it's way too hot in the house already. With July and August coming up, the house we are in while construction is happening is going to be an oven.

Even if you don't "need" it every day, it's still nice to have AC to drop the temperature in the house 5 degrees. Sure I could survive without it, but I'd much rather spend a few grand to be comfortable every day of the year.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Haven't you heard?

"You don't need AC in Calgary."





(Get it, it's great.)

Well technically you don't. It's purely a luxury. But that's just semantics.

27°C in my place last night when I went to bed and I slept great!

[Jordan!]

AC in Calgary? I know it gets warm and humid for about 5 days but that's not something I would've ever thought to have needed there. Get a fan

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

AC in Calgary? I know it gets warm and humid for about 5 days but that's not something I would've ever thought to have needed there. Get a fan

More benefits to AC then just keeping the house cold. Great if you have allergies since it allows you to keep your windows closed and dust/pollen out. Also don't have to worry about accidentally leaving your windows open while a freak thunderstorm hits.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

AC in Calgary? I know it gets warm and humid for about 5 days but that's not something I would've ever thought to have needed there. Get a fan

I think we've all come to the conclusion its something you'd really "need" only for 5-7 days a year in Calgary when it does get to those unbearable highs without cooling off at night; but all those other days when you can make it a consistent comfortable temperature instead of a bit too hot is also great.

[Northendzone]

i would also say that if you live int eh deep south the temps are sometimes 5 degrees higher than reproted at the airport - at least according to the thermometer at my house

we do not regret getting central air in our house - money well spent especially if you think you are going to be in your hosue for the longer term

[cDnStealth]

Maybe last year was an anomaly but we had a lot more than 7 days of 30 degree weather. But aside from that I find my place is fairly warm at all times of the year even though I keep my heat off. In the dead of winter I'll often open up my windows to cool it down. AC would be a much better option. Plus, it's super dusty in my area.

[username]

Having a great sleep every night in the summer is more than worth the cost of an AC unit.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by kevman

27°C in my place last night when I went to bed and I slept great!

Good God man! I'd be mighty uncomfortable and wouldn't be able to sleep well at all.

The heck is wrong with you!?

[Fuzz]

In a one story bungalow like I have, it's not to big a deal. I could see the second floor on bigger homes getting hot though. I just use a ceiling fan in the bedroom and open window, does the trick.

[OldDutch]

My reason was simple...kids. We had a baby and had the window open and the fan going. The noise from outside would wake him, plus the heat would drive him nuts.

Was it a necessity? Absolutely not, but the sanity it gave him and us paid for itself 100x over. Now with a second baby, it has been a Godsend. Hard enough to get sleep with a baby in cool weather, let alone a hot and cranky one.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

AC in Calgary? I know it gets warm and humid for about 5 days but that's not something I would've ever thought to have needed there. Get a fan

Congrats on being one of the people who thinks it gets hot only 5 days a year, two posts after I talk about them.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

I'd estimate about half the units in my complex have AC installed and they roughed in a vent for my place so that shouldn't be an issue. I suppose it comes down to cost and whether a portable AC would do the job adequately.

I would check with your condo board first before you install a permanent AC system. They may have rules for type/brand/installer for your building.

I have a portable AC unit in my condo and it's adequate I guess. I have a commercial cool and it's pretty loud. It really only cools one room fully with some spill over to the other rooms. If you get one make sure it vents the water out of the exhaust, it would be annoying to empty the tank manually all the time. It would be nicer to have the built in AC for sure, but the cost between the two isn't really comparable. The portable AC is better than nothing.

[REDVAN]

I have called the company who installed my unit last fall after purchasing my new home, and asked "kindly" that they come and remove it and refund my money.

I've had them 5 times out to get the unit working, and each time it would not be working. I have had multiple issues with freeze up, and it all stems from an original bad install. But each of their techs who have come out are unable to fix the issue (or unwilling to completely redo the install, which is what is required IMO).

It's a frustration to spend $5k and not have it work after 5 visits. Yes, AC is truly a luxury in Calgary- but it's a luxury I paid for and spent a lot of money on this house, so it is something I just expect to work.

So I am again on the hunt for a good brand of unit, and for a good installer. I have PM'd EVERLAST who has recommended someone, but I wanted to see if anyone else had someone good that I can have come out and give an estimate. Or, like me, is there a company to avoid?

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

AC in Calgary? I know it gets warm and humid for about 5 days but that's not something I would've ever thought to have needed there. Get a fan

Lol, this isn't more veiled bragging about Phoenix being a lot warmer than Calgary right?

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

My reason was simple...kids. We had a baby and had the window open and the fan going. The noise from outside would wake him, plus the heat would drive him nuts.

Was it a necessity? Absolutely not, but the sanity it gave him and us paid for itself 100x over. Now with a second baby, it has been a Godsend. Hard enough to get sleep with a baby in cool weather, let alone a hot and cranky one.

Our main reason for getting it initially was to keep our saltwater reef aquarium from getting too hot. The we had kids and realized it was great for them as well. Once you have it you won't go without it.

[Calgary14]

Does anyone know how a heat pump system compares to central AC? In terms of cost, efficiency, pros/cons (if you have one) and who installs them in town. Not even sure it would work here in Calgary as I can't find anything online specific to the Alberta climate and how effective they would be here

[Ryan Coke]

I looked into it for my new place. If I recall correctly, with cheap natural gas heating and the colder climate, there wasn't a benefit for heating. So it is cheaper for cooling to go with a conventional AC unit.

[ken0042]

I just got AC installed in my new place, I used Sub Zero.
http://www.subzerotechnical.com/

A friend works for them; which is why I called. They did a great job on the install, and explained why they were recommending the particular unit I got. (Size of furnace, how much bigger my 2nd floor is compared to my main floor, etc.)

I also had them install a new thermostat and electrostatic air cleaner. Hopefully being in a new construction that will help somewhat with the dust. They were also able to solve the issue I had with where my builder placed the thermostat- it's in a place that get direct sunlight for part of the afternoon. I have a few temperature sensors throughout the house now.

For the AC part the price was right in line with everybody else's quotes, but I got a 4 tonne vs 3.5 from the other guys; higher seer and a very quiet unit.