Air Conditioning - House not cool enough - what improvements do I make first?
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RfbCville
08-24-06, 12:19 PM
Our AC can't keep up in hot muggy summer afternoons but I am not sure what to do first to improve situation. Please let me know what you think will give me biggest bang for my DIY buck without being too complicated.
Lots of great ideas on this forum - Thanks to you folks, I have already placed a 1 1/2" foam board above our pull-down attic stairs, put in outdoor solar shade on large dining room window, and put the foam insulation around outside wall outlets. But I've got a headache from looking at so many options: radiant barrier and/or add roll insulation in attic, insulate metal ducting that is accessable in basement, seal air gaps between attic & ceiling, buy cellular shades for windows that get the most sun, powered gable vent...
House built 1960, 1250 sq ft main floor over 1250 sq ft basement in Central Virginia - humid summers, about 3-4 snows a year. No insulation in walls or basement, but drop tile ceiling in the half that is partially above grade. All windows were replaced with double pane before we moved in. Attic with gable vents and approx 4" original insulation. Metal ducting, with all vents/returns at bottom of floor. AC in basements which also has several vents/returns & outdoor unit in full sun most of day.
Unfortunately, I didn't find this forum until we replaced 40 yr old unit (which kept us cool to 76 degrees last year) with new 13 SEER Bryant 2 stage central AC/gas furnace. Now the hall thermostat reads 79 by mid afternoon. Techs have been out several times and unit is "functioning properly" and "it isn't unusual for a/c to cool only 15 - 20 degrees less than outside temp".
Sorry for the long post, but this is my first time, and i wanted to provide enough info.
Thanks
Lots of great ideas on this forum - Thanks to you folks, I have already placed a 1 1/2" foam board above our pull-down attic stairs, put in outdoor solar shade on large dining room window, and put the foam insulation around outside wall outlets. But I've got a headache from looking at so many options: radiant barrier and/or add roll insulation in attic, insulate metal ducting that is accessable in basement, seal air gaps between attic & ceiling, buy cellular shades for windows that get the most sun, powered gable vent...
House built 1960, 1250 sq ft main floor over 1250 sq ft basement in Central Virginia - humid summers, about 3-4 snows a year. No insulation in walls or basement, but drop tile ceiling in the half that is partially above grade. All windows were replaced with double pane before we moved in. Attic with gable vents and approx 4" original insulation. Metal ducting, with all vents/returns at bottom of floor. AC in basements which also has several vents/returns & outdoor unit in full sun most of day.
Unfortunately, I didn't find this forum until we replaced 40 yr old unit (which kept us cool to 76 degrees last year) with new 13 SEER Bryant 2 stage central AC/gas furnace. Now the hall thermostat reads 79 by mid afternoon. Techs have been out several times and unit is "functioning properly" and "it isn't unusual for a/c to cool only 15 - 20 degrees less than outside temp".
Sorry for the long post, but this is my first time, and i wanted to provide enough info.
Thanks
Ed Imeduc
08-24-06, 03:16 PM
Is this the same size unit as old AC????
Attic with gable vents and approx 4" original insulation. Boy now days we say you need a R30 or about 12" to 15". Id do this first. Then vent fan in the attic can help a lot.
ED
Attic with gable vents and approx 4" original insulation. Boy now days we say you need a R30 or about 12" to 15". Id do this first. Then vent fan in the attic can help a lot.
ED