Hi,
I'm purchasing a 28X76 2128SF double-wide mobile/manufactured home and the AC/Heating has been vandalized and is in need of replacement. I got a local HVAC firm to give me an estimate and there's no way I can afford to have them do the job.
I've since begun looking at trying to size and purchase the equipment myself and hire a local independent HVAC person to do the install. I'm running into conflicting information and finding it hard to decide what to do.
The HVAC salesman quoted prices for a 5-ton system, citing that mobile homes are poorly constructed and that was what I needed after he measured the SF of the home. Everyone I've talked to says that is too big even for a 2100 SF MH. The house we live in now is very near that large and also has an add-on sunroom with seven huge windows and a large french door...it stays comfortable with only a 3.5 ton unit.
I know that each structure is has its own unique heat loss/gain factors, so I purchased the HVAC-Calc software and did my own calcs. I get a borderline requirement that could go either 3.5 ton or 4 ton, depending on how poor I think the "tightness" of the structure is. But I am a bit hesitant to rely on my own inexperienced calculations (no reflection on HVAC-Calc's excellent program!) over the words of a "seasoned professional who's done this for 15+ years."
Another issue is one of the guys giving me an estimate (not complete yet) for the install asked if I was aware the ducts were undersized and that if I went with a non-mobile home type of system, the air handler would not work against the high static pressure. So naturally, all the "mobile home" equipment is more expensive and not as plentiful as standard units.
So...my dilemma is... do I need to search for mobile home rated equipment and keep the duct work as is? Or do I wreck out the ducts and install larger ones so I can use a "regular" split unit system? I am also hearing that my home owner's insurance company may not like me installing equipment that is not specifically rated for use in "mobile/manufactured homes". Yet, I know there has to be MANY folks out there who have had to replace their mobile home heat pump/air conditioner systems before me....so what did THEY do? What do I do?
Also, this home is located near Greenville, SC. I think the installation would be a fairly straightforward hook-up, duct-work aside. The lot is flat and there is 30" of crawlspace access underneath. I will be installing brick underpinning, so I will have all the old vinyl crap wrecked out. Inside, there is an existing working blower and heat strip in down-flow configuration in an easily accessible hallway space, but the evap coil has been stolen. The old outside unit has had all the lines and wiring cut. I will remove the old air handler cabinet myself and the installer would just have to place the new air handler, evap coil, and hook it up to a new outside unit. The only surprises I can envision are maybe having to upgrade the wiring from the service panel and/or upgrade the two trunk line ducts and crossover. Assuming no extra wiring or duct-work, what fair price should I expect to pay for an installation like this? I can't see this job taking more than 4 hours MAX without needing to rewire or upgrade ducts. Is that realistic?
I'm purchasing a 28X76 2128SF double-wide mobile/manufactured home and the AC/Heating has been vandalized and is in need of replacement. I got a local HVAC firm to give me an estimate and there's no way I can afford to have them do the job.
I've since begun looking at trying to size and purchase the equipment myself and hire a local independent HVAC person to do the install. I'm running into conflicting information and finding it hard to decide what to do.
The HVAC salesman quoted prices for a 5-ton system, citing that mobile homes are poorly constructed and that was what I needed after he measured the SF of the home. Everyone I've talked to says that is too big even for a 2100 SF MH. The house we live in now is very near that large and also has an add-on sunroom with seven huge windows and a large french door...it stays comfortable with only a 3.5 ton unit.
I know that each structure is has its own unique heat loss/gain factors, so I purchased the HVAC-Calc software and did my own calcs. I get a borderline requirement that could go either 3.5 ton or 4 ton, depending on how poor I think the "tightness" of the structure is. But I am a bit hesitant to rely on my own inexperienced calculations (no reflection on HVAC-Calc's excellent program!) over the words of a "seasoned professional who's done this for 15+ years."
Another issue is one of the guys giving me an estimate (not complete yet) for the install asked if I was aware the ducts were undersized and that if I went with a non-mobile home type of system, the air handler would not work against the high static pressure. So naturally, all the "mobile home" equipment is more expensive and not as plentiful as standard units.
So...my dilemma is... do I need to search for mobile home rated equipment and keep the duct work as is? Or do I wreck out the ducts and install larger ones so I can use a "regular" split unit system? I am also hearing that my home owner's insurance company may not like me installing equipment that is not specifically rated for use in "mobile/manufactured homes". Yet, I know there has to be MANY folks out there who have had to replace their mobile home heat pump/air conditioner systems before me....so what did THEY do? What do I do?
Also, this home is located near Greenville, SC. I think the installation would be a fairly straightforward hook-up, duct-work aside. The lot is flat and there is 30" of crawlspace access underneath. I will be installing brick underpinning, so I will have all the old vinyl crap wrecked out. Inside, there is an existing working blower and heat strip in down-flow configuration in an easily accessible hallway space, but the evap coil has been stolen. The old outside unit has had all the lines and wiring cut. I will remove the old air handler cabinet myself and the installer would just have to place the new air handler, evap coil, and hook it up to a new outside unit. The only surprises I can envision are maybe having to upgrade the wiring from the service panel and/or upgrade the two trunk line ducts and crossover. Assuming no extra wiring or duct-work, what fair price should I expect to pay for an installation like this? I can't see this job taking more than 4 hours MAX without needing to rewire or upgrade ducts. Is that realistic?