Two thermostats side by side ok?

koklahoma

We are having two 3 ton air conditioners installed (going from one 4 ton) for our two story house. They want to put the thermostats side by side mid way up the stairs. Is this ok or should there be one on the 2nd floor and one on the 1st floor?

concretemasonry

Sounds like you have different areas and conditions, the common sense is to have the thermostat control the area they are located in. - Otherwise one thermostat could be used for an average for the home.

Using two parallel thermostats gives you a cheap way of controlling the separate areas somewhat.

There is no substitute for thermostats located in the area they sense and control is the right way to go.

Dick

a7ecorsair

How is the duct work set up? Are there two blowers for air circulation? Were is the evaporator for each condenser?

koklahoma

The evaporator coils are both in the attic; two separate blowers. They're 2 stage condensers if this makes a difference.

koklahoma

p.s. there are 4 ducts on each floor (house built in 1930); they will separate these ducts with the 4 on the top floor for one system and the other 4 on the other system

beenthere

Find other contractors.

Your going from 4 tons to 6 tons?

Don't buy into the " there 2 stage so it won't matter" bs.

The thermostats should be in the area the units serve. Are they running a new return for the downstairs area.

COLDIRON

Don't know your situation but it sounds like the contractor is selling you over sized expensive units. Two thermostats next to each other would be fighting all the time which one is in control. Don't sound right.

koklahoma

The 1 4 ton unit couldn't keep up even when it was working. I'd say we needed more power, but maybe not 6.. (he did give the option if 1 5 ton, but we wanted two separate systems).

He agreed to put the thermostats on the two levels now.. I think the problem was that he just didn't know how to run the wires in a house not built for that and with plaster walls.

Thanks for the advice; here's to hoping we're not getting screwed!

COLDIRON

2 STAGE plus don't know how to run 18 GA thermostat wire in plastered house. I'd be looking around for at least 3 quotes maybe 4.

beenthere

When you say 4 ducts on each floor. Do you mean 4 supplies total for each floor. If so, they must be very large.

If not. It was your undersized duct work that caused the 4 ton not to keep up.