Start with conditions, not a product
Duct leakage, weak returns, under-insulated attics, and a panel that's maxed out all affect what a repair or a new unit can actually deliver — long before brand or SEER rating matters.
Build a complete scope
- A load calculation for this house, not a swap of the existing tonnage
- Duct condition and leakage in unconditioned attic space
- How upper and lower floors are zoned, which drives most comfort complaints
- Humidity control, since oversizing satisfies temperature and not moisture
- Electrical work, permits, commissioning readings, and warranty registration
Cary context
Cary's tract-home subdivisions from the 1980s onward often came with builder-grade equipment sized to code minimums, not to the humid Piedmont summers that push cooling loads higher than the spec sheet assumed.