"Vmcw" wrote in message
...
Hi!

We have a townhouse in Flagstaff, AZ, as a second home. It's two stories,
about 1600 square feet, has a gas furnace in the attic. It's about a year
old
and the furnace has had very little use as it's basically our summer home.

Although most folks in Flagstaff don't have air conditioning, we're
thinking of
adding it for the few days in the summer when it gets uncomfortable. If
you
don't know the climate, it's relatively low humidity and rarely gets above
90
degrees. A day in the mid-90s is considered a major heat wave, and then
it
will drop down to below 60 at night. We're not talking about
Phoenix-style
weather, obviously, but we're getting spoiled as we age and do want to add
the
air.

I'm just asking for general advice, as I don't want to be totally ignorant
when
getting bids from contractors. What do I need? Capacity? Brands to look
for?
Brands to avoid? What should it cost? Is there someplace I can read up
about
this?

Thanks in advance!

Tom M.

I spent last 4th of July up there and it was hideously hot with out any
ventilation.
Call several contractors and do some googling for the manufacture and part
number of the furnace. You MIGHT be able to put in an "A" coil with the
compressor on the ground outside. The coil will be sized to the furnace, if
you can do this.

Contractor is more important than the brand. All manufactures make low end
units to high end units. Low end tends to be nosier, and cost a bit more to
run. Since your not going to be living there, I would get a 10-13 seer unit.
Better check your HOA about regs before you jump off the deep end.
Have fun.