u/the_standard_deal

New to me 1924 large and plaster home with a boiler. Immediate need to cool the upper floors. Will have an air handler in the attic with ducting running directly into the ceilings of the three bed, 1 bath below - about 800’ of living space.

Lower level comprises roughly 2,000’. Future plans will be a remodel, removing radiators and boiler.

We just want an upstairs cooling solution at this time.

Estimate 1: A multi zone 3 ton Mitsubishi (MXZ5D36NL) rated at 30,000 BTU paired with a 18,000 BTU 1.5 ton air handler in the attic. 5 registers one intake. In the future a second air handler installed in the basement to cool the lower level.

Estimate 2: A single zone 2ton Carrier heat pump (18 Seer) dedicated solely to the up stairs. 2 ton Air handler in attic. When expanding to lower level, installation of a second heat pump will be required. Would require a second register and larger vents to accommodate the larger unit.

Both guys think this is the way. Thoughts?

Our county requires a pump out and septic inspection prior to closing on a home sale, so I had a local firm come up to do the pump and inspection. Cost was about $1300 (PNW).

The inspection revealed that the tank was draining at a rate of less than 1” (.5 was the measure). They said I needed to get my drain field cleaned out, which would involve a jetting, but since my field doesn’t have outlets, they’d have to dig them up. I needed the certification asap so I just had them do it. In retrospect I should have had a second inspection.

$7000 later my field hits 1.5” and passes.

Afterwards I saw in the report that my pump impeller was clogged with old bark, which was the primary reason for the slow drainage. My drain field looked great. I’ve had the tank regularly serviced so my guess is the last guy to do it a couple years ago was messy and knocked a bunch of debris in there.

Couple things:

Should I reasonably expect an inspector to check the condition of the *entire* pump (not just chamber) before recommending trenching a drain field?
They jetted and when the test showed no improvement, they checked the impeller. Shouldn’t I reasonably expect them to check that before digging?

Just seems like this whole thing was an expensive stressful debacle.

Stuck behind a rollover but at least I got to see this

Two different bids, two different strategies