Hi,

We had a ClimateMaster Tranquilty 27 system installed mid Dec 2008 in the Toronto, Canada area.
We are happy with the comfort provided by the unit but a bit concerned about the hydro usage - this seems to be a common concern.

The unit is a 6 ton, we have an R2000 home about 6000-7000 sq. feet (not all finished).

Here are my two questions:

1) Is the sizing correct? I always assumed a bigger unit was better in that it would require a second stage less often and work last longer? Is this correct?

2) Our hydro usage has more than doubled in the January-March 2009 timeframe. Our installer indicated that we should expect an increase of $800-1200, but we have
gone through half of that ($200 extra/month) in the first 3 months. I realize that these are also the coldest months so I am hoping the usage will declide considerably
in the spring and fall seasons and be less than our old air conditioner in the summer.

Can't know if sizing is correct without seeing a load calculation specific to your home

That 2nd stage is 'hard' on a unit is a misconception - the second stage of a two stage unit is same as 1st stage in a single stage unit in terms of refrigerant pressures, current flow. 1st stage allows some of the refrigerant to bypass compression.

Please clarify "Hydro" Is this your electricity bill?

Most of North America experienced a colder than average winter, so higher energy consumption naturally follows.

Is this new construction or can you tell us the cost of fuel source replaced by this system?

Size and operating cost questions require much data to answer.
You do have the largest heat pump available so it could have been stretched in the interest of not going to two heat pumps.
It wouldn't suprise me if half your projected electric consumption took place in the coldest quarter of the year. It also sounds like you heated a good deal of space for $200 (not bad). Not only has this winter surpassed 20 year averages (by a mile) in many areas, but your summer usage is probably extremely modest.
Joe

I guess you don't speak Canuck! A great deal of Canada's electricity is from hydro power(water dams).

I figured that was the case but wished to be sure