Twenty-nine years ago, when we built our forever home, my central air conditioning systems consisted of two 2-ton condensers with two air-handlers in the attic and ductwork that utilized fiberglass ductboard with short runs of flex ducts terminating at commercial-grade ceiling registers. The condensers and air handlers were used that we salvaged from one of our job sites. I kept them with the notion of using them and figured we would upgrade from 10-SEER to higher efficiency units once they died.

About 16-years ago, the one serving our living areas (kitchen, dining and living rooms) kicked the bucket. Now empty nesters, we figured its replacement could wait because, after all, we could retreat to the master suite for cool conditioned air for the few weeks of hot and humid air in August.