Replacing an existing 21-year old 2.5 ton single stage with a two-stage unit

Hello and thanks in advance for your insight!

Here is my story:
Location: Austin, TX
House: 1999 built, two-story, 3,400 total sf. High lofted ceilings on about 1,000 of the first floor SF.
Upstairs SF: 1,098
System Make-up: Two systems
First Floor System: 11 year old 4.0-ton Carrier, single stage unit serving the first floor. Cools great.
Second Floor system: 21 year old 2.5-ton Carrier, single-stage unit serving the second floor. Model: 38BRC030310. 30,000 BTU'S of cooling and a total of 875 CFM System is dead.
Envelope: Brick with double pane glass.
Ceiling insulation: R30

Assistance required: Guidance on selecting either a 2.0-ton or 3-ton two-stage unit, since manufacturers don't make two-stage units in 1/2 ton increments. Thus far proposals have been mixed between two choices and it seems there would be some majority guidance on the issue. I would like to avoid any ductwork. Also, one proposal said about $ worth of ductwork was needed to re-balance the flow, only one other vendor made mention of adjusting and they noted only a $ charge.

Thanks!


PRICING IS NOT ALLOWED ON OUR SITE

REMOVED BY ADMIN

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