Decision time. Help me out here.

[billb7581]

The dealer that I decided I'm going with provided me with 2 quotes.

1 Bryant 352aav036080 Furnace
Bryant CNPVP3617 AC unit


2. Tappan L1RC08D16B Furnace
Tappan FBD-036 AC unit.


What's you guys take on Tappan vs Bryant?

It looks to me like Bryant has more bells and whistles but the Tappan has a better warranty (and is a little cheaper) not much though. I could go either way, so I'm trying to make an informed decision. Thanks.

[bigbird]

My personal opinion, bryant....
I`ve been a bryant contractor for over 30 years & have all bryant in my house with no problems.
I can`t say anything against any other brands but i wouldn`t install a tappen.

[billb7581]

Looking at this paperwork it looks like the units are as follows

Bryant
72000 BTU 93% AFUE
3 Ton 13 SEER

Tappan
72000 BTU 92% AFUE
3 Ton SEER.

The tag on my old Carrier says 88000 BTU? I thought it was a 90% AFUE since it vents out the side of the house in PVC.

Does this sound right?

[BaldLoonie]

Tappan

Decent equipment, well thought out, quiet, killer warranty... You left out the digit of the A/C model # that tells whether R22 or R410a.

On the Bryant quote, you list the coil not the outdoor unit.

You aren't comparing like furnaces though. The Tappan is a single stage, the 352 is a 2 stage. Tappan doesn't have a 2 stage 90 since it is a low seller. If you went with the FG6TE variable speed 95%, you'd get the $200 federal tax credit and save a bundle in electricity with the variable speed blower. Also the A/C would be a 14 SEER not 13 SEER and with the right coil, the FS4BD in many sizes would be 15 SEER and get the $300 A/C credit. Also might qualify for local utility rebates.

Key is proper sizing and best install however.

[bigbird]

I would go by what "the great bald one "says as he has many years experence in servicing different brands of equiptment.I am parcial to bryant because i`ve been with them for many years.I am not that familar with tappen.Good Luck.

[smokin68]

Gets mighty cold probably expensive in Jersey....go with the best furnace you can afford with a lower seer a/c(13) IMO. Baldloonie gives good advice.

[BaldLoonie]

Have to know more about the old Carrier. Probably is an SX which is 90%.

[billb7581]

Here's what I'm replacing. The towels are soaking up the condensation leakage so I can run the thing a little bit.

:eek:


The old wreck says "input 88000" on the tag. What's up with that?

The condenser is a Coleman Evcon BRCS0361BD that the prior homeowner had installed by the local utility company about 8 years ago. I have no idea if they installed a Coleman A coil, but I don't believe they did. It looks like they just cut the lineset and stuck the Coleman out there.

All in all I can't say the thing performed too badly. It controlled humidity well (except for the room that it's in :) ) The biggest problem was room to room temp differences, some to be expected because heat rises and cold sinks. My lower level family room would get like a dungeon though. The installer (and I) seem to think adding a return there will help. Tons of cold air was getting pumped in, with nowhere for it to go.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/njbill/DSCF0010.jpg

[billb7581]

Have to know more about the old Carrier. Probably is an SX which is 90%.

Yea.. it says weathermaker SX. The only weather it's been making lately, is rain in my laundry room :p

Here's how my ducting is set up

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/njbill/DSCF0011.jpg


It goes down to the crawlspace and makes a straight shot to the other end of the house. There are what look to be about 5" insulated flex ducts coming off of it at a 90 degree angle to feed the registers on either wall.

immediately off the top of the furnace there are 4 or 5 inch galvanized tubes that feed the floor of the upstairs rooms and the ceiling of the downstairs rooms.

Here's some pictures of my house, so you can see kinda how it's layed out.

The furnace is right inside that brown door. The crawl is only under the forward section of the house.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/njbill/DSCF0044.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/njbill/deck.jpg

[billb7581]

You aren't comparing like furnaces though

I understand you're not supposed to talk about pricing, but hopefully this is vague enough. (I apologize in advance if it isn't)

I have a figure I need to be at, and what he did was quote me 2 options that are right around that figure.

One last question though. I need a new humidifier, the one I have stopped working and leaked all over the place so I disconnected it. What's the thinking on those, is it better on the supply or return?

Also, if these 2 units are where I'm at financially, would you go with the 2 stage? Will I get more "even" heating and cooling with the low speed continuous fan setup they have on the Bryant? I'm meeting with him tomorrow to sign on the dotted line. But from the looks of it, a Tappan 2 stage must be out of my price range. I don't see why he wouldnt quote me on it since he's a dealer for both Bryant and Tappan.

I have a 40 thousand BTU (64K x 68% efficiency) wood burning insert in the downstairs family room, so getting heat down there isn't as much of an issue as getting cold upstairs in the summer.

[billb7581]

I still can't decide. I'm leaning toward the Bryant for better comfort with the additional fan stage. Does it make that big of a difference?

[ga-hvac-tech]

Something to think about: If you are going to be living in the house for years to come (maybe 10-15 years?) do you really want to skimp on comfort?

Yeah, one can save $xxx, but be hot/cold all the time. Which is more important?

[billb7581]

What am I skimping on? These are the 2 units that fall into my budget.

Having never had a multi stage furnace, I was just wondering if it really made a difference

The figure I have to be around is X. The Bryant is X + 400 dollars. The Tappan is X + 200 dollars. At this point I'm open to either one, but leaning toward Bryant.

BaldLoonie seems like a respected guy on these boards, but his answer doesnt really help me. If I'm getting something other than a single stage furnace, this Bryant is the one that I'm going to have to go with.

[pstu]

I still can't decide. I'm leaning toward the Bryant for better comfort with the additional fan stage. Does it make that big of a difference?
I am a homeowner who recently got a 2-stage AC, it happens to be a Trane-A.S. brand. I think you will find a definite comfort improvement with a two-stage AC and/or furnace. You have to take my sayings with the appropriate amount of salt, since I am in hot-humid Texas and AC is nearly the whole story here. We do have 2-stage furnace but with our usually mild weather it turns out oversized by necessity. I'm not sure the furnace *ever* ran on 2nd stage the whole winter, though the low stage was very nice for us.

I remember Bryant being a twin to Carrier, did you say whether you were quoted an Infinity controller, or could it be added later? This may be a "grass is greener with the other brand" thing, I like Trane plenty but there are bells and whistles with the Infinity that I would definitely pay for.

Best wishes -- Pstu

[billb7581]

I went with the Tappan. I was mixing up my terminology there. The Bryant had a low and high fire on the furnace, but the AC was single stage.

My ductwork cannot accomodate a 2 stage setup.

All other things being equal, the Tappan had double the warranty.

Furnace L1RC-080d16b

Condenser FS4BD-036

Coil C5BA-036CB

Honeywell Pro 6000 Stat

Honeywell 20x25 4 " media filter box.

[billb7581]

Tappan

Decent equipment, well thought out, quiet, killer warranty... You left out the digit of the A/C model # that tells whether R22 or R410a.

On the Bryant quote, you list the coil not the outdoor unit.

You aren't comparing like furnaces though. The Tappan is a single stage, the 352 is a 2 stage. Tappan doesn't have a 2 stage 90 since it is a low seller. If you went with the FG6TE variable speed 95%, you'd get the $200 federal tax credit and save a bundle in electricity with the variable speed blower. Also the A/C would be a 14 SEER not 13 SEER and with the right coil, the FS4BD in many sizes would be 15 SEER and get the $300 A/C credit. Also might qualify for local utility rebates.

Key is proper sizing and best install however.


I see 14 seer, but no mention of 15 SEER no matter the coil.

http://www.nordyne.com/Literature/a064c.pdf

[tinmantu]

Just curious Bill but what is the size of that return drop that is running your 3 ton system....and yes this is Moon§hiner from the Mane asking....looks like 20x8

[ac in bc]

I have installed both and I would go with the Bryant. The two stage is really nice to have as well as being a very quiet furnace. I have a 355AAV in my house and we love it