Which system?

[rgar2019]

Rheem 14 seer 3.5 ton using condenser#14AJL42A01 and coil#RCFLHM4821AC
Carrier 14 seer 3.5 ton using condenser#24ACB442A003 and coil#CNPVP4217ATA
Amana 14 seer 3.5 ton using condenser#ASX140421 and coil#CAPF4860C6.
All are priced within a few dollars of each other. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Can you please specify why you would chose one over the other. Thanks in advance.

[tigerdunes]

rgar

a couple of questions.

as I recall, you live in Florida.

any difference in warranty?

The new condenser/coil will be paired with an older furnace. Do any of these configurations qualify for the fed govt tax credit? I doubt it.

in your previous thread, several forum members suggested a high eff HP system. As I recall you had a nice quote on a 3 1/2 ton Trane XR15 HP system that qualified for the tax credit. That would be my choice.

IMO
Good Luck!
:)

[rgar2019]

rgar

a couple of questions.

as I recall, you live in Florida.

any difference in warranty?

The new condenser/coil will be paired with an older furnace. Do any of these configurations qualify for the fed govt tax credit? I doubt it.

in your previous thread, several forum members suggested a high eff HP system. As I recall you had a nice quote on a 3 1/2 ton Trane XR15 HP system that qualified for the tax credit. That would be my choice.

IMO

:)

Yeah, and it's also $$ more. Do you think it's worth it just for the tax credit? What about the the pieces of equipment. the above systems are onle 1 seer lower than the Trane XR15 I mentioned earlier. Is the Trane that much more efficient and better than the Rheem, Carrier, Amana from above?
Good Luck!

[jerryd_2008]

Yeah, and it's also $$ more. Do you think it's worth it just for the tax credit? What about the the pieces of equipment. the above systems are onle 1 seer lower than the Trane XR15 I mentioned earlier. Is the Trane that much more efficient and better than the Rheem, Carrier, Amana from above?
Good Luck!

Not to get into detailed prices, but if the tax credit and rebates which are usually higher on high end system offset or almost offset the added cost, why wouldn't you get the high end system?

[davefr]

Is the same contractor quoting these systems?

If not, then I'd choose the best contractor.

[wahoo]

Dave has best point, if you purchase any of these from a "crap" contractor, price will soon be the least of your worries!!! How long are you staying in the home?? If long time, then get the longest warranty, from the best contractor!

[rgar2019]

Dave has best point, if you purchase any of these from a "crap" contractor, price will soon be the least of your worries!!! How long are you staying in the home?? If long time, then get the longest warranty, from the best contractor!

OK, I'm down to the last 2 estimates. Just met with one of the last 2 contractors and I was very impressed with our meeting. Believe or not he was the only contractor that performed a heat/cooling calculation. I reside in central FL. and my current heating/ac system is a 3.5 ton ac w/gas furnace. The majority of the contractors also recommended installing a 3.5 ton with either a heat pump or gas furnace. Again, they basically based this on my homes s. footage and reading the model#'s off my current system. However, this latest contractor, the one that performed this"manual J calculation," recommended a 3-ton ac w/gas furnace. He feels, based on his calculations, that this would be the best, most efficient system for me. He would install a Trane(16 seer) XR15 3-ton ac system w/gas furnace. Model#'s are as follows:
4TTR5036E1000A, 4TXCCB004CC3HCA, TUD1B080A9H41B W/6000 prog.
t-stat. Warranty consisted of 1-yr. labor, 10-yr. parts & compressor and offered extended warranty to incl. 10-yr. parts&labor. He also advised this system qualifies for the tax credit. Again, like I mentioned above, I liked his proposal and presentation, however, he stated the system's seer rating to be 16-seer, but I noticed he was installing a Trane XR15. Doesn't the "XR15" represent 15 seer? When I asked him about this, he stated the combination of the condenser and coil make it a 16 seer. Is this true? Also when I asked him if it would be better for me to consider a HP. His response was, no. Being that I'm already set up for the gas, he recommended staying with a gas system. He said that there would be an additional cost for the electrical, bumping up the cost. There other thing I asked, was if this air handler had a vs motor, which he advsied, no it did not. He advised the system he proposed had a 6-spd. blower. He advised the sytem would function very well. He also advised being he calculated for a 3-ton system, as he feels is proper size for my 1820 sq.ft. home, it would lower the humidity a considerable amount compared to my existing system. So, the questions I have for the experts are:
1) First of all, what do you think of the equipment?
2) What do you think of his calculation (3-ton as oppossed to my current 3.5 ton system?
3) Do you think it's worth purchasing the extended warranty? He said it comes from Trane.
4) What do you think about his response to staying w/gas instead of switching to HP?
5) Is it true about the system being 16-seer with his combination of equipment/model#'s?
I'm almost there. Your help is greatly appreciated. Oh, and by the way, the price was very reasonable.

[davefr]

1) First of all, what do you think of the equipment?
2) What do you think of his calculation (3-ton as oppossed to my current 3.5 ton system?
3) Do you think it's worth purchasing the extended warranty? He said it comes from Trane.
4) What do you think about his response to staying w/gas instead of switching to HP?
5) Is it true about the system being 16-seer with his combination of equipment/model#'s?
I'm almost there. Your help is greatly appreciated. Oh, and by the way, the price was very reasonable.


1 & 4. I think Florida is well suited for a HP. I don't understand the issues?? Gas can always be the backup source. Do you even get tax credits/rebates/etc for straight A/C??

2. If he did a thorough load calc, then I'd believe that over the other contractors that guessed at capacity.

3. Yes, if it comes from Trane and not the contractor or a third party.

5. Don't know.

[yourairman]

OK, I'm down to the last 2 estimates. Just met with one of the last 2 contractors and I was very impressed with our meeting. Believe or not he was the only contractor that performed a heat/cooling calculation. I reside in central FL. and my current heating/ac system is a 3.5 ton ac w/gas furnace. The majority of the contractors also recommended installing a 3.5 ton with either a heat pump or gas furnace. Again, they basically based this on my homes s. footage and reading the model#'s off my current system. However, this latest contractor, the one that performed this"manual J calculation," recommended a 3-ton ac w/gas furnace. He feels, based on his calculations, that this would be the best, most efficient system for me. He would install a Trane(16 seer) XR15 3-ton ac system w/gas furnace. Model#'s are as follows:
4TTR5036E1000A, 4TXCCB004CC3HCA, TUD1B080A9H41B W/6000 prog.
t-stat. Warranty consisted of 1-yr. labor, 10-yr. parts & compressor and offered extended warranty to incl. 10-yr. parts&labor. He also advised this system qualifies for the tax credit. Again, like I mentioned above, I liked his proposal and presentation, however, he stated the system's seer rating to be 16-seer, but I noticed he was installing a Trane XR15. Doesn't the "XR15" represent 15 seer? When I asked him about this, he stated the combination of the condenser and coil make it a 16 seer. Is this true? Also when I asked him if it would be better for me to consider a HP. His response was, no. Being that I'm already set up for the gas, he recommended staying with a gas system. He said that there would be an additional cost for the electrical, bumping up the cost. There other thing I asked, was if this air handler had a vs motor, which he advsied, no it did not. He advised the system he proposed had a 6-spd. blower. He advised the sytem would function very well. He also advised being he calculated for a 3-ton system, as he feels is proper size for my 1820 sq.ft. home, it would lower the humidity a considerable amount compared to my existing system. So, the questions I have for the experts are:
1) First of all, what do you think of the equipment?
2) What do you think of his calculation (3-ton as oppossed to my current 3.5 ton system?
3) Do you think it's worth purchasing the extended warranty? He said it comes from Trane.
4) What do you think about his response to staying w/gas instead of switching to HP?
5) Is it true about the system being 16-seer with his combination of equipment/model#'s?
I'm almost there. Your help is greatly appreciated. Oh, and by the way, the price was very reasonable.

It's not likely that you will raise 1 full seer over the 15 without a variable speed blower motor. Ask him for a AHRI rating number and confirm the seer rating yourself by looking it up online. I would strongly recommend a heat pump over straight gas. Good Luck!

[rgar2019]

It's not likely that you will raise 1 full seer over the 15 without a variable speed blower motor. Ask him for a AHRI rating number and confirm the seer rating yourself by looking it up online. I would strongly recommend a heat pump over straight gas. Good Luck!

Why would you recommend HP over gas? I'm already set up for gas.

[sktn77a]

I'm surprized that a heatpump with air handler is going to be more expensive than an A/C with regular gas furnace. The changeout may be a little easier as it's pretty much a one-for-one. In any event, the equipment he's specifying is better than the builder grade stuff in your original post so if he can provide you with the AHRI certification to get the tax credit, I would go for the Trane.

[rgar2019]

I'm surprized that a heatpump with air handler is going to be more expensive than an A/C with regular gas furnace. The changeout may be a little easier as it's pretty much a one-for-one. In any event, the equipment he's specifying is better than the builder grade stuff in your original post so if he can provide you with the AHRI certification to get the tax credit, I would go for the Trane.

The reaon why this equipment is different, is because this is a different contractor. You mention the above equipment is better than the builder grade stuff in my original post. Which post and equipment are you refering to. So, in your opinion, the above described equipment is good stuff? Is this a professional opinion? Are you in the HVAC field?