Gas furnace choices ?

[XCR600]

Hello everyone , I'm guessing this is probably a typical new guy question but here goes , It's time to replace the Pulse furnace that came with my house so I've got bids on 4 furnaces so far and would like to make a choice this week.
I'm looking for recommendations if any one has any input it would be appreciated. These are the candidates at this point. I've got 2 bids on the Rheem single & 2 stage because they had good bids.

1 Train XR90
2 York 95% single stage model unknown
3 Lennox EL195
4 Rheem RGRC-04EMAES ( single stage )
5 Rheem RGRM-04EMAES

[GREGHVACGUY]

3 or 1

[XCR600]

I have the most confidence of installation on 1 ,4 ,5 . # 3 are new players in this area 1&4 have been around for years with a good rep , does that sway any opinions ?

[BaldLoonie]

If budget permits, the RGRM offers 2 stage heat and a variable speed blower motor. It's comfort is superior to the single stage models you list.

[tigerdunes]

XCR600

Do you mind sharing your location?

What size living area will new system serve?

What size is existing furnace?

I agree with Baldloonie.

The RGRM is by far the nicer of the furnaces listed. It is a two stg 95% eff furnace with var speed blower. This furnace will require a good two stg thermostat for best operation.

I am attaching link to the spec sheet.

IMO

http://www.rheem.com/documents/rgrm-specification-sheet

[XCR600]

I live in Iowa and have about 1800sq ft to heat in a split foyer house . The Lennox Pulse I have now is 60K BTU , it heats ok but there are some cold zones. The contractor that bid the Rheem took measurements of all my windows and used a program in his laptop for sq footage , insulation values ect , he told me I really only need a 45k BTU and it would heat more evenly, BTW he was the only bidder to do so. The 2 stage is priced the same as the single stage Trane. All bids include a new T-stat with the 2 stage requiring new T-stat wiring.

[tigerdunes]

XCR

While I can't see the job from here, I think dealer is cutting this too close on heating BTUs for your location/climate.

I would move up to the RGRM-06 size model.

The 04 model gives you 42 KBTUs on high stage. That would worry me.

What are you doing if anything about AC?

And I would want a good box filter media cabinet for this nice furnace.

IMO

[XCR600]

AC is working so in my area it really doesn't pay to replace it till there's an issue with it , older 10seer Amana unit.
I'll ask about the 60K BTU model as it's only priced slightly higher and vary slightly in perspective of total cost , I did get that figure from him.

[motoguy128]

IF you're borderline...whcih is sounds like you are... I'd play it safe and go with a 60k BTU 2 stage or ask to see the actual load calculation on paper. How accurate do you think the insulation numbers and air leakage is? It's quite possible that you have a fairly well insulated home, and cold spots will improve with a smaller furnace that runs longer. However, it's better to add some dampers and balance the system if possible.

One question, do you remember how long your existing furnace ran when it was -10F or 0F outside last year. Did it run continously for several hours or did it run abotu 70, 80 or 90% of the time? If it only ran about 75% of the time at -10F then 45k BTU will be adequate. It it ran about 70% of the time at 0F< then 45k is probably adequate. Don't imclude when it's was recovering frmo a setback, only steady state conditions where it was maintaining temperature.

[XCR600]

The attic is well insulated & vented , I framed out the basement walls and used R13 , most of the windows have been replaced with low E / double pain windows . The house was built in 68 and feels a little drafty some times , pre-tyvac days , I'm sure that would help alot. I would say Air leakage may have been under estimated . I don't have a clear number for run time at -10 or zero but some where between 70% - 80% sounds close.
The Rheem bidder said my Pulse has a pretty weak blower = low CFM and that the new one (single stage ) would possibly help with the AC in the summer and be more conformable in the winter than my current system.

[XCR600]

Thanks for all your advise everyone , I went ahead with the Rheem bid for the 2 stage, and they will be installing it Monday. It was the biggest bang for the buck and only slightly more than the single stage bids with the exception of the Trane that was actually a little higher and a Carrier that was way higher.
I had him recalculate my BTU requirement on his laptop program , down grading the amount of insulation and upping the air leakage with my city's climate factored in and still said for my Sq footage that it showed only needing 33K BTU to heat.

[tigerdunes]

XCR

The RGRM is a great furnace if you are sized correctly.

I still have a problem with the 04 mdl sizing.

I would ask dealer to give you a guarantee on the sizing and if it fails to handle your design temps, he will change it out. Won't hurt to ask.

What stat are you getting? It should be a two stg stat that handles the staging rather than a timer from a board.

Also, any thing on air filter cabinet?

IMO

[XCR600]

I think I will ask them to make that stipulation on sizing when I stop by to make the down payment. In IA I have by law 3 days to cancel if I so decide. He feels confident about the sizing and tells me that the 60K is almost double what I should need. It's going to be in the single digets tonight so it won't take too long to figure it out.
I don't really have the room to put the bigger filter cabinet in so it will be the 1in filter cabinet, guess I'll be changing filters more often , no pets The stat is a Rheem RHC-TST213UNMS 2 heat / 2 cool and there going to run new stat wire as I don't have enough wires in the existing wire for this setup.

[XCR600]

tigerdunes , thanks GOOD CALL !!

I talked them today and asked again about the BTU rating and he said they guarantee my satisfaction for the 1st year but he said he will just go ahead and put the 60K in so I don't loose any sleep over it and wouldn't charge me anymore for it either. Said he'd rather do that then come back later and swap it out.
Also gives me more confidence in this dealer to do the right thing down the road.