Trane/Lennox/Thermopride ??? please help

[cbros]

Replacing 22 year old oil furnace and AC. I'm very confused about the options. I got three quotes from different contractors. The first contractor was extremely high priced, but recommended the TRANE XV80 variable speed furnace (efficiency 82.6) and XL14i AC. The second contractor uses Thermopride for the furance and Trane AC specing ThermoPride OH11-105DE variable and XL14i AC. However, I cannot find any information on the efficiency rating of the Thermopride furnace. He also speced a 4 ton condenser and TRXC054S3HPC evaporator coil. Third contractor told me the XL14i has been discontinued by Trane and provided two quotes, Trane XV80 and Trane XL15i combination, which he said when you pair the 2 Tranes the warranty is extended to 10 years. Second quote was for a Lennox O23v5-140 (81%) efficiency and XC15-048 AC, which is considerably less than the Trane options. Please provide you opinion on the quality of the options, fuel efficiency differences, whether it makes a difference to pair Trane vs Thermopride furnaces and IF the 14i has been discontinued. If it is then I wonder what the other 2 contractors are proposing. If it isn't then I would not trust the other contractor. Thanks

[tigerdunes]

cbros

I am assuming nat gas is not available-correct?

Where do you live?

What is your electric rate?

It is true that the XL14i is being phased out but there are sizes still available. Nothing wrong with this model-just normal changing of product line.

TD

[beenthere]

Thermopride for the furnace.
Are you in an area that will see an advantages with a high efficiency A/C.

[cbros]

I live in the Philadelphia suburbs, no gas option. Electric company is PECO but I don't know the rate. The house is 3250 sf and two stories. Cooling is more of a concern to me than heating. My electric bill during the cooling season hits $500-$600 (current AC is 8SEER I think).This winter I've had two tank fillups for oil and still have about 1/2 tank left. Can anyone tell me the efficiency of the Thermopride furnace and would the difference in AFUE between 81 - 83 make much difference. Really appreciate the help.

Also, any opinion as to why the contractor would not spec the XL 14i. He told me if I wanted to go lower SEER than XL15i, I would have to go to the XR14.

[heatpumpguru]

If PECO is your power company like ours ,look into a heat pump.It gives you a BIG cut on your bill and saves you oil. 6 cents per KW vs 15 cents per kw (above 600KW) and in mild weather you keep that BIG oil furnace off. You get the break on the WHOLE HOUSE. IE washer ,dryer TV, we may serve your area and sell Trane and Carrier and T-Pride

[tigerdunes]

cbros

I agree with HeatPumpGuru.

Assuming you have a tight home envelope,good insulation qualities with good windows, my first choice would be a high eff two stg heat pump with var speed air handler.

Second choice would be same except HP paired with var spd backup oil furnace.

I believe PECO has decent electric rates and a heat pump properly sized can save you some nice $$$ in operating costs. You should at least discuss this option with your dealers.

IMO

[dash]

cbros,
Heatpumpguru,gave you a great way to reduce your electric bill,heat pump plus ,oil,dual fuel system.Give him a call if he seres your area,I think you'll be glad you did.

[cbros]

OK, how do I contact heatpumpguru? We had a heat pump solely for heating and cooling in our previous house and absolutely hated it. The house never felt warm and I didn't like the cool air. So I don't really know how a furnace and heat pump would work? Would the cost be even more? Thanks

[beenthere]

He should be back on later.
And I believe you can contact him through his home page, in his public profile.

Thermoprides are gernerally 82% AFUE.

[air311]

Thermoprides range from 82 to 85% AFUE. Around here a few people have Trane A/C and heat pumps mated with a Thermopride furnace, and they run fine together. In fact... I think I remember reading somewhere, maybe on this site..that Tranes new oil furnaces will soon be rebadged Thermopride products. I would avoid Lennox oil furnaces, saw a lot of problems with them when I worked for the local Lennox dealer.

[heatpumpguru]

Hey guys, are NEW heat Pumps any better then the OLD ones???I can remember when we torn them out and put in a/c and propane. We have sold very few a/c systems in our area due to the break on power bill.

[tigerdunes]

cbros

as heatpumpguru says, today's heat pumps compared to even ten yrs ago are as different as night and day. No comparison. And this comes from a supreme skeptic. Yes they work well and will save you some bucks.

IMO

[vancehvac]

cbros

as heatpumpguru says, today's heat pumps compared to even ten yrs ago are as different as night and day. No comparison. And this comes from a supreme skeptic. Yes they work well and will save you some bucks.

IMO

+1 on heat pumps working much better than they used to.

We're a Lennox dealer as well, and when it comes to oil furnaces we sell nothing but Thermopride. Super heavy, and built to last.