Amana vs Trane XL14i Heat Pump

[ifucdseeme]

I will tell you that novadude used a different Trane contractor then one I chose. From what I can tell he was very happy with his install. You can find both on the Trane delaer website by using zip code 17055. They are the first two in the list, and both have the the Trane Comfort Specialist rating. I had quotes from both... I was convinced both would do a great job so that was not a concern. I will tell you that, with out breaking any rules, that the company I chose was considerably cheaper on the exact same equiptment. So the decesion was easy for me.

[ifucdseeme]

OK, I finally pulled the trigger called my installer and told him to order the equiptment.

His proposal was for:

3Ton XL16i Heat Pump (36,000 BTUH) Model:4TWX6036
3Ton VS Air Handler (40,000 BTUH) Model:4TEE3F40A
Trane Three-stage heat,Two-stage Cool Thermostat Model:TCONT802
Trane 5" Media Filter 23.5" Model:TFM235A0AH1
Trane 15kw Electric Heat Model:BAYHTR1415BRKA
(4) 6" Snow Legs Model:BAYLEGS002

I told him that I had a Load Analysis done and was considering using the smaller 3Ton VS Air Handler (37,000 BTUH) Model:4TEE3F37A with no other changes to the proposal except for the smaller 23.5" media filter to fit the smaller AH cabinet.

Hvac Calc Analysis
----------------------
Sensible Gain 23,586
Latent Gain 4,247
Total Heat Gain 27,833
Total Heat Loss 64,284

His comment was that he did not recomend this as he had a problem with this setup in the past. He did not elaborate. He strongly encourage that I keep with the "matched" 4TEE3F40A. I told him that my only concern was humidy issues in the summer with going with the larger coil. He will be ordering the equiptment tomorrrow. So my question is: Is their really any problems matching the 4TEE3F37A AH with a 3Ton XL16i 4TWX6036 HP?

[mark beiser]

No, they are both considdered "matched" with that outdoor unit. They are the only 2 air handlers that are an approved match with that outdoor unit.

Since this is an upflow installation, be sure that the installers remove the coil apex baffle that comes installed on the coil. They need to install the narow apex baffle that comes packaged with the air handler.
They also need to remove the horizontal drip tray(4 screws) for optimum performance.

The installation instructions don't actually require that the horizontal drip tray be removed. The airflow data for AS/Trane air handlers in the upflow position is with the drip tray removed though, so it should be pulled out.

[Edited by mark beiser on 10-30-2005 at 07:07 PM]

[RoBoTeq]

Mark, does the smaller of the two coils increase latent heat removal?

[mark beiser]

Originally posted by RoBoTeq
Mark, does the smaller of the two coils increase latent heat removal?

The ratios are nearly the same, but when set on 350 CFM per ton, the smaller air handler closely matches his sensable load.
The larger air handler would still be around 3500 BTUH over his sensable load when set at 350 CFM per ton.

Overall humidity removal would be better with the smaller air handler because it will have longer run cycles.

There is only a 1000 BTUH difference in the heating capacity of the 2 matchups.

[gardenelf]

Trane XL 14i, TEE3F31A100A Air Handler, BAYHTR1410,with 4TWX4024A1 Heat pump, 14 SEER, 2 Tons...this is the system I'll order first thing in the morning...try to get the rebate before it ends.

[ifucdseeme]

Originally posted by mark beiser

The ratios are nearly the same, but when set on 350 CFM per ton, the smaller air handler closely matches his sensable load.
The larger air handler would still be around 3500 BTUH over his sensable load when set at 350 CFM per ton.

Overall humidity removal would be better with the smaller air handler because it will have longer run cycles.

There is only a 1000 BTUH difference in the heating capacity of the 2 matchups.

In short should I insist on going with the smaller coil, or is the difference fairly insugnificant. I really don't wont to "piss off" the installer before they even start but if it is a better match he should understand. Would there be a price difference between the two coils and the smaller 5" media filter?

[mark beiser]

If the numbers you posted for your load are correct, the smaller air handler is the better match because it is an almost exact match to your sensable load.
The larger air handler would result in a system that was 14-15% over sized for your load.

The price difference between the 2 air handler and filter combinations is not significant at all.

[klputman926]

roboteq thanks for responding. we are looking to replace our current one unit with a new one it has heat and air in both all located outside. The old one is about 15 yrs old and is a 2 ton unit home. since we have added a lot more living space to our home since the last one was put in. we were advised to go with a 3.5 ton unit and redo all the duct work to "move more air" and to route it more efficiently given the "new" layout of the house. With the last addition they added a return and put in a 40' duct the contractor says is practically useless. he wants to put in a longer main trunk with a bend toward the new addition and put in a few smaller lines off it to go to rooms in new section so i'm moving air only 6 or so ft off trunk to those areas instead of 40'. it makes sense the way he says it.
to make a long answer short, they are going to rip out all the old and start over with a complete new unit and duct system.

[ifucdseeme]

Install is in progress.... Anything I need to watch for, or make sure that the the contractor takes care of?

Mark has already posted the following tip:

Originally posted by mark beiser
Since this is an upflow installation, be sure that the installers remove the coil apex baffle that comes installed on the coil. They need to install the narow apex baffle that comes packaged with the air handler.
They also need to remove the horizontal drip tray(4 screws) for optimum performance.

The installation instructions don't actually require that the horizontal drip tray be removed. The airflow data for AS/Trane air handlers in the upflow position is with the drip tray removed though, so it should be pulled out.