Carrier Infinity system or Amana???

[letango]

I finally got a company to have an engineer look at my house in No. VA. He said a 3 ton A/C was all I needed, not 3.5, and certainly not 4 ton like one quote suggested. Here is what they are suggesting.

How does this system look?
Does it meet the Fed tax credit requirements?
Is there any Carrier rebate on any of this or has that program expired?

*3 ton high efficiency 17 SEER A/C model# 24ANA736A with r-410 puron
*matching 3 ton cooling col with r-410 model# C36A210C536
*100K BTU variable speed gas furnace Infinity series M# 58MVC100 (supposedly infinite gas control)
*Infinity thermostat

[Wire-by-Colors]

I am a commercial installer/ tech and I installed the Infinity system in my home this past summer. I elected to install the dual fuel option as that was what I previously had installed. The Carrier hybrid heat is amazing and I would recommend stepping up to the 58MVC furnace. I originally had a 100 MBU furnace that was 80% efficient. With the 58MVC, I have a 95% efficient unit that steps the output down based on demand; it is essentially a 3 stage furnace rather than a modulating furnace as advertised. The induce draft motor and blower motor are both ECM and therefore are the only part that modulates. Whisper quiet and my home's temperature and humidity have never been a steady as they have been this year. I even dumped the Honeywell Enviracom IAQ Zone system and installed the Carrier Infinity Zone system. The two stage heat pump was a tremendous performer this past summer and has thus far exceeded my expectations this fall. Not that I have an issue with Amana, but their design and construction seem substandard when compared with the Carrier product. Personally, I would not have entertained a Carrier product prior to this, but given the fact that 80% of the residential market is covered by some United Technologies brand equipment, the Infinity system was a perfect fit for what I wanted in my home.

By the way, the Carrier unit at 4 tons which is what I have is 7/8" vapor line and 3/8" liquid line. The 3 ton two stage is likely a 3/4" vapor line. I would recommend one last thing; have the existing line set flushed with a reputable product and not just Nitrogen. I like the R11 Flush that is available at the parts houses here in Atlanta... I am sure that its available in VA as well.

[dash]

Originally Posted by Wire-by-Colors

I am a commercial installer/ tech and I installed the Infinity system in my home this past summer. I elected to install the dual fuel option as that was what I previously had installed. The Carrier hybrid heat is amazing and I would recommend stepping up to the 58MVC furnace. I originally had a 100 MBU furnace that was 80% efficient. With the 58MVC, I have a 95% efficient unit that steps the output down based on demand; it is essentially a 3 stage furnace rather than a modulating furnace as advertised. The induce draft motor and blower motor are both ECM and therefore are the only part that modulates. Whisper quiet and my home's temperature and humidity have never been a steady as they have been this year. I even dumped the Honeywell Enviracom IAQ Zone system and installed the Carrier Infinity Zone system. The two stage heat pump was a tremendous performer this past summer and has thus far exceeded my expectations this fall. Not that I have an issue with Amana, but their design and construction seem substandard when compared with the Carrier product. Personally, I would not have entertained a Carrier product prior to this, but given the fact that 80% of the residential market is covered by some United Technologies brand equipment, the Infinity system was a perfect fit for what I wanted in my home.

By the way, the Carrier unit at 4 tons which is what I have is 7/8" vapor line and 3/8" liquid line. The 3 ton two stage is likely a 3/4" vapor line. I would recommend one last thing; have the existing line set flushed with a reputable product and not just Nitrogen. I like the R11 Flush that is available at the parts houses here in Atlanta... I am sure that its available in VA as well.

AMEN!

[mwjhvac]

Originally Posted by Wire-by-Colors

I am a commercial installer/ tech and I installed the Infinity system in my home this past summer. I elected to install the dual fuel option as that was what I previously had installed. The Carrier hybrid heat is amazing and I would recommend stepping up to the 58MVC furnace. I originally had a 100 MBU furnace that was 80% efficient. With the 58MVC, I have a 95% efficient unit that steps the output down based on demand; it is essentially a 3 stage furnace rather than a modulating furnace as advertised. The induce draft motor and blower motor are both ECM and therefore are the only part that modulates. Whisper quiet and my home's temperature and humidity have never been a steady as they have been this year. I even dumped the Honeywell Enviracom IAQ Zone system and installed the Carrier Infinity Zone system. The two stage heat pump was a tremendous performer this past summer and has thus far exceeded my expectations this fall. Not that I have an issue with Amana, but their design and construction seem substandard when compared with the Carrier product. Personally, I would not have entertained a Carrier product prior to this, but given the fact that 80% of the residential market is covered by some United Technologies brand equipment, the Infinity system was a perfect fit for what I wanted in my home.

By the way, the Carrier unit at 4 tons which is what I have is 7/8" vapor line and 3/8" liquid line. The 3 ton two stage is likely a 3/4" vapor line. I would recommend one last thing; have the existing line set flushed with a reputable product and not just Nitrogen. I like the R11 Flush that is available at the parts houses here in Atlanta... I am sure that its available in VA as well.

AGREE

[letango]

Originally Posted by letango

I finally got a company to have an engineer look at my house in No. VA. He said a 3 ton A/C was all I needed, not 3.5, and certainly not 4 ton like one quote suggested. Here is what they are suggesting.

How does this system look?
Does it meet the Fed tax credit requirements?
Is there any Carrier rebate on any of this or has that program expired?

*3 ton high efficiency 17 SEER A/C model# 24ANA736A with r-410 puron
*matching 3 ton cooling col with r-410 model# C36A210C536
*100K BTU variable speed gas furnace Infinity series M# 58MVC100 (supposedly infinite gas control)
*Infinity thermostat

An engineer finally came out from my preferred choice company and said the house only needed a 3 ton system. My original long lineset problem is therefore solved since I don't need a larger tonnage A/C. That information also allowed for a 2 stage compressor rather than a single stage compressor. THis is the only contractor that tried to do any load calculations or send a specialist out to check on the needs of my house.

The downside is the price is now higher in the end because I believe the Carrier instant rebate program expired, right?

[MoveOver]

Originally Posted by letango

An engineer finally came out from my preferred choice company and said the house only needed a 3 ton system. My original long lineset problem is therefore solved since I don't need a larger tonnage A/C. That information also allowed for a 2 stage compressor rather than a single stage compressor. THis is the only contractor that tried to do any load calculations or send a specialist out to check on the needs of my house.

The downside is the price is now higher in the end because I believe the Carrier instant rebate program expired, right?

Rebate will be back this April. Also do you really need a 100K Furnace. Did they do a calc on the furnace too or just the AC. Small investment in the building envelope can reduce the size of the Furnace.

[wahoo]

Many of the "lnstant" rebates are available from "participating dealers only". So you may actually get a lower price once "rebate" expires since many dealers must "hide" the price of their "participation" within their bid. Never such a thing as a "free" rebate. Participating dealers usually pay a portion of the rebate, and therefore must pass along their cost to the consumer (You).