OK I'LL BITE Drew, Give it up. Don't you know that the science is settled. ;) And once it has been declared that "the science is settled", the fact that each and every prediction made by the models is wrong is irrelevant. The fact that we have not had a major hurricane on the east coast for more that 2 years despite the dire predictions is also irrelevant. The only thing that is settled is that there is warming and there has been for 12,000 years and it is continuing. Oh, I forgot Drew, you did say that you agree that there is long term warming. Unfortunately, where you fall short is the fact that (a) you don't agree that it is happening at light speed or (b) that we are the major cause and (c) you also don't believe that we can do something about it NOW and (d) that disrupting our economy to do something that has not been proven to be needed or to work may not be a good idea. That is where and why you open yourself to personal attacks What is also settled is that when one feels it necessary to be personally condescending in commenting on another's opinion, one reveals one's own tilt towards a closed minded fanaticism evidencing a total assuredness that one has it all figured out and how dare another look at things differently. Don't get me wrong, that may be a heartfelt belief so it is not evil, just hubristic. That is why you were 1) asked what planet you lived on, 2) told that you really don't know what you are talking about 3) told that obviously you were not reasonably intelligent since "No one with any kind of reasonable intelligence can argue that rising sea levels - a direct result of climate warming and polar ice melt - is a good thing" . What is not settled is that human activity has any appreciable effect on the overall degree of the warming. Actually, I don't think that rising sea levels are necessarily a bad thing. I don't agree nor do I worry that Florida, Texas and Louisiana ( and NYC) being underwater is a bad thing. I don't worry that mangoes and avocados can be grown in Europe. So, Drew... be careful, in what you think and more careful in what you actually say. Mike This post was edited by mes111 on Wed, Nov 12, 14 at 15:09

Thank you for the prompt reviews! Looks like Proposal #1 is the winner so far. Mike ��" the attic fan made a huge difference in second floor comfort. One of the best things I did. Glad your experience was the same. I will look into the 2 stage AC. I will not run the fan or put in an extra return for the humidity/temperature change issues. I will just continue to use my dehumidifiers. They do take care of the issue. I am going to plan on replacing the line set ��" it is easy to get to. What do you think about the drain pan/wet switch that will shut off the AC if there is a leak? Is it going to go off over nothing like a smoke detector I used to have and drive me nuts? Or is it a good idea? I might not have been clear about one thing. Both contractors told me to keep the old air filter set up (Spaceguard High Efficiency). It is the old Aprilaire humidifier that Contractor #1 said replace due to age/parts and Contractor #2 said keep it, parts are not going to be a problem and the only part that goes bad is the solenoid. Keep the old one or buy a new one? Contractor #1 is going to look into the Carrier early failure of heat exchangers settlement. It might only apply to the secondary heat exchanger. The primary one failed on my furnace. I meet with the last contractor tomorrow. I hope to have all the bids by the end of the week. My goal is all new equipment before I have to turn on the heat!

In general you get what you pay for when it comes to an HVAC system. Good equipment and a good installation comes at a premium. The big brands (Carrier/Bryant, Trane/American Standard, Rheem/Rudd, Lennox) have several models. You could choose a lower end model as you have been quoted with the Rheem. My recommendation is to stay away from the builder's grade equipment. They are not well built. You are also having duct work replaced. That in itself can be very labor intensive and expensive. That expense is independent of the equipment you buy. I see you have been quoted a 5 ton condenser and a 100K BTU furnace. How large is your house and where it is located. The best way to save money is to get a properly sized AC and furnace. A load calculation would determine if these are the proper sizes.

Talley Sue those parties sounds great! And I definitely think they'll remember them & even more so b/c you involve them in the planning stage. I don't know why people think their kids won't remember all those experiences. Annellis~ While those material things are not necessities I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting or being able to to give your children as much as you can. And there is nothing wrong with wanting or having the best you can AFFORD. Since when was that a bad thing? There is an odd assumption that if you can provide these things then something else must be sacrificing, such as savings. While we are not wealthy & yes none of these things are easy to come by I do believe that you can have those things without sacrificin things that are a priority to me. For example, we wait for certain things in our home so we can do them exactly the way we want & withoutinucring debt & we do have savings (sure we could have more) & have saved more than most people for her future/college by her age, but I like giving my daughter everything I can now. Life is too short & this is the way we choose to enjoy it. I also find it hard to believe that so many people have created this politically correct home environment they'd like to let others believe they have - doing only what studies suggest, i.e eating properly, little tv watciing, lot sof physical activity, not ever overindulging, children with perfect manners & values, a large savings account..... If we're going to believe studies it's hard to believe that just abotu everyone on this forum is leading that sort of life b/c US studies say that most people live paycheck to paycheck, don't eat properly, haven't saved enough for retirement or college, are overweight, lack physical activity, childen do't have stable family life or enough parental involvement.... It's easy to be so perfect "in writing". I also believe that many people who can't do what I do for my child are big on taking a stand against my type of lifestyle beause they can't & not so much b/c they wouldn't. Everyone wants more for their kids than they had - I had lots of toys, tons of clothes, HUGE Xmases, wonderful family vacations, & nice home based bdy parties BUT I lived in a tiny apt where my sister & I shared a 6x9 ft bedroom & we didn't do much in terms of outside activities. In turn I give my daughter what I had plus she started her education early, is involved in several ouside activities & our parties for the most part are a step above what I had. Hopefully my daughter will be able to give her children more than she had when it's her turn. I don't think the STUFF should or does take the place of teaching values or a quality family life. That would mean all rich people who have lots of fancy things are all evil & lead terrible family lives & don't have any values? I doubt it. Materialism really has nothing to do with how you lead your life in terms of being a good person or what you teach you kids in terms of values or how you treat others. You can be a very contributing person to society & your family. All this though can give her something to work towards. If she wants to live the lifestyle she was accustomed to growing up in or better then she'll know she has to get a good education, work hard, save & get those things that are important to her little by little (things didn't come quickly to us). If she wants less & is happy that's fine too. That's what I wish for my daughter. Michie