Thanks for your reply. We did check out geothermal, but the cost is through the roof, even with tax credit. I think a good chunk of the quotes we got are for the ductwork - although it is a colonial the layout is a little awkward, so it will require quote a bit of custom ductwork. And we still need the ductwork even if we go geothermal.

You've probably never been in a home with properly sized ductwork. Don't feel bad, it's estimated that as much as 3/4 of the heating and cooling systems in the US are oversized. 2 stage and modulating furnaces are better, but I've lived in a home with both, and both can be very comfortable and the single stage equipment doesn't make it feel more dry that I can tell. BUt you are correct, multistage cna reduce the sense of dryness you might get with a less than ideal system. THe RH of hot air is lower than cooler air, but cool air can make things feel drafty. That's why radiant heat is popular. You essentially have very, very low air velocities and much of the heat energy is indirect infrared heat which make you feel warmer, similar to direct sunlight. Keep in mind too, that unless you have an outdoor rest control for hte boiler or to sped up or slow the circulator, most hydronic air handlers are single stage for heating. So the heat is no different than a furnace. Worse, as you reduce BTU's to the coil, the airflow speed is usually ocnstant, so air temps get cooler. My point being, that a properly designed and installed furnace won;t make it feel dry even if single stage. But yes, oversized furnaces and those with restricted airflow can. Vairble capacity will always make the system more comfortable, but it will cost more. Radiant heat overall is superior, but the installed cost is much, much higher. That's why it fell out of favor. Same reason drywall took over the market and plaster disapeared. ITs' primarily a matter of cost. It's also why stone and brick homes aren't built anymore and concrete homes are the minority.

you’re either referring to the law (in Washington State, anyway) regarding rental properties, or you live in some place that has uber nanny legislators. And seriously? YOU don’t think YOU are smart enough to know what temperature YOU want YOUR hot water in your home? Any who, I don’t want the dishwasher to turn the electrical heating element on. Electricity (unless your using magnetic induction) is an inefficient way to heat water. It is better for my house to use hot water from my tankless HWH. I have a tankless HWH that will produce 190° hot water if I set it correctly. I have a dedicated line from the manifold that natal led between the heater and the Case Acme temperature regulator. I send 160° water to my dishwasher, and washing machine. (I also have a dedicated line that supplies 160° to a separate faucet on my sink that takes the place of the under sink contraption that crapped out a while back. (120° is the legal limit? Don’t tell InSinkerator. I doubt those gadgets they make can even go down to 120°.) I would use 180° water but I am afraid the water temperature alone might melt some plastic ware and also damage some synthetic fabrics. Here’s a thought, when it comes to how YOU choose to live in YOUR house, man up, and grow a pair.

I don't know what unit takes 3 -40a circuits or any costing several thousand dollars.Mine is rated at 120a, has two 60a breakers in the house subpanel, and two sets of four ganged 40a breakers in a separate subpanel for the unit. This is a single-family house, 3BR, 2 full baths, 2 half baths (one is in the garage). The house was built 4 years ago by a developer, I don't know what the tankless cost. I vaguely recall that sales literature I saw later for the unit involved indicated $1,025 retail. I've seen it run at full-capacity only during cold-snaps of near/below freezing temps that lasted a couple days which dropped the incoming water temp (well-water) pretty low, when I raised the set-point to 140°F for a specific hot-water task. Typically it runs as little as 7% of capacity to 66% or 70% ... but of course still needs a 120a circuit.