Thanks for all the quick responses. I have heard I should go with a Rheem? Any thoughts on Rheem vs. Trane? On the Goodman unit, I was actually looking at a 95% AFUE and 4 ton 16 SEER unit. But I am not reading many positve comments about Goodman. I am also hearing that maybe we should not go with the 95% AFUE due to maintenance/upkeep/future repair cost. Would it be safer(long term cost) to go with a 80% AFUE? We live in the south, so we are not dealing with brutal low tempertures.

I'm learning more all the time. Can you tell me more about the TXV metering device for the E-Coil? My current 80% unit already has a condensate drain pump used when I run the AC in the summer and I have not had a problem with it. This self contained pump sits on the floor next to the furnace and pumps the condensate into my sump pump then the sump pump pumps it out of the house. Wouldn't I just run the high efficiency furnace moisture drain pipe out to the same pump? I have to imagine that moisture drain pipe is up high on the High Efficiency unit and my condensate pump is on the floor, gravity will do the job unless the pump fails and the water backs up into the furnace. Is that the same moisture drain pipe that I have on my current 80% efficiency furnace that drains the condensate when I run the AC in the summer? One of the quotes I got from a HVAC hybrid install (95% efficient furnace w/ 2 stage variable speed furnace and 15 or 16 SEER Heat Pump) was to put a catch pan under the furnace with the furnace up on blocks and put a pump in the drain pan that pumps the condensate water into my sump pump. This gives you more time to deal with a pump going bad vs the self contained pump I have currently. I have another question about buying the new 95% efficient furnace. My current furnace is 80% effecient and is 100,000 BTUs. I have replacement choices of 90,000 BTU or 115,000 BTU replacement. My house is 2000 sq. ft, not including basement. Is there much efficiency difference between the 2 choices? I know the bigger unit will probably supply more heat, but is that at more cost in energy? Or is the difference nominal. My first thought is to go with the bigger unit for only $100-$200 more in cost. Mikes

I have 4 returns, MBR, hallway ceiling upstairs, on the stairs on the main floor and in the basement on the wall between the utility room and the living space. The guys quoting said they looked like good locations, as well as the location of the thermostat being good. The wifi thermostat is the carrier infinity thermostat with wifi support. Lets you set it up or adjust remotely, but either way it is the infinity one. I asked about the 95% and they said that based on the cost (1.06 per ccf) that there would be no payoff. Do you think otherwise? The unit cost is about a grand more and requires a more complex install with cost. I am not against it, but the people quoting certainly were. Do you know how I can get some numbers that would help me make the decision? what makes you like #2 more than the amana? Would the carrier be significantly quieter/better? The labor warranty would be much more than the amana from my understanding. (1200 vs 400 for 10yr) Basement tends to be cold by a few degrees in the winter. Load calc will definitely be in hand before I allow anything to be installed.

Hey guys finally got the HVAC plans to our builders AC guy. They ran a j-calc and did cost comparisons for the units we specified. The calc shows that we need 3.88 tons including ventilation air. first, we looked at conventional units. Between 14 and 16 seer, there is a $2200 difference in equipment cost. 14 SEER = $10893 & 16 SEER = $13,100 b/c they buy so many 15 seer trane systems, they get the 15 seer system at the same price as a 14seer. For our home, there is only a $90/year difference in operating cost between 15seer and 16seer. so the payback would be 6.7 years to go from 15 to 16 seer. we would pick the 15 seer unit in this comparisson. Air source heat pump in the same range isn't even worth looking at. it only saves an additional $10/month. Again, not a big jump from 15 seer conventional gas. however, the dealer did mention that we would probably have to install a fresh air system if we go with gas heat -- this is due to foam spray in our attic and the corners of our house. we may need to rethingk a few things if we go with gas. this is where it gets interesting. we looked at geothermal. 1. the dealer sells all types of systems and manufactureres -- geothermal, air source heat pump, conventional ac... carrier, trane, frigidaire, water furnace... etc etc. 2. he assured me that he has hundreds of units in each system type installed in the local area. 3. there are two other geothermal companies in town, so should he and their whole company get hit by a bus tomorrow, there is still knowledgable geothermal service in the area. 4. I was initially interested in a closed loop system, but we do have a potable water well on site. a/c guy swears that in over 20 years he has not had a problem with open loop geothermal units on a potable water well in our area. local water quality is very high compared to other states where they have installed them. also says that the temperature in a closed loop varies b/c ground temp changes. says open loop is his preference due to consistent water temp from ground well. 5. top of the line Envision system from Water Furnace is $21,495 but the tax rebate is $6,449. 6. geothermal costs half as much to operate. operating cost for the three units is as follows... 15 seer unit = $142/month = $1708 per year 16 seer unit = $134/month = $1610 per year Geothermal = $ 61/month = $ 732 per year 7. we then put the units into a 6.5% interest loan scenario VS the monthly savings to calculate the investment payoff. Pay off for geothermal VS 15 seer is 4.1 years. Pay off for geothermal VS 16 seer is 3.8 years. 8. an installation tech showed us the geothermal loop piping. they use an iron to fusion weld the piping to the fittings. makes for a solid and thick joint. 9. hot water biproduct from geothermal can be used for hot water in our home. all comments are welcome. please shoot holes in all of this. thanks again!!!