Here they are. one 3 ton and one 2.5 ton. Carrier ARHI 3656405 58CVA909-16 80% Infinity 2 stage gas furnace CNPVP3717ATA tin plated copper coil 24ACC636A003 3 ton Comfort series A/C TP-PAC EDGE Programmable Thermostat Cost $6380 58CVA070-12 80% Infinity 2 stage Gas furnace CNPVP3014ATA tin plated copper coil 24ACC630A003 2.5 ton Comfort series A/C TP-PAC EDGE Programmable Thermostat Cost $5885 Both Carrier systems come with Perfomance series media cabinet. Trane: 15i A/C systems and XV80 furnaces 3233365 Active Coil (Mix-Match) ASPEN TRANE 4TTX5030A1 ASPEN MANUFACTURING C(A,C,D,E)30D44+TDR *UD060R9V3 30000 13.10 16.00 1 RCU-A-CB 216 Yes Cost = $5825 3233463 Active Coil (Mix-Match) ASPEN TRANE 4TTX5036A1 ASPEN MANUFACTURING C(A,C,D,E)36D44+TDR *UD100R9V5 36000 13.30 16.50 1 RCU-A-CB 251 Yes Cost = $6023 Tcon802 thermostats Aprilaire 4200 series SPaceguard media cabinets 2 at $225 each Both say I have super air flow and neither will change the line sets. They are in 'great shape' and run through finished space. Will clean, flush, etc. Incl is new electric disconnect and poly pad for each system. The above costs are the prices I pay the contractor. The are withing $50 in total, once I include the filter media. I also get a federal tax credit of $1500 plus a Va. state grant of $2000. What tips the scales in favor of one over the other?

Unfortunately it was our hurry to replace without researching all the options and understanding just how in depth this whole area is. I have newfound respect for HVAC... I think it's more along the lines of, we've got you to make stupid decisions so far what's one more... At this point with so much $ invested and getting hosed on my lack of research and knowledge, I'm standing firm in the whole thermostat thing. It may be stupid on my part after messing the expensive stuff up but it's where I'm at... Guess I have to call Trane because the installer & contractor are not hearing my concerns. They seem to think that the 603 is the appropriate thermostat for this system. I am tending to side with you guys. You have no skin in this game, so to speak. Interested in whether they are gonna control the stages from the board or the 603. I'll see what kind of answer I get. What about the ComfortR feature? Does that have to be set for the type of AC system installed, via the dip switches? Not just using the factory defaults, correct? I'm getting just enough knowledge to be dangerous I guess. Thanks very much guys

After wandering onto this site by accident, I have become more than a little amused. In particular, concerning the supposed low cost of operating a professional heating and air-conditioning company. I have firsthand knowledge of those costs. My small business has 5 employees. In FY06, our cost of doing business was over $340,000.00. That includes wages, office and shop costs, insurance (liability, theft, workmans comp, health and auto), automotive maintenance and repair, employee retirement, tools, licensing and permits, etc. That does not include the actual cost of goods sold. Any profit that is earned beyond that amount is at least deserved. Most companies extend a one year labor warranty on the equipment they install. If there is a warranty repair, they are not compensated by the manufacturer for their time. This is a cost of doing business that most people do not consider. If a thunderstorm comes by tonight, and knocks out a compressor, we will replace it tomorrow if the year warranty is still in effect. No, that shouldnÂt be covered but we are noted for going above and beyond. It has built an incredibly loyal customer base. Three of our six vehicles are specialty utility vehicles. These are not inexpensive to purchase, operate, maintain or repair. Operation of these vehicles with gas prices at $2.50 a gallon average $.79 per mile. I am certainly not complaining about my job or my business. I make a good living and very much enjoy what I do. However, since shots have been fired, I feel compelled to fire back. Though we purposefully avoid dealing in equipment as low in quality as the unit described, I have read through a GMC 90+ Installation manual before. Reading the manufacturerÂs written instructions are not an option for this engineer. Whoever heard of an engineer that did not read the instructions? All furnace manufacturers are very specific about the installation of the exhaust vent. Regarding length, size, termination and even number of 90 and 45 degree turns allowed. Additionally on the vent, I have only seen long sweep elbows specified. The point of the exhaust vent termination is critical as are the instructions for preparing the termination area. If the directions are not followed regarding termination, you have a high probability of damaging your home. As mentioned before, we do not install GMC equipment. However, I cannot remember reading any furnace installation instructions that did not specify using a manometer for checking and setting proper gas pressure/flow. The equipment we install is very specific about transitioning mismatched sizes of furnace and indoor coil. It is obvious sir; you either did not understand or did not thoroughly read the instructions. My impression of an engineer that is earning in the mid 80Âs is they must be an underachieving, 9-5 cubicle dweller. I have been a registered PE since 1989. I think you must drive the choo choo. We are definitely not the same kind of engineer. To my knowledge, all HVAC equipment manufacturers warranties are void if the equipment is not installed by a qualified, trained HVAC professional. Your plumber looking at it after the fact does not qualify. However, manufacturers are too lenient about warranties. They will probably give you the parts that might be destroyed due to improper gas flow or improper exhaust venting. However, if something serious happens, like burning down your home or soot damage, your insurance company will want a licensed insured company to sue. Since there is not one, they just will deny the claim. My free advice here is to find an exceptionally qualified company to double check your installation. I am sure they will charge beyond what you think is "reasonable". However, you have stepped into an abyss that is beyond your comprehension.

Good that your paying attention to who is/isn't doing the Manual J calcs. "I have a 3.5 ton 10 seer american standard and it can not keep up on hot days now" - Could be several reasons for this: One reason - Manual J calcs are based on 'design temps' not actual max/min temps that you might experience. That's not the HVAC contractor's fault, he did his job properly. (My area design numbers are 75 indoor and 92 outdoor, but I like it cooler than that and it certainly gets hotter than that outside, so a properly designed system probably wouldn't meet my expectations on the hottest days.) You may want to oversize the unit to compensate, but this can bring on dehumidification problems when the extra capacity isn't needed. The variable speed unit does address this issue. Another reason might be distribution problems; unless you're zoned or have split systems, 2 story homes can be particularly difficult to maintain uniform temperatures. You might discuss this issue with the contractors - is your original ducting properly sized and installed? Enough supplies? Enough returns? Typically, the high SEER numbers are only reachable on the smallest of a vendor's units; your size unit probably wouldn't be a SEER 19.5 - there is a website that lists vendor's equipment models and actual SEER's but I don't have it with me right now. I would expect you'll drop to about SEER 18 or so on the Trane unit. Personally, I'd say the Trane price is about $7-8K higher than a SEER 14 A/C-furnace quote would be. IMO, I agree, the payback isn't there.