Ok - here's a quote for YORK equipment... Any comments on York Affinity vs Carrier Infinity vs Trane? York and Trane proposals are 80KBTUh/60KBTUh (main/attic). Carrier is 66KBTUh for both systems. Any thoughts? ***Company #3 (York Dealer) - $13.9K (rebates included) 2 year labor 10 year parts Lifetime compressor Heat exchanger warranty not stated New pads Zone 1 (Main Level + Basement) York Affinity (modulating, 80% AFUE, 80,000 BTUh Input) YPLC080A12MP12 York Affinity (3 ton, 15.75 SEER, single stage) CZF036 FC43B York Communicating touch screen programmable T-stat Flush existing lineset Additional filter grill return in basement YM10PAC1625 media air cleaner Zone 2 (Upper Level) York Affinity (modulating, 80% AFUE, 60,000 BTUh Input) YPLC060A12MP12 York Affinity (2 ton, 16.5 SEER, single stage) CZF024 MC37A York Communicating touch screen programmable T-stat Flush existing lineset Additional filter grill return in master bedroom Option to go to CZH036/CZH024 (2 stage 17.75/16.75 SEER) for add'l $200 each ($14.3K instead of $13.9K)

Sorry for the confusion I caused with the new thread! The house is a 2 story colonial - 2,052 square feet plus a partially finished basement. How could I tell if the equipment was short cycling? I have been pretty comfortable with the exception of the second floor is sometimes hotter than the first floor in the summer- mostly addressed with the attic fan. I would not want to spend a lot of money to fix that. It has been a cool summer and not noticeable this year. That is why at least the one contractor that I asked did not think a two stage AC would be a good idea in this house. And why a 3 ton might be a better idea ��" although Manual J apparently says 2.5 ton (100% of cooling load ��" 26389 Btuh), if I understood what I read. Tigerdunes ��" what is a DF system (which you said you would not recommend)? Mike ��" I prefer leather seats in my cars! I was not sure I would actually be any more comfortable for the extra bucks since the rest of the house is from 1986. What should a contractor do to evaluate the ducts (if anything)? The ducts are not insulated as far as I can tell ��" just sheet metal. The house was built in 1986 with a heat pump system only. I converted to gas in 1996 ��" and I was thrilled to be able to do that. I calculated the cost of a therm by dividing therms used by total cost of gas on my bill ��" cost $1.28 per therm. I pay $13/month as a gas delivery charge whether I use any gas or not. I use about 560 therms/year (heating and cook top only). Using the same method, my total cost per kWh is $0.14 and I use about 19,000 kWh/year (everything else ��" hot water and clothes dryer, lights, etc). Contractor #1 did a Manual J and gave me the written report on software letter head (Wrightsoft Right J Mobile). Contractor #2 did not give me the Manual J but told me that he did it and it shows a total cooling load on the house using R19 insulation in my attic at 22,744 Btu's and a total cooling load at 21,750 using R30 insulation in the attic ��" which is not the same as the Manual J that I have in writing from Contractor #1??? According to Contractor #2, the Gold XI 2.5 ton A/C total cooling load at 95 degree outside temperature and 75 degree inside temperature is 24,400 Btu's. He said he could come back and take a closer look at the house if I would like. His original proposal has a 2.5 ton AC. Here is the updated pricing from Contractor #2: Proposal #1 - Supply and install an American Standard Gold ZM-80,000 Btu’s, 97% AFUE efficiency gas furnace and an American Standard Gold XI- 16 SEER 3 ton AC unit: AC AS 4A7A6036H1, single stage AC Furnace AS AUH2B080A9V3, 2 stage variable speed Coil AS 4TXCB036BC3 cooling coil. Thermostat AS digital programmable thermostat. Net cost to me $6,475.00 Proposal #2 - Supply and install an American Standard Platinum ZV-80,000 Btu’s, 96.7% AFUE efficiency gas furnace and an American Standard Platinum ZM- 16.25 SEER 3 AC unit: AC AS 4A7A7036A1- 2 stage Furnace AS AUHM1B080ACV3 ��" 2 stage variable speed Coil AS model 4TNCB036AC3 cooling coil Thermostat Honeywell Prestige 2.0 digital programmable Net cost to me: $7,925.00 Contractor #3 did not do a Manual J. I asked him for a price for the same Carrier equipment as Contractor #1 anyway. He said he was not able to do that because he did not inspect the work for an Infinity system. He would need to come back and look at the job to provide a price for the Infinity systems. That makes no sense to me because how could he give me a price on this system which was in his original proposal that contained the $4300 system? I had not included this option in my original post because it seemed like not a lot of bang for the extra bucks. AC Carrier Infinity 21 series two-stage 24ANB136A003 with a 3.0 ton cooling capacity Furnace Carrier Infinity 98 modulating gas furnace 59MN7080V17-14 Coil Carrier Infinity all aluminum N series vertical evaporator coil with an insulated jacket CNVP3717ALA with a 3.5 ton cooling capacity Thermostat Carrier Infinity touch series WiFi SYSTXCCITNO1A Mechanical Air Cleaner: model #:EZXCABCC1020 Power fan humidifier model #: HUMCCSFP1016 Net cost to me after rebates and discounts: $8,465.00 So one stage or 2 stage AC? 2.5 or 3 ton unit? Carrier or American Standard? Contractor 1 (5 year labor warranty through him), Contractor 2 (I think the 2 stage AC option might not be a good idea - 2 year labor ��" not sure if that is AS or him), or Contractor 3? What do you think of the Carrier 10 year labor warranty through Carrier? And thanks for your input! There were fewer choices 18 years ago. I am glad I am not sitting here with no heat doing this.

You can still keep the Infinity interface with the Performance series outdoor units, so it will still do an adequate job with dehumidification. However, with the 2-stage units, they can run in low stage for longer periods of time, helping even temperatures and reduce humidity. In my opinion, if you're going for a higher end system with the Infinity controls, keep the Infinity outdoor units if they are a feasible option in your budget. It may be worth your while to get another estimate or two, if nothing else for comparison. I tend to recommend a more simple system myself, but your price for 2 Infinity systems installed is attractive, and for your location, I think you'd benefit from the 2-stage operation. I assume the dealer sized both units properly (that's step 1 to efficiency/comfort). The fact that they recommended an additional return is a good sign that they understand the need for adequate return air for these systems to work well.

I've got a Carrier Infinity Zone Controller with four zones in a 3000 sq ft, 2 story, open floorplan house. A/C is a 5/3-ton 2-stage unit and heat is gas all driven by a variable speed blower. Our configuration won't allow for a bypass duct so there is a designated dump zone to handle excess capacity. My problem is that I'm getting constant errors that are apparently coming from the zone board as we just had the furnace mainboard replaced for a cool $1k. Replacing the zone board is going to set me back almost as much and I'd like to step up to an internet connected thermostat but that's another $1K for the Carrier version. I'd like to scrap the Carrier system and get a ZoneFirst board with Nest thermostats which will add learning in addition to internet connectivity. Talking with both Nest and ZoneFirst I discovered that I have to replace the dampers as well because the ZoneFirst board won't operate without a bypass duct and fail-closed dampers. Does anyone have experience with this kind of swap-out and would you share your thoughts? Are there other zone controllers that will work more seamlessly with my existing dampers? Am I completely mad and should I abandon this project and just accept being married to Carrier for another 15 - 20 years?