Another bid and more confused than ever.....

16 years ago

We will be building a new home and have received several bids for the HVAC system. Every single one is completely different from the one before it and I don't understand how they can vary so greatly. All of the subs have had their reasons for why they feel their solution is the best and say that they've run the load calcs. I really just don't get it and this is turning out to be the most difficult part of the project for me.

We live in central GA, so hot and humid is the norm here. The house is a 1 1/2 story ranch with 3097 SF of living space downstairs and 1191 SF of bonus areas upstairs. 3 bedrooms & 2 baths on one end with the MB, MBath, and laundry on the other. Main living areas in the middle. The house will be facing west on a crawlspace with a 75X60 footprint.

Most of the bids that I got were for 2 units, but the one below is for three. The cost is $14,787.00, which is within $2000 of all of the bids for 2 units. Sounded pretty good to me.

(1) 4-ton Ruud 13 SEER split heat pump-1st floor living space

(1) 2-ton Ruud 13 SEER split heat pump-2nd floor

(1) 1.5-ton Ruud 13 SEER split heat pump-Master suite

The one I got back today has 3 options listed, but only one unit per option. He said that there is no need for any additional units.

Option 1. 4 ton Bryant 13 Seer heat pump system with a single speed fan coil with 15 kw heatstrip. $7754.00

Option 2. The same as option 1, but with 14.5 SEER. $9218.00

Option 3. 4 ton Bryant 15.5 seer heatpump system with variable speed fan coil with 15 kw comfort heatstrips, thermidistat. $10,585.00

All of the bids are for labor, materials, venting (for range hood, dryer, bath fans), and thermostats. They also include the costs for the gas lines to the cooktop, fireplace, and outside grill.

Are 3 units overkill? Is it even possible for one unit to handle that amount of square footage or has this guy spent a little too much time with the freon? Saving $$$ would be nice, but not at the expense of problems down the road. Thanks in advance for your help!

Comments (2)

funnycide
16 years ago
It is hard to say if 3 systems are overkill. It depends on your layout. I would definitely not go with 1 unit. Does it seem odd to you that 1 company is proposing 4 tons and the other is proposing 7.5 tons for the same 4200 sq ft?
tigerdunes
16 years ago
snickety

First of all, I am going to assume this will be your home for many years. When you speak of gas lines, is this natural gas or propane? I will also assume you are ruling out a grd source geothermal heat pump system.

To answer your question, you do not need three separate systems. Here are my ideas.

You need a heat/cool load calculation performed(Man J) for correctly sizing new HVAC. Have this done for each of the three areas you refer to in your post. Insist on this and get it in writing.

For the main floor, I suggest a two stg heat pump with var spd blower. If you have nat gas, your backup heat can be a two stg 80% AFUE gas furnace. If propane, then forget the gas backup and go for var spd air handler with heat strip backup. For the bonus area, a sgl stg or two stg heat pump would be fine with var speed air handler.

I do not like the Rudd quote for all kinds of reasons including brand and entry level equipment. You want systems with a minimum of 15 SEER for cooling and a 9 HSPF for heating with a var spd blower.

I would zone the two areas on the first floor off one system and have a small separate system for the upstairs bonus area.

Carrier/Bryant have a complete integrated system including zoning with their Infinity/Evolution controllers. Another choice would be Trane.

Thus is what I would do if this was my new home and for the area/climate that you live.

IMO
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Another bid and more confused than ever.....

Comments (2)

funnycide

tigerdunes

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