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?

The questions you should ask is how did the contractor determine the sizes of the furnace and AC. I see you have an very big furnace (140K BTU input), and I think a 3.5 ton AC. These appear to be oversized, but a load calculation is the only way to tell by how much. I would also ask the contractor to inspect the duct work for possible issues and discuss any heating or cooling problems you may have. The quote should list the model number of all pieces of equipment. It would be good to get the AHRI number. This insures the system is an approved match. I would also like to see which thermostat and filter are included, and the warranty. You will need to get new quotes. Prices and models have changed.

About 5 years ago we installed a Carrier system with a Carrier Electronic Air Cleaner. I was somewhat disappointed, because I saw some dust collect on the blower cover just beneath the Air Cleaner within a couple of weeks after cleaning the unit. Because I thought (wrongly) that this whoop de doo unit was much better somehow than an ordinary pleated filter, I put up with the normal snapping sounds when dust hit the thing and got zapped, the nuisance of cleaning the filters and occasionally replacing the wires that sometimes broke. Finally, it stopped making those zaps, and I asked my maintenance contract mechanic to repair it--he just took the dumb grids out, and replaced them with an Air Bear 8 pleated filter--are you certain THAT will be as good as my high-tech wonder filter I asked--he just laughed. Before putting it in, he wiped the blower case clean--after the Air Bear was in a couple of months, I took it out and looked--and the blower case was still clean. Wouldn't have happened with the electronic unit. My unscientific verdict: the electronic air cleaner is a rip-off--don't waste your money!

The $3346 difference between option 2 & 3 is primarily for the desuperheater - thatÂs a lot of money! System #1 SEER equivalent is 24 compared to TraneÂs 15.75. System #2 equivalent SEER is 26.5 vs. TraneÂs 15.75. They have to offer you at least a 1-year warranty (5-years on the compressor). So, what I would do is negotiate a better price for the system (#3) with the desuperheater and a fixed period of say, 3~4 months (say till spring) to decide on an extended warranty. If the system is trouble free all winter, chances are you donÂt need the extended warranty. Bottom line is if you can install a geothermal system for less than $20k  itÂs a no brainer! Last piece of advice; insist on the Waterfurnace with the highest COP (5). BTW: R-22 is at least 5% more efficient in heating mode & closer to 10% more efficient in cooling mode than R-410a from what IÂve seen, but donÂt let that sway you. Go for 2-speed compressor & ECM variable speed blower. IMO SR