I don't know what "Mitsubishi M - S E R I E S H I G H P E R F O R M A N C" means.

Are you really installing a boiler or are you getting a furnace? if the former, you will be using hydrocoils?

Why do do you want it zoned? The difficulty in installing modern low-mass boilers in zoned systems is that a boiler that is large enough to heat the whole house under very cold conditions, can not turn down enough to run one zone. You will probably need a buffer tank to prevent short cycling.

Given current natural gas prices, it probably won't pay to heat with a heat pump. Fuel costs alone point to natural gas and then you have wear and tear on the equipment to consider. Post your gas and electric prices ($/therm and $/kwh with all fees included).

ionized_gw:

The Mitsubishi Hyper Heat pump MXz4A36NA....apparently this is supposed to work well even in very cold temperatures.

We wanted it zoned because the house has a large main floor, which would be our primary living space. Other areas include a second floor, which would only be used when almost adult kids visit, a walkout basement, which would get more use in the summer, and a bonus room above the garage, which isn't that accessible hence the need for a Mitsubishi like system.

I'm puzzled why there isn't just one boiler with different air handlers -- can't we just adjust the temperature with thermostats? I'm so pathetically ignorant about heating and cooling systems, however, I really feel at a loss.

The estimate for the gas prices with the separate airhandlers was about $500 a month year round for a 2900 square foot house.

Apparently he is proposing three gas furnaces for the three zones, and the Mitsubishi hyper heat pump for the bonus room.

We are suggesting two gas furnaces, and using the hyper heat pump in the bonus room and the basement....

Does that make more sense?

The hyper heat heat pump can make sense to cool an area with difficult access for ducts. Does the basement fit that description? It will cost you more to heat it with a heat pump than with natural gas.

What are the aims of zoning, saving energy or comfort? If the former, you are probably barking up the wrong tree. If you have a well-sealed, well-insulated home, your heat transfer rates between rooms/floors will be much faster than out of the structure. Zoning can be difficult to accomplish, but not impossible. With old-school high mass boilers, it was not so difficult, but a modern, low-mass boiler, if sized to heat a large area, will be shutting off frequently. The same may be true for furnaces, but I am not as familiar with that issue. I've seen you write boilers and furnaces, which are you looking for? You can do forced air heat with hydro coils powered by a boiler, or with a furnace. With a hydro coil, you might be able to heat the bonus room but you'd still need a way to cool it. Cost calculations would tell you if it is worth it to install separate cooling and heating systems there.

What are you planning on doing in the basement? Is is going to be just one, open area?

I'd consider hiring an energy rater to help you plan and set milestones for the builder. They can help you choose your mechanical systems appropriately. They can do blower door tests to make sure that the house is air-sealed and insulated properly.

Where are you located? It can make a big difference in figuring out what kinds of equipment to install if you have to heat a lot vs. cool a lot or both. Humidity is an issue too.

The hyper heat pump is for a bonus room above the garage, which is difficult to access for ductwork. After a discussion with the HVAC contractor, I think we've decided on two gas furnaces with a zone for the basement and the first floor and a second zone for the second floor, which we won't be using much. Unless he can somehow get the ductwork over to the bonus room above the garage, it looks like the hyper heat pump is the next best option, although expensive.

The basement will be partially finished, with approximately 1500 square feet of finished space, the rest approximately 500 square feet unfinished storage and utility.

We are located in the Northeast, so the biggest demand will be heat, but definitely AC is needed for some of the summer months.

The system is priced at $18700 without the hyperheat pump, but he doesn't think he can get the ductwork to the bonus room, hence the price goes up to $26,600 for the hyper heat pump and the other system. The house is approximately 3100 square feet if you include the bonus room. Does this seem reasonable?

Are you getting additional estimates? $18700 is just for two furnaces with no cooling? The difference between that and $26600 is adding one mini split or upgrading from "regular" mini split to Hyper Heat? What kind of mini split are you looking at, a single, high-wall mounted indoor unit or some sort of ducted system?

The bonus room may be quite isolated from the rest of the house in terms of heat transfer. It might be easy to justify putting it on a separate zone. Calculations can be done to see for sure.

The system does include cooling for all the zones. I really am not sure of the details of the Hyper Heat, other than he has said it includes these wall-mounted units for distributing the heat and AC. Sorry if I sound confused -- probably because I am!

You are getting two furnaces + cooling for $18,700 and the mini split is costing another $7,900?

No one here can tell you what it should cost without more details about the two main systems. Post the details. Cost is very location dependent. Manhattan is probably going to cost a lot more than West Eaton. Your fastest way to satisfaction is probably going to me more estimates. That is not to say that you should not figure out what you need so everyone is bidding the same job. $8k sounds like a lot for one MSHP.

This is new construction. Ducts should be inside the house envelope, not in the attic or other unconditioned space.