If you rarely use heat, why are you getting gas furnaces with the a/c? Why don't you get a heat pump instead and nix the gas furnace? A heat pump is a central a/c system that can also provide heat by reversing the refrigerant flow thru the system. Your American Standard prices look good for 2 units. I would get at least 2 more quotes. FYI: Your true cooling costs (especially on hot summer days) are determined by the Energy Efficency Ratio (EER) and not SEER. Whichever SEER rating you get, you want a 12 EER minumum. In my opininion, a 14 or 15 SEER (12 EER) offers the best combination of purchase price and true operating costs. You could also think about 1 unit with a variable speed fan and the other with a fixed speed fan. This will save you at least $500 on the purchase. Good luck.

The 17 SEER 2 speed is the value leader in this instance. The 20 SEER variable would provide the best comfort at the most economical operational cost view point, if your utilities are above 15 cent per KWH then this would be a no brainer. At a 15 cent operational cost it would take you 21 years to recoup the cost difference. At a 10 cent operational cost it would take you 31 years. This is in comparison to the units offered and doesn't reflect the additional savings you will get from the equipment you currently have. So comparing this to your current utility usage could put the pay back much faster than the 17 SEER system would provide. Sizing: yes sizing is important, but in terms of variable inverter systems they run via load matching so sizing is only important in terms of duct sizing / air flow distribution and so on. The variable speed / inverter AC will only supply the cooling need to match the load. So over sizing of these systems is really impossible, they don't start up in high stage. They start slow - ramp up and then match the load of the structure. While it's more costly to over size an inverter system, there are certain manufactures that sell only 5 ton condensers and 3 ton condensers. There are settings that can limit these machines to either 4 ton capacity or 2 ton capacity. I suspect this trend will only continue as HVAC industry looks to cut costs in the number of SKU's required. With that said sizing varies all day. Even a properly sized AC system can be oversized during specific time periods. A 2 speed AC is probably over sized somewhere around 50% of the time. A single speed AC is over sized 80-90% of the time. A variable inverter (full inverter) never over sized. A 5 step variable inverter rarely over sized maybe 5% during seasonal changes.

Does it have a garage as well as a carport? A metal roof would be modern. If the brick is cracked, have a pro stonemason take a look at it. Have your inspection report ready for the stonemason to compare his findings with. The landscaping needs a professional plan. An arborist can walk the property with you for an hour to tell you about the trees' care and siting, including the best time of year to prune them. In the meantime, trim the shrubs to a foot or so below the height of the window sills and a foot away from the walls to let air circulate better.

Hello All, I am in the process of collecting bids to replace my 30 year old Rheem 3.5 ton HVAC gas pack in my 1850 square foot condo and would love your assistance. I am currently looking at 3.5-4 ton, 14 SEER gas pack units. I live in LA (but near the water so it does not get very hot OR cold too often). My condo is 1850 square feet (1600 sf on the main level and 250 sf on the top level which we hardly use). We plan on staying here for at least 15-20 plus years I am looking for a unit that is going to last a long time, relatively easy and affordable yearly maintenance, good warranty, easily available and affordable replacement parts. I am NOT interested in a very high SEER rating or anything with too many bells and whistles as they may break down. I am willing to pay a little extra for a product that will last longer. 1- Given that good installation and warranties are the most important factor, how can I compare contractors aside from personal recommendations and google/yelp reviews? 2- In terms of heating, is a AFEU rating between 80-83% okay (we only use the heat MAYBE 60 days per year)? 3- Given that by 2023 California is requiring all new units to have 15 SEER rating, would you suggest I install that over the 14 SEER units I was considering? 4-In terms of warranties, what should I be looking for? It is my understanding that most manufacturers give a 10 year warranty. Should I be asking them to break it down into parts? If so, how many years should I look for in the: AC compressor? the heater? heat exchanger? How many years should i get for the installation warranty AND is this different from the labor warranty? If so, how many years should I look for the labor warranty? Are there any specific brands that are known for excellent service and easy warranty claims? 5-Do you recommend I sign a maintenance agreement with my contractor? 6- I know that good installation is the most important but any brands and/or specific models do you recommend that fall into my priority list above? I was leaning towards 1- rheem, 2- bryant and 3- trane. Any specific brands I should stay away from? ANY advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you all in advance for your help.