I think I want to exclude the Lennox quote. The guy...did nothing. So, it's between the Carrier and American standard. Both are doing extra things that I wrote initially, but too many characters to I had to delete a lot. I really appreciate your help with this.

Laurie

He did that based on something I said about being able to switch between charcoal and regular filters. I will tell him I want the other. The rebates are included in the AS quote and I got a call from the Carrier company (while I was waiting for the AS quote) asking what I thought. He insinuated that he is willing to negotiate about 1K. (Include the pleated filter media cabinet AND 1K...??)

Carrier: Adding 16x25 return air grill w/ sheet metal plenum and
14" duct. Using existing ductwork, but new duct start collars
w/balancing dampers, run duct directly to daughter's room (currently a Y duct
to adjacent BR), and enlarge duct to master BR.
Drain
pan float switch alarm, corrosion anode on the large copper refrigerant line,
E-Z clear valve on the primary drain, nitrogen purge during brazing of
lines, 500 micron vacuum.

AS: "The
items are condenser pad, electrical disconnect box, liquid and suction line
filter driers, metal furnace stands, plywood to lay furnace down, double wall
flue pipe, metal supply and return air plenums lined with R-8 insulation, add
return air, media filter (Lennox), take splitter off bedroom ducts and run
directly to plenum, airflow check before and after installation, extend ductwork
where needed, metal supply air registers (16 total), start collars, Honeywell
touchscreen thermostat displays temperature and humidity, safety drain pan,
safety float switch, evacuation after copper brazed in.

Does the extra info help/influence your thoughts?

Is there a specific reason you chose Carrier over the AS system? What are your thoughts on AS spine fin aluminum to aluminum coiling vs. the Carrier's standard coiling system? (Sorry I keep adding comments... I just want to hear what you have to say before pulling the trigger.) Thanks again.

The media filter cabinets should be on return end of furnace. The AmStd thermostat should be HW Prestige 2.0 and set up for dehumidify on demand. Similar to Carrier Infinity controller.

IMO

Correct me if I am mistaken. It was my understanding that if Carrier threw in a matching Carrier media cabinet, then the price difference between Carrier and AmStd quote was around $1300.00. And that didn't even include the correct thermostat that i recommended and sure AS dealer did not include. Both good systems but I wouldn't stand for the difference.

IMO

Did anyone do a load calculation? A 5 ton AC for a 2300 sq. foot house seems over sized. The design design temperature for Houston is 94 degrees. It does not seem high enough to justify 5 tons.

you should make sure that the person giving you the quote does a room by room load calculation to determine heat load in each room, a five ton seems like it is to big I'm thinking a four ton is closer, ask the contractor tondo a manual j on your home