I would like to see a load calculation for both cooling and heating. I assume your new home will have excellent building and insulation qualities. Strike the low end entry level configurations. Wouldn't have them.

I would like to see the model number of Comfortmaker upgrade/size plus the size of the XT95 furnace. With the information provided, I find it difficult to believe you need 4 ton condensers.

Fuel for furnaces is nat gas? If correct, I would drop the idea of the HP and DF systems.

You will need a good filter media cabinet for either brand.

I really hate to see what GCs do to their customers on HVAC for new construction. Shame on them.

Post back.

IMO

I know they did the Manual J, but I personally haven't saw it or the calculations. I would agree the house will have an excellent build quality and insulation layers (this is a custom build). From what I read, both units are 100,000 BTU. They did tell me the sizing did encompass the finish of the full basement (it will only be partially finished as part of the initial build here).

http://www.trane.com/residential/en/products/heating-and-cooling/gas-furnaces/xt95.html

http://www.comfortmaker.com/products/ps95.html (it is only 95% I mistakenly typed 96% in the original post)

This is a newer subdivision with larger sized lots (1 acre +) so currently they only have LP available. About a week ago when there were enough current homeowners that agreed to go with Natural Gas...the main will now be extended into the subdivision. So now I should be able to go with Natural Gas without an issue. Based on your comment your thinking with no LP I could eliminate the dual fuel / heat pump option and go with just a standard A/C Unit to save some additional dollars?

I agree with your statement about the HVAC on new construction...that's why I wanted to get some educated opinions in here. Everyone seems to focus on the internal looks and designs, but the HVAC which I consider one of the most important seems to get overlooked.

Thanks for the feedback on the entry systems I was concerned that would not be good money spent for the long term.

I'm not familiar with the filter media cabinet, so I will do some more research there.

Get a copy of the load calculations. I find it hard to believe you need a 100K BTU furnace. If the basement is mostly underground then it has a small contribution to the heating load, and none for the cooling load.

Builders try to spend the least amount of money on the HVAC system. You are doing the right thing by asking questions.

Keep the HP option if you have LP as backup. But if nat gas will be available, then drop HP and go straight AC condenser. Your dealer seems intent on oversizing you. Don't let him. I would want at a minimum a 2 stage high eff var speed furnace properly sized of course. And definitely not 100 K size!

IMO

I'm not familiar with what is produced from the Manual J, what specific input are we looking for from the calc to review? I know it was done as its required in the building permit process here. I wasn't concerned about the BTU size, so I'm glad I asked. For Region 3 I had always understood it to be about 40 BTU per sqft for furnace so I figured it was ok. The house faces west and does have bigger windows on the west and east sides. The NG is a recent development (this was not known to the HVAC guy), would that change what you guys are looking at vs using LP / Heat pump combo?

He did give me a price on the 2 stage furnace Trane XV-95 it was another $800 over the XT-95. A side note the HVAC guy made it sound like it was great that he actually got to talk with me as some builders like noted push HVAC to the side when its one of the most important items.... and they never get to actually talk with the homeowners. His overall recommendation to me was the XR-15 15 Seer Heat pump with Trane XV-95 based on LP.

I know adding the heat-pump component is another $800 or so, perhaps with that removal I look at the better furnace.

Based on the initial feedback I was starting to lean towards the XT-95 with a normal AC unit (XR14 or XR16)

Rule of thumb is not acceptable nor is it professional when sizing for HVAC. Ask dealer to see results in writing. Did he even ask you what design temperatures you preferred for inside heating and cooling or tell you what outside temps he planned to use for summer and winter design temps? I doubt it.

Again if nat gas is available, I would go with XV95 over the XT95 and add matching XR15 AC condenser with best matching Trane evap coil. Of course, you will need 2 stage thermostat and pleated filter media cabinet.

IMO

The load calculation will indicated the number of BTUs required to heat and cool the house under the design conditions. That will indicate what size furnace and AC condenser is need.

The indoor design conditions are typically 72 degrees in winter and 75 degrees in summer. The outside temperature is the usual summer high and winter low. It should not be the highest and lowest recorded temperatures for your location.

Rules of thumb tend to oversize the equipment, so quoting them is somewhat meaningless. There may be a load calculation for your model, but not your house. The orientation of the house is a factor plus any building options. You want to see the calculation specifically for your house.

An extra $800 for the heat pump option for the same basic condenser is a lot of money. Post the prices you are getting. As usual builders tend to over charge on all upgrades. This is how they add to their profits.

@mike .... here is the numbers I have currently.

Trane XV with XR-16 A/C = $12,200

Trane XV with XR 15 Heatpump = $12,700

Trane XT with XR-16 A/C = $11,700

All of these do include the Nexus XL850 Wifi Thermostat

These prices seem high. How does the price difference work above the standard builder's equipment?

Do you have a list of the model numbers of all equipment? There should be no third party coil. You should get a 4 inch media filter with cabinet. Forget the heat pump if you are heating with natural gas.

I will leave the heatpump option out here...

These are the main part numbers for the Trane gear, there are some other's but it references install, duct work package etc. Essentially I have 9k included in budget so any above that is additional to in the numbers I gave above (ie 2700 add for the XT / XR16 option).

For the XV with the XR 16 A/C

1ATUH2C100A9V4VB - XV - 95%

4TTR6048B1000A - XR 16 Seer 4 Ton R-410

4TXCC049BC3HCA - Trane cased Coil 4 Ton

3TCONT824ASF2DA - Nexia XL 850

For the XT with XR 16 A/C

1ATUH1C100A9H41B - XT 95%

4TTR6048B1000A - XR 16 Seer 4 Ton R-410

4TXCC049BC3HCA - Trane cased Coil 4 Ton

3TCONT824ASF2DA - Nexia XL 850

I question sizing more than prices both heating and cooling. You definitely don't need 100 K high eff furnace. That's ridiculous! Ask to see the load calcs in writing.

XV95 80 K size w/4 ton rated blower

XR16 3 1/2 ton max

Good 2 stage thermostat like the 824

Trane Perfect Fit Media Cabinet

BTW, I have seen much worse pricing for new construction.

IMO

Heating Load is 70,000 BTU and cooling load is 34,000 BTU

So why is the contractor ignoring the load calculations? He should be quoting an 80K BTU furnace and a 3 ton AC.