I will pile on here on the matching appliances idea. You will get much better appliances if you research each element and choose based on performance. AND, you will probably do better than any package deal if you shop your chosen appliances carefully. Look in clearance rooms, watch for rebates, etc. I noticed that you never said that you HAD to have a gas cooktop. So, since nobody else has said it...have you considered an induction range? If you have small kids in the house that will, eventually, enjoy helping you cook, you may want to look into it. You would get the responsiveness and power of a gas cooktop without the flame, combustion byproducts and heat loss. (I'm not bashing gas cooking--just stating a fact) You also could get a great performing cooktop with an electric convection oven--if that's what you wanted. They are pricey, but if you were looking at a cooktop/oven combo, you'll probably come out just about the same pricewise. I just installed an induction cooktop (after years of planning for gas, btw) and I love it--I can let my 12 and 14 year old kids go to town on it without worrying about accidently setting a towel on fire or leaving a burner on. (Induction burners turn themselves off if there's nothing on them). For me, I get power and an immediate response to adjustments. It's easy to clean up, too. If it's intriguing to you, do a search on induction. And if it holds no appeal--feel free to ignore the suggestion. I have teenagers. I'm used to it. :-p Cj

The furnace is the G71 100,000 BTUs which is 95% AFUE. The A/C is the XC 21 4ton with two stages and SEER of 20.50. I am also getting the Healthy Climate 10 Media Air Cleaner and the 17 Bypass Humidifier. We are also replacing our water heater with the Rheem "direct vent" 50 gallon version with a 10 year warranty. I'll discuss the t-stat with the dealer. They start this afternoon tearing out the old and will install eveything tomorrow. Just in time as I heard colder weather and snow forecasted for later in the week. Thanks again for your advice. Steve

With 9 1/2 ft ceilings, I wouldn't do anything that would mix the warmer ceiling air with the rest. With 9 1/2 ft ceilings; don't use a ceiling fan. Direct the airflow from A/C straight out never up.Keep any other fans low & blowing level at a low speed. The warm air at the ceiling acts as an insulator that slows down heat transfer, due to less temp differential between air & ceiling surface. Just my advice. Hey, thanks for liking the info on my HVAC Web pages. Make hard copies & put the info to use. I made an important change on one point on the "Trouble Shooting" page, so refresh & print the revision. - udarrell

Thank you all! Now I have a bid for a 9,000 compressor and air handler for our BR and a 12,000 air handler and compressor for the LR. The Fujitsu is 12% more, and the company rep 'prefers' Mitsubishi, saying "more robust" trumps the cheaper electric bill. (Electricity on Maui is four times as much as we pay ComEd at home near Chicago.) I'm inclined to ask for the 9,000 Fujitsu for the BR. It is a little quieter (42 dba v. 46 dba on the Mitsubishi) and it's SEER is better (Fujitsu 33 v. Mitsubishi 21). The BR unit will be run more often than the LR unit. The company rep says there is also an air handler that could mount low -- replacing the through-the-wall unit in the LR. This is in a corner of the room; less cosmetic work and wiring, but less efficiency. Door shut-off switches: This seems very high cost to me -- $900 for each of two doors. Seems a lot for a simple on/off contact. I would only want this in the LR. I can also have the controls hard wired for another $400 each, BR and LR. (Our ceiling fans are hard wired to wall switches.) The bid is for all Fujitsu or all Mitsubishi. Totals here for just the A/C units, installed, including electrical and tax but not cosmetics (wall repair, paint): Fujitsu $9880 Mitsubishi $8658 This is the 'only game in town'. It's a small job, and many companies refuse to deal with condo complex rules for installation. It's a big company, though -- THE authorized Mitsubishi company in Kahului, Maui, HI -- if you hadn't already guessed!