Thanks for the great feedback. Sorry for the lengthy post. Basically we went into this purchase not knowing anything about what was new and great in this HVAC space so it's been a learning experience. Any maybe I was asking the wrong questions originally. After what we have learned through this buying experience I think I am more interested in the recommendation for the type of systems we should be considering. Then we can consider the bids. This was our criteria going in: 1. We know we need to replace our existing system due to increased maintenance costs year after year for both furnace and AC, age, and the AC A-coil (?) pan is leaking and can't be fixed (rusted out). 2. We have a difficult time cooling our second level and heating our basement even after manually changing the baffles each Spring and Fall (3 manual zones). I basically guess on where they should be set and leave them there for the season. We definitely have pockets of heated and cooled areas. 3. Decrease our heating and cooling bills considering cost vs. return. 4. Purchase a quality system from a reputable vendor at a fair price. It's the "quality system" I can't do myself because I don't know much about this other than the research I do on the internet, which is hit and miss as you know. 5. My wife doesn't like the booming noise the furnace makes when it starts (which is probably really loud compared to any new model regardless of type). :-) Overall we are more concerned about heating than cooling in this area. We never gave much thought to dehumidification going into this before we talked to reps and read the forums. I think it's probably less important given it's typically only a month or two out of the year where we worry about it. Actually we are probably more concerned with the opposite, humidification, in the winter months. The house is dry. That is why we are considering adding a whole house humidifier. I think from what I've learned here and our #2 above is that we want to go with automatic zoning. Given that Tigerdunes I feel like we should be considering your options 1 and 2 with a 2-stage AC??? Maybe we can focus on those bids/equipment. Does that make sense and reduce the TMI? Thanks again.

Frankie While I do like Rheem, I don't care for that specific HP mdl quoted. I am not a fan of Lennox and don't want anything that has the Kenmore name on it. for a new HP system You should replace everything both inside air handler and outside condenser. these are the minimum specs you should be looking for. both outside and inside units should be replaced to have a properly matched system. 15 SEER, 12.5+ EER, 9 HSPF best matching VS air handler full BTUs in both cooling and heating for your rated size R-410a refrigerant(same as Puron) scroll compressor preferred electronic demand defrost preferred thermostat with "dehumidify on demand" feature staged backup heat strips new and correctly sized refrigerant lineset 10 yr warranty on parts and compressor you want a thorough inspection of your ductwork system. size, overall condition, supply and return lines, insulation qualities, leak test, etc. any hot/cold spot issues in your home should be addressed. My personal recommendation is Trane/AmStd, Rudd/Rheem, and Carrier/Bryant. Depending on your location, I would not purchase a new system that did not have electronic demand defrost. IMO

OK, folks, I met with the owner of Fort Collins Heating & Air this morning. He seems to live up to his reputation of being a stand-up guy. I told him that I was going to talk with him this morning, then with a competitor this afternoon, then get back to both of them tomorrow morning with a decision. So I would massively appreciate your thoughts on which course of action to take. I told the FCHA owner that if I decide to keep my existing system, this is what I would want them to do: Have their best team replace the humidifier and go over the system from top to bottom. Replace the thermostat, too, if they can't make the low-battery symbol go away, given that I just replaced the batteries last week. Extend the first-year tear-it-out warranty to March 30, 2019. No charge for repair calls from now to March 30, 2019. Free furnace inspections in Sept. 2018 and Feb. 2019. If I want the system torn out with a full refund at any time between now and March 30, 2019, FCHA tears out the system, no questions asked. The FCHA owner said he's pretty sure he could agree to all of those conditions. I then met with a sales guy from another HVAC company that also has a solid reputation. Here's his proposal: 96% up to 97% 2-stage heating, variable speed motor. 16 SEER A/C system. 1-stage cooling. : Installation to include: Finish the mastic sealing in the mechanical room per code. All necessary PVC venting needed. All 220v, 110v, and 24v electrical needed. Condensing unit outside. Evaporative coil inside. TXV (thermal expansion valve). Refrigerant lines from inside out. All installed. Task HCS-PH60. Premier Amana Two-Stage variable speed gas furnace. 96% AFUE. Stainless steel tubular primary heat exchanger. Efficient and quiet variable speed circulator motor. 10 year parts and labor warranty. Limited lifetime “unit replacement” warranty on heat exchanger. *Annual maintenance required. Price: $6,682 Task D-F750 $750 off high efficiency furnace Task HCS-DC30. Deluxe Amana high-efficiency air conditioner. Up to 16 SEER. High-efficiency scroll compressor. Single-speed condenser fan motor. Limited lifetime “unit replacement” warranty on compressor. 10 year parts and labor warranty. Lifetime limited “unit replacement” warranty on heat exchanger. *Annual maintenance required. Price: $6,024 Task D-AC750. $750 off high-efficiency A/C Task HO3. Bypass evaporative humidification. Can be installed on supply or return. Works only while heat is cycling. Not recommended for home over 2500 SF (My home is about 3,800 SF, including partially finished basement). Price: $895 Task D-HSHUM. Free humidifier with purchase of high efficiency furnace or AC system. Task ACO4. (Air cleaner, I assume). Honeywell 4” disposable air filter. Merv 8 filter rating. Uses no electricity, but requires replacement media quarterly. Price: $895, but free with purchase of high efficiency furnace or A/C system. 5 year parts and labor warranty. Task TS-EC4. (thermostat/humidistat, I assume). Comes with built-in Alexa Voice Service, so you can ask your ecobee to set a timer, read you the news, etc. 5 year parts and labor warranty. Price $0.00 Task ACO7. Return air box (square – 14, 17, 21, 24) includes easy 1” filter access. Improves air flow efficiency by up to 25%. Price: $0.00 Task SD-100. Senior discount. $300. Cash or Check discount. $100. If I have it installed 3/8/18 (may not be feasible): $350 discount. Total: $10,566 All of this partly depends on the current supplier leaving all water supply lines and electrical. Otherwise, it may cost me about $500 more, according to the sales guy. Given your HVAC knowledge, what would you do if you were in my position?

Ok glad you found that useful. I decided to see if I could find some proof of the same ole shenanigans... yep sure did. Heavy on marketing and gimmicks low on realism and truth. But who needs truth? Now does this mean I am bashing Trane or Am. Standard? Only to the point in which they think their product is better than something else. The marketing gimmicks. They have to do that to charge more. If they told you 'hey our products are good, but you will pay more over the life of the equipment' would the you still buy it? But Ray, why wouldn't you just shut up and sell it anyway? This comment right here: 'Hey, you sold me this equipment --- you said it was the 'best', what do you mean the indoor coils are leaking freon? What do you mean the compressor is making noise that will eventually lead to it's death? This equipment is still new... if it was the best why am I having all these problems? That's why. --- no HVAC equipment is immune to failure. none. So sorry, Trane / American Standard is just as good --- or as bad as anything else. It will cost more to repair it. Marketing gimmicks cost money. -------- But what should I do then? Focus on design. Things like zoning / how it is going to be done. What is the better way for the project to be done? Sizing of the equipment. Don't over size even if you are buying 2 speed equipment. (A half ton over size is fine. Nearly 2 tons over size? uh---- NO.) Things like how much equipment versus controls --- further from that lay out. Ease of future service, the ability to easily repair the equipment, replace when that time comes. Things to reduce maintenance problems and or expenses. These things are fleeting when trying to get the 'cheapest price' outside of what the equipment costs. Because design is the skill level attained by 'experience'. With that said, new construction is often times none of these things. It's more along the line of sell the system(s), hire the sub contractor to do it --- and that sub contractor makes more money by completing as many jobs as they can. More often than not new construction has little to do with great design. Because of that I would zone the new construction home with 'equipment' as opposed to controls especially because you have the room to do so (5k sq ft) If you want zoning, add it later with someone who has in depth knowledge that it's even feasible. Experience is gained over years, decades in the HVAC field. As noted previously I do not do new construction. I come after the builder is long gone... in some cases as little as 1 year after the house was built. I service the Katy, Texas area.