Hi Ryan This is the warranty information. Two (2) year warranty on all parts and labor provided by (contractor), from date of installation. Two (2) year preventative maintenance coverage, from the date of installation, with a preseason check out of the system in the fall and spring of each year. Ten (10) year manufacturerÂs part warranty on all Carrier equipment, from date of installation. Ten (10) year manufacturerÂs part warranty on the Carrier compressor, from the date of installation. Twenty (20) year manufacturerÂs limited part warranty on the Carrier heat exchanger, from the date of original installation. Base Contract Price:$10,100.00 Add for humidifier, air filtration and UV lights:$ 1,300.00 Add for domestic hot water heater if done at same time:$ 900 Total Contract Price: $12,300.00 Website Coupon $1,100 Net Price Paid to contractor: $11,200.00 Carrier Rebate (direct to owner): $1,150 Federal Tax Credit (ARI #3320500): $ 1,500.00 Net price after rebate and tax credit: $ 8,550.00 Another lower price option was also given. Substitute the Carrier Model 58PHA-090-1-16 furnace with the Carrier Model 24ACB436A condenser rated at 16 SEER / single stage / reuse thermostat. Deduct $1,550.00 from the net price paid after rebate and tax credit. I don't want to post the contractor's name here but will tell you in a separate email. We have used this contractor for a new boiler,new runtal radiators plus smart tank system a few years ago and we have been told by another company (Arlington H/C) that has always serviced our equipment but did not come through with a bid on this job that it was very well done so we have some confidence in the firm. In the DC area it seems to us that prices for everything are much higher than they would be in other parts of the country. I would appreciate suggestions of other companies to contact if you send me an email from my home page at gardenweb. Thanks

Thank you for the feedback.. FYI - These are not heat Pumps - Strictly straight A/C units w heat strips. The old unit ran fine in its earlier years and in its later years was nursed along and did not cool as well. I believe 3 tons will work fine as the old unit did the job in the early years and had to work in the summer when the sun came in during the late PM in the later years. There is a lot of heat that scomes through those windows in the summer. The efficiencies in todays units probably deliver much better cooling than I was getting.. Especially if they are sealed. I do have a second unit taking care of the living quarters and the Den area which are alongside this main room - when I sealed the unit 2 yrs ago - what a difference.. Another proposal came in today with 2 different A/C units w strips and 2 different Heat Pump quotes from the current Lennox servce provider who services the equipment. 1. Lennox XC14-036 Condenser unit (14.20 SEER/12.00 EER) using the new 410A refrigerant · Lennox CBX26UH36 Fan Coil with Thermostatic Expansion Valve · Lennox ECB26-10CB Heat Strip with circuit breaker · Manufactures warranty Condenser 10 year compressor & 10 year parts, Fan Coil 10 year - $6986.00 Installed w existing Thermostat 2.· Amana ASX14-036 Condenser unit (13.50 SEER/11.80 EER) using the new 410A refrigerant · Amana ARPF363616 Fan Coil with Flow-rater Valve · Amana HKR-10C Heat Strip with circuit breaker · Manufactures warranty Condenser Life Time compressor & 10 year parts, Fan Coil 10 year $7080.00 Installed 3. · Amana ASZ14-036 Heat Pump unit (15.00 SEER/13.00 EER) using the new 410A refrigerant · Amana ASPF303616 Fan Coil with Flow-rater Valve · Amana HKR-10C Heat Strip with circuit breaker · Manufactures warranty Condenser Life Time compressor & 10 year parts, Fan Coil 10 year $8168 installed - and qualifies for Tax credit 4. · Amana ASZ16-036 2- Stage Heat Pump unit (16.00 SEER/12.50 EER) using the new 410A refrigerant · Amana AEPF30361A Fan Coil with Flow-rater Valve · Amana HKR-10C Heat Strip with circuit breaker · Manufactures warranty Condenser Life Time compressor & 10 year parts, Fan Coil 10 year $ 9,442.00 Installed SEERs look a little low compared to the earlier quotes.. I am not familiar w Heat pumps only straight A/c and Heat strip units.. I feel that running that compressor unit in the winter just creates wear..That is why I'm slanted toward heat strips. Can one get a manual J from an independent source or does it have to be a contractor? I hear they are some work to work up and obviously I will pay for it. How much are they. If you have suggestions on specific units / condensor / air handler combinations I'd be happy to check them out as well. This is a big expense and i want to do this right. Thanks

For the record... I am in Katy, Texas. (LOL) If I lived in Austin, Texas I would probably be considered royalty or something... Prices? pointless ponder. If system breaks (and it will) your installer isn't paid by manufacturer to fix it. It costs money to stay in business. HVAC has huge up front costs any service provider with commercial trucks has huge expenses, in more ways than one. Be careful, with whomever you pick. The relationship should have value, if it doesn't you're blowing in the wind... a bad place to be in Texas heat if you ask me. (23 years talking here... there is very little I haven't seen 'first hand' in that amount of time.)

I completely agree with Fudd (and would have used a stronger word than "baloney.") Any company that won't do a "Manual J" load calculation on your home should NOT be hired to install your new system! Here is a good explanation of why doing a load calculation is so important: https://www.pvhvac.com/blog/why-the-manual-j-load-calculation-is-key-to-hvac-design And a 96% efficient furnace is definitely preferable to the 80% offering (in which 20% of the gas you purchase to make it run -- is wasted.) In this day and age, please go with the furnace that only wastes 4% of the gas you purchase. Even your gas utility bill with thank you, with lower monthly costs to run your new furnace (than if you'd bought the 80% efficient version).