Do not put the FE4ANF005T00 on that 25HNA948A003. That is not the correct matchup for that condenser. The FE4ANB006T00 is the correct matchup for that condenser, and $300 difference is exactly the cost difference between those two coils. This match will end up giving you a 16.8 SEER rating.
The coil is tin plated so this will greatly reduce the risk of leaks later from vibration.
The reason they can not give you an answer on the model # of the coil is because the airhandler has its' own model and serial #. That is what the warranties are calculated by.
As far as the air purifier, if you put in the GAPABXCC2020 you will be fine. The 4 ton unit that you are buying pushes and pulls close to 1600 CFM's and this air purifier can handle up to 2000 CFM's. So, there will not be any airflow issues unless you put the purifier in and keep the filters at the filter grilles in the walls (if you have that type now).

I hope this helps you.

Thanks a lot, that does help.

The air purifier in the proposal is GAPABXCC2020, so we will go with it.

I will speak with the contractor #1 about 006 air handler.

One more question. Both contractors call the 25HNA948A003 a 19 SEER model. You mentioned 16.8 SEER with the perfect HP/Air Handler match. Could you please clarify?

Thanks again!

"Both contractors call the 25HNA948A003 a 19 SEER model. You mentioned 16.8 SEER with the perfect HP/Air Handler match. Could you please clarify?"

That model of heat pump is called an Infinity 19 Series. It doesn't actually get 19 SEER (well maybe one size does). It's more of a marketing ploy by the manufacturers.

The match-up that TLewis suggested is indeed the best efficiency match-up and has the most volume sales for that size and model.

It is a 16.8 SEER match-up, the 005 coil is 16.4 SEER.

The match is certified by the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). The match# is AHRI# 1158713. Attached is their link if you want to check the info out for yourself (click on heat pumps and coils, then enter the match#).

Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: AHRI Directory

Thanks guys!

I tried to play with AHRI site before I posted my questions. I think I got these results myself at some point, but your explanations are really helpful. I would be completely lost without your help.

Another question. The contractor #1 included the 20kw heat package with breaker in his quote. The second contractor just wrote:

WILL PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO EXISTING ELECTRICAL AND DRAIN .

Should I insist on including the heat package info into contract? Anything else I should know before signing contracts?

P.S. I can't believe I wrote ergent :o) I guess I was too overwhelmed...

alina

"WILL PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO EXISTING ELECTRICAL AND DRAIN"

this is normally included unless scope involves extra work.

other dealer needs to state size of heat strips he intends to install and you should request that they be staged based on demand. that's alot of KWs that amount to about 68 KBTUs. if existing is a HP system, what size heat strips do you have now?

a load calculation for correct sizing was performed? if so, you have a copy?

one other thought. unless the price difference is insignificant, you might consider the Infinity 16 HP system.

IMO

FE4ANF005T00 is a match. A little better performance from the FE4ANF006T00 if you can fit it. I would use the later of the two if possible, but it's important to remember that this model is almost 60" tall, so height may be the issue. The T designates tin plating on the copper--good move. The second contractor's electrical connection description doesn't necessarily mean he's installing heat strips--make sure you get this in writing. Sometimes it's just assumed to be included with heat pump installations, but it's always good to make sure.

Were you from the Montgomery County, Maryland area, or am I confusing you with a previous member with a similar name? Your name sounds familiar!

Definitely make sure that they are including the heat strips, but also make sure they stage the heat strips so that all 20 kw do not come on at the same time every time the unit calls for heatstrips. Also, and they might have done this, but make sure that they checked the wire size coming to your current air handler and that it can handle a 90 amp service. The 15 kw needs a 70 amp service. There again, they might have already checked this or they included upgrading your service in their price.
Do you have 2 disconnects at the unit or do you have one?

Thanks guys for all your help! We will check all existing wiring. We will also check whether the 60" unit will fit. I will print out this post to keep it handy when I'll speak with our contractors again.

Ryan, you have good memory! That was me who asked the questions several months ago. I am from Gaithersburg. Your advices helped us to make up our mind. We did not go with the project at that time because HP was working. Now we are cornered: we use emergency heating mode. Utility bills are eating us alive. We were going to install Performance line equipment first. This time we've got a very reasonable offer for Infinity stuff, so we've decided to go with it.

Thanks again!

Hope everything works out for you. Power bill this past month was ridiculously high (>$600).

"Power bill this past month was ridiculously high (>$600)."

- Holy sh%t. Whose power bill is this? Electric resistance heat? No way it's a heat pump.

$682.45. Heat pump with no strips except maybe for part of a day. I think most of it's coming from the heat pump itself and the low efficiency its running at. Neighbors have similar luck with the power bills... PEPCO rates are going up, or they seem to around this time of year...

ryan

I am puzzled why you are tolerating a $700 electric bill.

Is this normal for your home and area/climate?

TD

Wow Ryan, that is outrageous!
And we are complaining about $530 bill! Our home is 2700 sq feet plus 800 unfinished basement.
Tiger, no, it is not normal for our area. Not even for large homes. We are neighbors... Ryan, is your home really huge?
We had about $200 bill last month when we did not use the emergency heating.

I managed to negotiate the price of the HP replacement a little bit, so we will have a new system soon... Hope we will never see these numbers again.

"$682.45. Heat pump with no strips except maybe for part of a day. I think most of it's coming from the heat pump itself and the low efficiency its running at. Neighbors have similar luck with the power bills... PEPCO rates are going up, or they seem to around this time of year..."

Ryan:
You must have a real problem with your heat pump. I'm guessing that your strips are running much more frequently than you think. If I remember correctly, you have a mismatched heat pump system, but that electric bill is criminal.

I live in Harford County, 1800 sq-ft split foyer built in '86, pay 15 cents per kw-hr delivered price thru BGE, and replaced my original 21 year old heat pump in '07 with a 14 SEER Goodman. Last electric bill was $136.

You need a new heat pump ASAP. I know you have a height restriction with the air handler, but you need to make some kind of move.

Take care.

"Last electric bill was $136."

- Correction. That was the bill for the month of November and it was estimated. Just opened up the bill for the month of December. Ouch. Used 1964 kw-hrs for a $297 electric bill. The bill for the same month in '08 was similar.

I was puzzled as well when I opened the bill and will be investigating what's going on... I think it's the heat pump. Question is do I monitor it for next month. Alina, my home isn't much bigger than yours. Yes the heat pump is not matched, but it's "worked well" over the summer and has maintained temperature in the winter as well. On the VisionPRO, I see no aux heat usage, other than defrost.

The kW usage was almost 5000 for this past month. Something's wrong without a doubt, but my neighbors' bills are also very high.

With the Payne's HSPF nominally of 6.8 or so, I can only begin to wonder how low it is with a mismatch...

I'm certainly going to be paying more attention to the system's behavior. Does it run a lot, yes...

Here's what gets me (I have the bill right here): This month's usage is more than double that of the hot summer months where the house was kept 72-74 max. I don't believe the heat strips are really running that much based on temperatures at the vents. Maintaining 70 in the winter.

Ryan, let me know if you will need contractors. I believe I called at least 10 places before I narrowed it down to two lowest prices + good reputation guys.
For comparison, we keep the temperature at 69 at night and when we are out and at 75-77 when we are home. Our regular bill is around $200-$250.

Thanks Alina. I spoke to my neighbor, with a matched Carrier system, and her bill was a bit more than mine.

Ryan

what is electric rate?

I would check all suspect areas that might cause high electric consumption.

of course, with a good load calculation performed, evaluation of ductwork and insulation, and a high eff HP with var speed air handler, you probably are one of the few that can actually calculate a payback and justify the purchase of a new system.

TD
Good Luck!

Electric rate is around 15-16 cents total for each delivered kwh.

Another neighbor has new windows, a matched heat pump system (zoned), and a new roof and still has a very high electric bill (less than mine, but still close to the $600 mark). I don't know what's going on.

I question it being worth spending $7000 to replace the heat pump (that performs decently, though most likely inefficiently) when other neighbors with matched systems and tighter homes (I do have a new roof, however) have similar bills. Will the replacement lower the bill? Without a doubt. To what extent is the question and is something I'll have to consider.

It's the usage that's the problem and must be a problem for all of my neighbors as well... around 4500 kwh's this month. I used less than half that in the summer maintaining 72*, all day.

1850 sq.ft. here and used 4200kwh. I am still in the process of sealing ducts but over 75 percent complete. Also sealing wire and pipe holes in subfloor. The recessed lights in the attic and holes where wires are will be next on the sealing agenda. I am going on a sealing rampage and going to add some insulation board to a few knee walls.

I will have another visit with the thermal imaging camera and recheck the cfm of my registers and possibly do a blower door test before my hvac tech wants to discuss upgrading from what I have.

FE4ANF005T00 and 25HNA948A003 do match-up I contacted Carrier myself after reading this post.

Results will be:

17.8 SEER / 13.2 AFUE/HSPF 9.2

dont believe everything you read on these type of sites, although helpful alot of it is not true.. Check it your self !!!