scott

you live in an area that has a perfect climate for a HP and certainly your electric rates vs nat gas makes savings with a HP very attractive.

the statement that your existing AC runs continuously from morning to midnight in the summer suggests either a mech problem or you are undersized. I recommend if you do pursue new HVAC that you request a load calculation for correct sizing.

here are the specs you should consider for a new HP system.

15 SEER, 12+ EER, 9 HSPF
best matching var speed air handler
full BTUs in both cooling and heating for your rated size
R-410a refrigerant
scroll compressor preferred
electronic demand defrost preferred
staged backup heat strips
stat with dehumidify on demand feature

quoting dealer will have to check your electric service/breaker panel for capacity to handle heat strip backup

I am attaching link for a fuel comparison calculator.

I can make a couple of recommendations if you like.

IMO

Here is a link that might be useful: Fuel Comparison Calculator

remind me what: 'full BTUs in both cooling and heating for your rated size' means and how you can tell.

I lurked a year or so ago, I have an estimate for a Trane 14i (2T##3F37A / 4TWX4030B - XL14I) with 15KW heat plate upgrade - only have 10 now, said calcs show 13.5KW actual heat loss. The total with 10 year parts and labor was $6332. and I plan on an install this spring. My 20 year old unit is still going but can not keep the house warm when below 20 degrees and windy...plus PP&L is raising rates 30% in 2010. I figured I'd have the guy requote me an install...maybe I can now get a 15 for the price of a 14...? I hear Trane now has 10 year parts and labor standard...?

Andrealaplume2,

That model number set should be 4TEE3F37A / 4TWX4030B. The 4TEE3F40 air handler gives better performance, though.

Problem is, the XL14i 4TWX4 is being discontinued, so you may not be able to find one easily in the Spring unless there is a large overstock of them.

I certainly would spend the extra cash (which may not be much) to get the XL15i with matching variable speed air handler.

4TWX5030A1000A / 4TEE3F40B1000A = 13 EER, 16 SEER, 9 HSPF -- These are excellent figures, better than the XL14i.

andre

12,000 BTUs= 1 ton

for a three ton system, you want both 36,000 BTUs in both cooling and heating. many HPs depending on brand, mdl, system configuration shortchange the homeowner on the heating side and sometimes both.

how can you tell? check the AHRI HP Directory.

and I would recommend anyone considering any new HVAC system to wait and see the standards to qualify for the tax credit which reportedly will be included in the expected Federal Govt stimulus package. Don't you love how our government spends taxpayer money?

and as I recall from your past threads, you should request a load calc because I suspect a 2 1/2 ton is borderline undersized for you and the extra 1/2 ton would certainly help you on your heating costs.

ryan is steering you in the right direction. I have the XL14i(R-410a) dual fuel system and while it is a nice HP, I would have gotten the XL15i but it had not been introduced at the time of my install some four yrs ago.

IMO

We live in the research triangle area and our house is similar in size to yours. We have a gas-fired hydronic system that provides hot water and heat, and a separate central AC system. When we shopped around a couple of years ago, we learned that the new gas furnaces are almost 100% efficient, and use a small, horizontal vent. We decided against the gas furnace because it dries the air too much, more than the hydronic system.

Since the new gas furnaces are so efficient, they might be worth considering. I have always been negative about HPs, but the new ones may be better and, if you know of friends/neighbors who are happy with them, an HP might be right for you.

Do a heat loss and heat gain and size the equipment from those numbers. Oversizing the equipment will cost more to operate and increase the operational costs.

Compare the cost of 1 million btu's of heat.

Natural gas at $1.46 per therm, 80% efficient furnace:
(1,000,000 / 100,000 btu per therm) x 1.46 / .8
= $18.25

Heat pump w/electricity at 10 cents per kw-hr delivered, C.O.P. = 3 at 35F ambient:
(1,000,000 / 3414 btu per kw-hr) x .10 / 3
= $9.76

The heat pump costs almost half as much for the same 1 million btu's of heat. As outdoor temps increase from the 35F example, the C.O.P. increases and the heat pump is even cheaper to run.

Good luck.

I agree with what garyg is saying. We ditched propane heat for a heat pump and never looked back. Our electricity is quite a bit less than .10 KWH at the moment, so our savings have been even greater.

And yes, the days of cold air out of heat pump registers is over.

I will look into the 15i. I thought the load calc was done, which is how he knew we needed to upgrade those heat plates but will check. I do recall he was familiar with out neighborhood and feared the original builder put in the smallest unit they could get away with...then again he still came back with a 2.5ton.

andre

The Trane website and the AHRI Directory suggest that the XL14i in the R-410a refrigerant is being phased out and is listed as discontinued on the directory. still available in R-22 refrigerant at this time.

1104184 Discontinued Systems XL14I WEATHERTRON TRANE 4TWX4036B1 4TEE3F39A1 36400 12.40 15.00 31800 9.00 19900

1384025 Active Systems XL15I WEATHERTRON TRANE 4TWX5036A1 4TEE3D40A1 37200 12.60 15.00 36400 9.00 23400

I certainly would want to see what the standards are to qualify for the tax credit that is reportedly being considered in the so called govt stimulus package.

IMO

question. i have an american standard furnace and would like to stay with american standard brand. what is the american standard heat pump model number that is equivalent to Trane's XL15i and where can i buy one cheap and have it shipped to me?