New HP recommendations

17 years ago

I apologize for the long post, but I have tried to furnish all relevant information.

I have a two story all electric (the upstairs is about half the size of the downstairs) 13 year old home in South Central Texas with a Trane 5 ton HP that needs to be replaced. The contractor did a load calculation that came out needing 5.3 tons. Since the current unit cools the downstairs and only the upstairs is a little warm, the contractor suggests one 5 ton unit with a 2 zone air damper which can put more air in the upstairs on hot afternoons. He states the other alternative of two units would be far more expensive. The two zone damper with duct modifications will cost $3,750. Is this reasonable?

He gave a bid on three units. The first two would cost about the same $10,300 before local and manf. rebates which total $1,500.

American Standard:

Condenser: 4A6H6048B

AHU: 4TEE3F49B

Heat Strips: 20KW

Honeywell T8000 Stat

Ruud:

Condenser: UPRL060JEZ

AHU: UHPLHM6024JA

Heat Strips: 20KW

Honeywell T8000 Stat

Or for $8599 and no rebate an American Standard Heritage 14 with the 4TEE air handler, 20 kw strips, and the Honeywell T8000 stat. I do not have the exact model number.

According to the contractor there are no 5 ton systems that qualify for the $1,500 federal stimulus rebate. Are you aware of an all electric 5 ton system that will qualify for the $1,500 stimulus money?

What do you guys think I should do?

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Comments (8)

tigerdunes
17 years ago
txmat

"According to the contractor there are no 5 ton systems that qualify for the $1,500 federal stimulus rebate."

the above statement is not correct. there are multiple choices that qualify as listed in the AHRI HP Directory.

I can't comment on the Rudd system but I would not have the AS Heritage 16 system.

What is your dealer's experience with zoning and which brand zoning controls does he plan to use?

IMO

Here is a link that might be useful: AHRI HP Directory
txmat
Original Author
17 years ago
tigerdunes, His actual statement was there are no 5 ton electric heat pumps that qualify. He said there are numerous gas systems. Thanks for the link, but I do not know enough to fill out the form. Can you tell me brand and model number of some "all electric" heat pumps that qualify in the 5 ton size?

I do not know what brand zoning controls he plans to use. He claims he has had very satisfactory experience with adding two zones in situations like mine.

Thanks for the help.
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txmat
Original Author
17 years ago
What is the problem with the American Standard Heritage 16? Are there better AS choices?
garyg
17 years ago
There are many heat pumps that qualify for the Fed Tax Rebate. Systems need to be 15 SEER, 12.5 EER, and 8.5 HSPF to qualify (all 3 must be met).

Go to www.AHRIdirectory.org

Under "Residential", scroll down and click on "heat pumps and coils". Next page: check the box that says "eligible for tax credit". Under "cooling btu's" type in 58,000 min and 62,000 max to cover the 5 ton range. About 200 combo's come up. The first in the alpha list are Amana 14s and 18s (a great value and warranty for the $$).

Good luck.
txmat
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks garyg. I have looked at the list and as you say over 200 come up. My problem is that I do not know which ones are all electric. Do you know how to search only for the electric ones or does one have to know the brands and model numbers to know which are electric.
ryanhughes
17 years ago
All heat pumps are all electric.
garyg
17 years ago
"All electric" means you have electricity as your only source of heat. There is no furnace involved. Heat pumps are all-electric (outside condenser unit plus indoor refrigerant coil). The back-up heat in an all-electric house would be electric resistance strips in the air handler.

If the heat pump was combined with a furnace (furnace would be back-up heat), the system would be called "dual fuel". The AHRI directory would show a furnace model number in another column for dual-fuel combinations.

Take care.
txmat
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks garyg. If I understand any of the heat pumps listed in the AHRI directory that do not also list a furnace will be all electric. Correct?

What brands do you recommend?