Wow. Get a few quotes... $27k is ridiculous for a single system even with all ductwork and materials--in my opinion. You aren't getting top-notch equipment, either. Getting the ductwork to all 3 floors might be what is driving all the cost up. Are the ducts metal? That's more money there, too.I suggest you get 3 quotes for your type of job. Insist on having Manual J and Manual D calculations to size equipment and ductwork. This is a new install--you need it. Have you considered zoning?

Ryanhughes,

Ducts will be metal. Not sure what you mean by "zoning". Would having a system for the first floor and then one for the second and third not be considered zoning?

Wow, it sure helps to read closer. I thought the $27k was for one system. For metal ducts and all equipment and materials, $27k would be about right--that's $13.5k per system, which for a complete installation is ballpark. The equipment for the first floor is good, but why no variable-speed for the second floor? I would go with the 80% variable-speed Trane furnace model TUD. 80,000 btu's for the second floor, though it is 80% efficient, sounds like a lot. Heat rises. Was a load calculation was done to determine sizing? Can you provide the square footage of both floors? What thermostats are included? You could request Honeywell VisionPRO IAQ YTH9421 thermostats which can slow the blower down for dehumidification with a variable-speed furnace. A 1924 home might be leaky--have you considered adding a humidifier for the first floor? Also, the XL15i to me is a better unit. It's quiet and has a leaf guard on the top. It also bumps the warranty up to 10 years on all parts for the complete system.

OK. So after some friendly negotiations, the quote will now include the variable speed furnace for the second and third floor zone and the second and third floor a/c will be the XL15i. Quote remains $27k. Thermostats will be Trane 802 to allow 10 year complete system warranty. Good deal?

In my opinion, yes for what you're getting. Good job negotiating. You might want to ask for the Honeywell VisionPRO IAQ, which can slow the blower in the furnaces down to dehumidify on demand if setup properly. Otherwise, the TCONT802 will be fine. They are both great touchscreen programmable thermostats.

houseman

I will assume that you have absolutely decided on removing boiler.

If not, you could just add HP systems and continue using the boiler for backup heat.

But if you are dead set on gas forced air furnaces, I would change the XL15i AC condenser to HPs for dual fuel system.

I would not have the 802 or 803 Trane stat. Go for the HW VP IAQ stat.

IMO

I was told that the 802 would still slow the VS blower to circulation mode between cycles and that the Trane relabled IAQ is a 3-stage variable communicating furnace that only works with the XL19i at this point. Kind of confusing to a non-HVAC guy like me.

The boiler is quite old and there currently is no A/C so I thought that doing the whole conversion now would be smart as well as much more energy efficient. Boiler is gas and at least 20 years old.

houseman

you have been given incorrect information. neither the 802 or the 803 have the "dehumidify on demand" feature which you want for summer cooling. it is true that the blower will run in slow speed when the fan is set for "on". but that's really a standard feature on all var speed blower systems.

don't accept anything other than the HW VP IAQ.

And the XL15i HPs will pay for themselves.

IMO

The VP IAQ is the one that can slow down the blower to dehumidify on demand. Trane's relabeled version may only work with the top-end equipment, but Honeywell's has an equipment interface module located near the indoor equipment to take care of everything. The Honeywell VisionPRO IAQ YTH9421C1002 would be what you want. The 802/803 can run the blower at a slower speed with fan-only operation, but as Tiger said that's pretty standard with v/s blowers.