You have too many quotes, ie too much information. Dealers should provide AHRI matching number for each quote. I am not able to read the man J load calc. As long as you have nat gas service, I see no reason for a HP. I would think a 60 K high eff furnace would be fine for the downstairs area. In quotes 1,2,3 those are 2 1/2 ton condensers. You want the Infinity controller with an Infinity furnace. I prefer Carrier/Bryant over Lennox any day. No less than 15 SEER rated ACs.

" (I really wanted a Performance 59TP6 for the variable speed blower, but the contractor can't order it) and a Performance AC condenser." I would want an explanation about this.

8047582 ActiveSystems CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING PERFORMANCE SERIES PURON AC CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING 24ACB736A*031 CNPV*3717AL*1040 885 59*P6A060E17**14 36000 12.50 16.00 1RCU-A-CB All 272

7494962 ActiveSystems CARRIER PERFORMANCE 16 PURON AC CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING24ACC630A**30 CNPV*3717AL*865 59*P6A060E17**14 28600 13.00 16.00 1RCU-A-CB Southeast and North 216Yes

Use this as your base. If you want to, upgrade to 59TN6 Infinity furnace 60 K with Infinity controller. Sister company Bryant has exact same.

IMO

If you are going to have two systems, then you need independent load calculation for each floor. Combing into one calculation and trying to distribute the numbers between floors doesn't work.

I still think a 60K BTU furnace and a 2 ton AC is the right size for the first floor. This may change if you have a lot of single pane windows from the 70s.

An contractor who is not willing to install high efficiency furnaces and reduce sizes should look for another line of work. What good are low prices if it is the wrong equipment?

I don't understand why a Carrier dealer can't order a very popular furnace. He can try getting it from another distributor. There must be more than one in the DC area.

Quoting an upgrade to a heat pump makes no sense given your electric rate and gas prices.

Thank you, tigerdunes and mike_home.

Sorry for posting too much info. I prefer the Carrier system, so I guess only
quote (1) is relevant. Contractor #1 "couldn't
find 59TP6 in the catalog". I asked
Contractor #2 to quote 59TP6 and 24ACC6, and got 59TP5 (below) instead:

(8) Carrier

Furnace: 59TP5A060E17-14 Performance Series, ECM Motor, Two Stage, 95%

Condenser: 24ACC624 Performance Series, Single Stage

Coil: CNPVP3017

Humidifier: Lennox HCWP18

T-stat: TP-PRH01-A

New line set, media filter

AHRI 6389536

Price after rebates: $9100

I can upgrade the furnace to 59TN6 for $400 more. This is about $1500 more than quote (1) from
contractor #1.

Contractor #1 is a small family business, and I couldn't even find them on
the Carrier website. Contractor #2 is listed
as a "Cool Cash Promotion" participant only. I'm going to get a third quote from Factory
Authorized Dealer (#3, NATE trained).
Expecting #3 to cost the most, how much should I pay for the
certification and training?

Jeff

Both the 59TP5 and 59TP6 are on the Carrier web site. The models change so frequently that I would not rely on a printed catalog. I would be a little apprehensive about a contractor installing equipment he didn't know was in the "catalog".

The usual practice is for the dealer to pay half of the rebate, Carrier and the distributor split the other half. Participation by dealers in rebate promotions is voluntary.

NATE certification means someone in the company passed the test. The test is very basic. It does not mean much in my opinion. FAD dealers have to take Carrier training classes. You have a better chance of the equipment being installed correctly with someone who has been properly trained. It does not necessarily mean they should charge more for the installation.

All dealers don't pay the same price for equipment, and have different rates and overhead. The Carrier FAD I used had the best price, while another Carrier FAD quoted a price that was 25% higher for the same equipment. Don't assume anything.

Thanks, Mike.

I just had the Carrier FAD stop by. He spent over an hour checking ducts, doing measurements and taking pages of notes and dozens of pictures. He is the first one to look at the electrical panel, and point out the issue with the hot water heater flute! None of the other highly rated contractors (from Angie's list and Checkbook.org) did it!

The issue with the hot water flute is that it is connected to the much bigger furnace flute. If I install a 95% efficient furnace, then I either have to get a liner for the hot water heater flute ($$$$), or replace the hot water heater with a condensing unit ($$$$). Another option is to stick with a 80% furnace, which I would do happily if I didn't read the thread about water condensing in the chimney
Furnace Vent Condensation Concerns

What would you do?

Jeff

I would get the 95% efficiency furnace and a chimney liner. The liner should not be too expensive. I am surprised the other contractors did not pick up on this. It is nice to hear this contractor took his time to study your house. This is what he is supposed to do! Let's see what he proposes and the costs.

I have never used Angie's list. It might be fine for painters and carpet cleaners, but most people are not going to be able the rate the ability of an HVAC contractor.

Thanks, Mike. Based on my experience with several contractors, you are absolutely correct about the usefulness of AL comments on something as technical as HVAC.

Just got a phone call from one contractor, I was told the distributor in our area is not Carrier and they don't stock 59TP6. As a result, ordering it from another source will take 2 weeks and cost about as much as 59TN6. If I get 59TN6, the Infinity T-stat will cost me $700 over TP-PRH01-A, ouch!!

Jeff

A typo... the T-stat is $600 more...

59TP6 carrier 2 stage var speed Performance furnace 95+% eff

59TP6 Performance Furnace

If you go with 59 TN6 Infinity furnace, you want the Infinity controller.

IMO

One more thought...you might check with a Bryant dealer to see if they carry the equivalent Preferred 926T to the 59TP6...exact same other than badging...

IMO

The thermostat itself should not cost an additional $600. Sounds like the contractor is not interested in selling it to you.

I probably misunderstood them over the phone. When I got the written estimate, the extra $600 is with 59TN6, so the T-stat upgrade was $200. THAT is much more reasonable.

Tigerdunes, thank you for the idea. It seems fewer contractors are working with Bryant. Will ask those who have provided estimates.

Same as Carrier and usually less expensive...

Hi guys,

This is the final system I want to go with:

AHRI 6389534

24ACC624A003 Performance series 2 ton air conditioner (16 SEER, 13 EER)

CNPVP3017ALA coil

59TN6A080V17-14 Infinity series variable speed 2 stage gas furnace (96% eff.)

SYSTXCCITC01-A Infinity touch control wifi enabled thermostat

Media filter

Carrier HUMCCLBP2417 Humidifier

I got a Man J calculation of 120K BTU heating, 5 ton cooling. The house is two-story with 3400 square feet. The first floor is 1700 with about 400 square feet open to second floor.

I want to run this by the experts here to make sure 80K BTU furnace won't be a problem with a 2-ton single stage condensor.

Thank you!

jeff