Well, the Carrier is a lower line system than the Tranes. What features and performance level do you want? You could squeeze another 1 SEER out of the carrier system by going with the FV4 air handler.

More importantly, though, the Carrier dealer has sized the equipment 50% higher than the Trane. In a cool humid climate, you don't want to oversize the equipment.

OP should note the Trane systems are 2 ton and the Carrier is a 3 ton. I personally think the Trane should be minimum 2 1/2 ton.

I like the second Trane best, XL16i or even get a price on the XR16 model wth var speed air handler.

you are installing new ductwork system? You want 2-3 returns for better airflow and comfort.

IMO

So honestly, all I am looking for is a cooler home, we have no window AC units and just have 1 fan, I work from home so this is my office. Also, we have a 7 week old baby and trying to make her comfortable especially when it hits 100 one day and then goes down to 70 the next day. My father in law who lives behind me has the Trane XL16i and has had it for 5 years and runs his May to October and doesn't turn it off.

I think the installer of the Trane did say he would end up doing a 2.5 ton system and not charge me for it. I would have to confirm that though.

Also, all installers said they would only do 1 central return right below where the pull down is for the attic and that's where my thermostat is too. It's really only my wife and I and our 7 week old...I use one bedroom as my office, we have the master, and then the nursery.

If there is something else I should be looking for then definitely let me know.

Insist on more than one return strategically located!...

I would want Trane XL16i or XR16 2 1/2 ton with best matching var speed air handler.

IMO

He quoted me the XR16 with the Trane GAM5B0A24M21EA as well.

for Nick, with the XL16i or XR16 AC condenser 2 1/2 ton, you would want the Tem6 or Tam7 var speed air handler. The Carrier quote is low end (Comfort Series) compared to the Tranes.

IMO

With the tem6 or Tam7 would I be able to run that 16i from May to October comfortably without turning it off?

Should be able to with either XL16i or XR16...how would you grade the insulation properties of your home?..does your home office put out much heat? Has any of the dealers performed a cooling load calculation?

IMO

No ones done a cooling load calculation. There is blown in insulation that was done maybe a year before I moved in. So, the heat stays in pretty well plus I have all brand new energy efficient windows. The office is just a bedroom so I don’t think it puts out much heat it’s just a laptop and monitor.

I asked about a variable ahu on the xl16i and this was the installers response...The air handler I gave you on the proposal is ECM driven and it's a high efficiency unit. I can give you a variable speed air handler at an addition cost of around $400 if that's what you'd like.

the air handler he quoted is single speed high eff but not var speed. If inside dehumidification is unimportant, then that air handler would be OK.

IMO

It gets super humid on the main level...depending on the weather outside of course. When it’s bad my ecobee thermostat says 55-70% humidity. I have sensors in each room but I think that calculates temp only so the humidity is off the main unit which is in my hall where the return would be. Is $400 extra worth it for a variable? Is there a certain model that goes well with the xl16i?

Can I send you the quote? You can take a look

with that being the case, I would go with var speed air handler...$300 upcharge over the Gam5 would be fair...keep in mind you were quoted 2 ton...you need at least a 2 1/2 ton both condenser and air handler which will come at a higher price..

IMO

Can you explain to me the benefit of the variable air handler? I’m really novice when it comes to this stuff. He did tell me he’d throw in a 2.5 ton at no charge because he did know that. So it’s really just the $400 up charge for the vRiable over the Gam5

Var speed has software for the motor with slow ramp up, hits high speed, and then a slow down to a stop in a cooling cycle...This wrings out more moisture, i.e. better dehumidification.

Don't guess on the size of the equipment you need, Get a heat gain calculation so that you know you're getting an optimized system. Boston doesn't get that hot but it is humid in the summer. And be sure that the thermostat you get can control the dehumidify feature of the variable speed air handler (ie had a "Dehumidify" setting).

I would highly recommend going with all of Tiger's recommendations and choose variable speed fan coil as well.

IMPO

SR

@sktn - does the ecobee3 have this feature do you know? That’s what I have and what they’d connect into.

I'm not sure on that model - some models dehumidifiy by overcooling rather that slowing down the air handler speed. You'd need to check your installation and user guide.

So I looked it up and I believe it does actually do it. Here’s the setting...

AC Overcool Max will continue to run your air conditioning past your desired set point by the value selected here. For example, if your AC Overcool Max setting is set to 2 degrees and your desired set point is 72 degrees, the ecobee will continue to run your air conditioner until the temperature reaches 70 degrees (2 degrees past your set point) to lower the humidity level. Since air conditioning naturally removes humidity from the air, running a longer cooling cycle will bring down the humidity level in your home.

I know the concept can be confusing but overcool is not the same as independent dehumidify on demand.

IMO