Is natural gas available? If it is, then that may be a better choice for heating compared to a heat pump.

The size of the heat pump is determined by the amount of required cooling. Do you know the size of your current AC and did it perform well on hot days? Post the model number if you are not sure. It is important the equipment is correctly sized. Over sized is just as bad as being undersized.

You need to post the model numbers of all the equipment you are being quoted if you want comments on pricing.. Carrier Comfort series is the low end, and Performance is the mid range. Goodman equipment can be good if it is installed properly. The quote for the Carrier Performance seems steep if is for a single stage heat pump. Are these quotes all from the same Carrier dealer?

Unfortunately natural gas is not available. My current AC unit is a 10 SEER, about 15 years old. I think it performs fine. We keep our indoor temps at 73-74 and it's comfortable. Our electricity averages $210-$250 in the summer. I didn't receive a model number for the Goodman. Numbers 2, 4, and 5 below are all from the same company, just different options. They are also a larger company while the other two under 10k are smaller local businesses.

1. 16 SEER 100,000 BTU Goodman single stage, 3.5 ton unit - $7800

2. 16 SEER Carrier 24ACC636 performance 3 ton unit - $14k

3. 16 SEER Carrier 24ABC636 comfort, 3 ton unit $8k

4. 14 SEER Carrier 25HCE436 Puron comfort with heat pump, 3 ton unit - $12k

5. 14 SEER Carrier 24ACC436 Puron Carrier no heat pump $11k

All 3 companies will install a complete A/C and oil-fired furnace. Is the refrigerant line the same as the flush line? I ask because they are listed in 2 different quotes and I'm not sure what they are. The Carrier companies are highly recommended in our area and I'm comfortable using either. The Goodman quote is recommended but fairly young company so not a ton of reviews.

The Goodman quote is to replace both A/C and furnace using existing oil lines, ductwork, and electric. Include precast pad for outdoor unit.

The 8k company is a local oil company that also specializes in installation. 16 SEER Carrier 24ABC636 comfort, carrier evaporator CNPVP3621ALA above the oil furnace OBMAAB042112 comfort 80 Mulipoise 112K BTU input with Riello oil burner 40-F3., 3 tonto replace the A/C condenser, evaporator coil, condensate drain, oil furnace, oil burner, oil filter canister, flue pipe to chimney base, electrical switch at furnace and flush line set. Include precast pad for outdoor unit 1 year labor warranty and 10 year parts.

The higher quotes include replacing both units, thermostat, refrigerant lines, EZ trap with drain line, precast pad for the outdoor unit, replace outdoor disconnect and remove and cap off the extra supply line to the bedroom (I didn't ask for this in the other quotes but this company said it was a simple inexpensive fix). All three have the same CNPVP4221 evaporator coil, oil furnace OBMAAB042112, and KLABR0201BEC Beckett oil burner

At any give price/specification, Goodman and Carrier are comparable (as are all HVAC units). "Puron" is a marketing gimmick - Puron is R410 which they all use!

The real question is whether you want to get rid of oil as the primary heating source. Using it as a backup makes for a fairly complex (read expensive) setup. If you rarely get below freezing, I would ditch the oil altogether and just go for an air-to-air heatpump with electric strip backup - your wood burning stoves should suffice for any rare power outages.

AC and heat pump equipment are sized in tons where 1 ton - 12,000 BTU. The "36" in the model numbers means 36,000 BTUs or 3 tons. The "100,000 BTU" is typically the size of furnace. Therefore the Goodman quote is not valid. This is often the problem with Goodman equipment. The equipment itself may be good, but it is often sold by installers who are not the best. They are exceptions but so far I am not impressed by the Goodman installer.

The Carrier 25HCE436 is a heat pump. The other three Carriers are AC only. Do you plan to replace your oil furnace with a heat pump? Is there a reason you are comparing AC and heat pump installation prices?

.You also should ask what the heat strips (if you are getting a heat pump), type of filter will be installed and the model of the thermostat. I would also like to know if the lineset will be cleaned and reused, or replaced. The outside disconnect may need to be replaced if it old or not compliant to code. You should also ask if the installer will be applying for a permit.

My prior response was posted before I read your latest post. If you are going to replace your oil furnace, then a 100k or 112K size seems oversized for your house and climate. These may have been the sizes used 30 years ago when oil was cheap. You stated you use the wood stove to reduce your oil heating costs. Then if heating with oil is too expensive, then why spend the money on another oil furnace? The heat pump with electric back up heat strips would work in your climate.

If you post your electric rate, the cost of a gallon of oil, and the efficiency of the furnace you plan to buy, a cost comparison between the oil furnace and heat pump can be done. Once you see the numbers, you may want to rethink the plan.

I only received a quote for the heat pump because some homeowners have them in our area. I don't think our oil consumption is too bad, we might use 500-600 gallons from October-April. Our home was built in 1960, the furnace was installed in 89, likely by the original Jack of all trades homeowner. Our system is still functioning and we don't think we NEED to replace it at the moment, but we have the ability to do so and I just assumed a newer system would be more efficient. We've had to replace the evaporator coil multiple times in the outdoor unit but we haven't had any major issues with the furnace.

If I assume a fuel oil cost of $3.00 per gallon, your annual cost is $1500 - $1800. That is a lot of money to heat a 1800 sq. foot house considering you are also using a wood stove.

Oil furnaces are built to last so even though 32 years seems old, it may be fine if the the burner has received annual maintenance. If you are going to keep the current oil furnace, then I recommend you investigate a dual fuel system. This would be combing the heat pump with the oil furnace as the back up. Most of the time you would be heating with the heat pump, but on the coldest days of the year, the oil furnace would run. It should be less money than installing a new oil furnace and AC, and will cost less to operate each year.

Given that the house was built in the 60's it probably isn't a bad idea to replace refrigerant lines. Cost of copper currently is a bit pricey at over $4 a pound currently.

Especially replace refrigerant lines if you go with dual fuel option and install a heat pump / oil furnace combo. This assures that refrigerant is proper, which if not proper can cause a myriad number of *potential* problems.

In some cases due to cost or inability to route refrigerant lines you may be stuck. In the event someone else reads this later. It's not always possible or extemely difficult + costly to replace refrigerant lines.

Because you've had contractors quote you this option... there's likely a good reason they've done so.

This is *why* it's important to break down bids at to what is being done. The whole scope of the job, not just the equipment.

It sounds like your climate would make good use of a heat pump to reduce the use of that oil furnace. If you get any serious amount of snow / ice this can influence how much or how little heat the heat pump makes.

Better heat pump performance can be achieved with an Inverter heat pump. These are pricier options, but you may completely eliminate the use of the oil furnace except for the occasional bone chilling winter. The other advantage in Inverters is better dehumidification in the summer during AC season.

I service the Katy, Texas area.