Jt Some questions please. What is your location? What size home living area? What size furnace and eff are you replacing? What size AC are you replacing? I would like to know the exact mdl number evap coil for each quote. What thermostat is proposed for the Carrier quote? That is a big difference between the 96% eff Carrier furnace and the 80% eff Trane furnace-both 60 K input. That would be about 56 KBTUs output on the Carrier and about 48 KBTUs on the Trane. Not insignificant. I don't care for some shortcuts that homeowners make particularly on reusing linesets and using existing thermostats that shortchange a nice furnace's operational capability. Post back with the info requested. IMO

I have a half-ton window unit that with large floor type fan cools 1200-sf per/ton in 100ðF weather. On July 18, 2011, as reported on WI Public Radio; very near me, Prairie du Chien, WI had a Heat Index of 127ðF, yes, 127ðF Heat Index! All shades pulled, etc., my little Half-Ton first floor A/C cooled all rooms to 76ðF or 77ðF & and rarely above 55% relative humidity; with good air movement, -- totally comfortable all day. The same for the up-stair's less than Half-Ton window A/C, cools my bedroom, hallway & bathroom; I use a Wind Machine 3300 to move the air throughout the rooms, both on first & 2nd floors. If everything is design-engineered perfectly it is possible that a 3-Ton A/C could cool a 3600-sf home. Here is a link that might be useful: Optimizing a Room A/C

Mike_Home - Thank you for the answers and advice. Here are some responses and follow-up questions. 1. SEER/EER - your answer is what I had been slowly understanding that these numbers are what drive the efficiency numbers. Rough calculations comparing my older 10 SEER unit to a 14 and 16 SEER unit plus using 1 year of energy bills, show a potential electricity improvement of $184/year for the 14 and $238.31 for the 16. Of course this is all dependent on a quality install as well as proper ducts, etc. as you've outlined in other points. 2. Payback will be uncertain as I was relocated for work. Not sure how long we'll be here and at this point, the energy savings per year is still important. 3. Understood. Before my research, I didn't realize that the furnace played such an important role in airflow. 4. My zoning explanation might have been poorly stated. The gist of what was mentioned, was that based on proper zoning, the more efficient airflow distribution within the home may allow for a 4 ton condenser. The condenser potentially wouldn't have to push air through all of the ducts at the same rate. Does that logic track with your experience? 5. Appreciate thermostat advice and handling all the features, etc. 6. The annual maintenance contract was from the contractor providing the detailed Goodman quotes. Participating in the yearly maintenance contract covers 100% of repair costs (Contractor backed, not OEM), includes a 10 year replacement warranty, and there are no dispatch or service fees for service calls. The replacement warranty is the full replacement of the failed unit rather than just repairing under the 10 year labor warranty with Goodman. If I don't do the yearly maintenance contract, there is no replacement warranty. Ever heard of this? The contractor (Goodman quotes) may have mentioned "calculations" at one point but I don't remember hearing about them doing a manual "J" load calc. As far as I can tell, Title 24 doesn't require the J calc. It does require a duct leak test performed by a certified 3rd party HERS testing company. This is required on ALL HVAC projects in CA. Rebates are only available as part of CA's Home Upgrade Program. This program has required testing and upgrades on items like ducts, whole home envelope, attic insulation, etc. I will go back to two of the contractors and ask them about performing the calculation. I am looking to replace the whole system at this point to make sure the equipment is compatible and most efficient. Goodman is making me increasingly nervous, especially with the Class Action lawsuit that was just set back last week based on a judge's ruling... As for the use of a different coil with the Goodman equipment, it seems to be very common with Goodman quotes (based on board postings like this). I think there is a relationship or commercial connection between Goodman and Aspen to drive the high use with Goodman systems. I don't know the true specs on the Ruud equipment, I was guessing a bit; I will ask for the models, etc. Thanks again!

If you're in the process of selling the home, it is not likely you will get any increase in the selling price of the home, except maybe for very high end systems with a multitude of bells and whistles --- even then you will only get what someone is willing to pay and this amount is likely to come no where close to what it cost you to purchase the new system. If the AC has problems reaching adequate temp drop across indoor coil this will probably get flagged via a home inspection. However, it's also very likely it may not get flagged. It depends greatly on the severity of the leak, if there truly is a leak. AC tune ups are often times methods used to get in your front door to sell you something, that typically you don't need. This is why you should have a reputable AC repair guy on speed dial. You will always need one regardless of whether the AC system is new or old. Because of the age of your system, it's possible it may have a leak. But it's also possible that this leak *may* not require but a recharge and a thorough examination in tightening various refrigerant connections. There are a lot of grey areas when it comes to refrigerant leaks. If you didn't pay for a Freon leak check, I would seriously question the validity of any such claim. Especially if you haven't noticed any cooling problems. Why wouldn't you accept a free Freon leak check? Because then the company doing it only has the incentive of finding a leak to sell you something. [That you likely don't need.] But free sounds so good. Temp drop should be 15-20 degrees. I prefer to see closer to 20 degrees. If a home buyer is more concerned about the mechanicals of the home a new system may help you sell the home faster in that situation. Air conditioning and Heating are typically viewed as a needed accessory by anyone looking to purchase a home. So while you don't typically get a higher value for the home for having a new system, the home price can be effected when part or parts of that system have problems and are requiring a repair. If the home is located in a more extreme cooling climate the amount of time it takes to sell the home could be impacted, but only if the cooling performance is noticed while viewing the property. Cooling performance can be effected by design of the system, just as much or more than Freon leak related issues. I service the Katy, Cypress & Richmond, Texas areas.