Need help on selecting Heat Pump

9 years ago

I have been benefiting from this forum for a long time by learning and browsing other people's questions and responses. But this is my first attempt to ask questions for myself. Here is the deal. I am in the market to shop for a new heat pump and air handler which I basically know nothing about. I got three quotes and some of them have multiple options. I now have no idea how to choose and I hope some of you may give me some tips.

The house is in the suburbs of Baltimore and it was built in 1967. The Heat Pump services approximately 1200 sqft. I did an energy audit and I was told the house is leaky. Air leakage rate is 13.07 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals and there is another number of 2700 CFM50. I do not know what to make of these numbers or how important they are.

The first quotes I got is 2.5T, Rheem 14SEER for $5200. The person did not give me the model number.

The second quotes have three options, but I will just list two as the third one is too expensive.
2.5T, Trane 13.25SEER for $5972, 4TWB3030 and TEM3A0B34
2.5T, Trane, 16SEER for $6400, 4TWx5030 and TAM7A0C36

The third quotes also have three options, but again I will just list two as the third one is too expensive.
3T, Rheem, 16SEER for $6768, RPRL037JEC and RHPLHM3821
3T, Carrier, 16SEER for $7792, 25HNB636 and FV4CNF005

Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Comments (4)

tigerdunes
9 years ago
What size are you replacing?

Get a price on this system, XR13, same available from sister company Am Standard.

5270058 Active Systems TRANE XR13 WEATHERTRON TRANE 4TWR3030C1 *AM7A0B30H21 965 31400 12.50 15.00 29000 9.00 16500 1 HRCU-A-CB 260 662 Yes

Excellent numbers. Add 10 KW heat strip, HW Mdl 8321 thermostat.

13 air changes/hr means terrible air infiltration. You need to see what can be done to tighten up your home.

IMO

This post was edited by tigerdunes on Mon, Jan 26, 15 at 13:02
energy_rater_la
9 years ago
did auditor show you where leaks in the house
and duct system are located?
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yaofuzhang
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi, Energy rater

Thanks. The auditor gave me a report describing a couple locations. I plan to install weather strip for all outside doors.
energy_rater_la
9 years ago
weatherstripping doors will do little to reduce
that amount of air infiltration.

"Air leakage rate is 13.07 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals and there is another number of 2700 CFM50. I do not know what to make of these numbers or how important they are.

would have been nice for them to explain
what the test results mean...
was this a utility company audit??

what was in the report dealing with leakage sites?
what is the total sq ft of house?

numbers are relative.
if your house is 1200 sq ft then a 2700 cfm @ 50 pa
is very leaky. if the house is 2400, then 2700 @ 50 isn't bad.

sizing the system to overcome the air leakage of
the house is a lesson in futility.
conditioning a leaky house is expensive, in both
upfront equipment costs & ongoing utility costs.
rather than weatherstripping the doors, you should
invest in a case of caulk & a bucket of mastic.

share your audit results please.
was company offering a price to address leakage
that you didn't purchase?
did they test the ducts for duct leakage?

best of luck.