We live in Maryland (USDA zone 6/7), hot and humid in summer. The house is 2 store, 2700 sf + 800 sf (unfinished basement), 22 years old. We do not have gas/oil, everything is electric. We are getting several quotes from the local contractors. So far, the best price we got is about $6000 for the

CARRIER HEAT PUMP PERFORMANCE SERIES 15 SEEER HPA042-48

CARRIER AIR HANDLER FX4CNF042-48

Warranty:

5 year parts/ 10 Compressor / 1 years labor.

I did not find these model #s in the Internet. It seems that the air handler is the Comfort line coil, right? So it is not a variable speed blower we want.

Sears gave us $8000+ for the Performance heat pump+coil+humidifier and $10000 for the Infinity. It is a little too steep for us....

Please help me to undestand the numbers in the model #. What else we should know and ask our contractors? What would be the best price/efficiency ratio model for us?
Any advice/info/help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Alina.

"CARRIER HEAT PUMP PERFORMANCE SERIES 15 SEEER HPA042-48" -- So, is it a 3.5-ton system or 4-ton system? Obviously this contractor doesn't know, since it should say 25HPA542 or 25HPA548. Sizing is very important, so it's imperative that he sizes the system right.

"CARRIER AIR HANDLER FX4CNF042-48" -- Same issue with unclear sizing. It should say 042 or 048, not both. The FX4C has a high-efficiency blower I believe, but it is definitely not variable-speed. You'll need the FV4B air handler (Performance) or FE4A air handler (Infinity).

Ask your contractor for a load calculation to determine sizing. I'm not a huge fan of Carrier (generally expensive repair parts, leaking coil issues [though maybe not for air handlers so much], etc.), so I would look for quotes on Trane and Lennox, but that's just me... You're looking at the right SEER units in my opinion. Careful with Sears; they usually sub out their work I believe--and I've heard bad things.

I personally prefer Carrier and Trane HPs over Lennox HPs due to better performance numbers depending on system model/configuration.

4 ton Performance 15 HP with Infinity Air Handler and Infinity controller
1483170 Active Systems PERFORMANCE 15 PURON HP CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING 25HPA548H30 FE4AN(B,F)005+UI 48000 13.00 15.00 48000 9.00 30000

4 ton Performance 15 with VS Performance Air Handler
1169079 Active Systems PERFORMANCE 15 PURON HP CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING 25HPA548H30 FV4BN(B,F)005 48000 13.00 15.00 48000 9.00 30000

excellent numbers

IMO

www.ahridirectory.com

Sorry for more questions...
I do not think we will go with Sears.

4 ton Performance 15 HP with Infinity Air Handler and Infinity controller

1483170 Active Systems PERFORMANCE 15 PURON HP CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING 25HPA548H30 FE4AN(B,F)005+UI 48000 13.00 15.00 48000 9.00 30000

translation

1483170 AHRI Matching Number
Performance 15 HP Model Name
Carrier Manufacturer
25HPA548H30 Model Number
FE4AN(B,F)005+UI Infinity Air Handler w/Infinity Control
48,000 number of cooling BTUs
13.00 EER Eff
15.00 SEER EFF
9.00 HSPF heating EFF
48,000 number of heating BTUs @ 47 deg
30,000 number of heating BTUs @ 17 deg

all excellent numbers

on your quote, it appears dealer is quoting both 3 1/2 ton and 4 ton

3 1/2 ton=42,000 BTUs
4 ton= 48,000 BTUs

hope that helps

TD

CARRIER HEAT PUMP PERFORMANCE SERIES 15 SEEER HPA042-48
CARRIER AIR HANDLER FX4CNF042-48

WILL PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO EXISTING ELECTRICAL AND DRAIN
WILL PROVIDE DUCT TRANSITION
OUTDOOR SLAB ELECTRICAL DISCONNECT AND ALL LABOR

Work to be Performed:

Remove and dispose existing heatpump. Install above listed equipment
All necessary sheet metal transitions from existing ductwork. Complete explanation of operation and maintenance.

Warranty:

5 year parts/ 10 Compressor / 1 years labor.

Do you think that they would charge us for other stuff (strap, etc.)? I understand that Performance or Infinity air handler would add to that price. Do you think that we should go with 3.5-ton equipment considering that we do not use basement and a couple of smaller bedrooms most of the time? Also, what do you think about copper vs. aluminum pipes in Carrier/Trane devices? We like top of the line products, but the price might be too high for the area. We should not "overimprove" the house. The remodeling we've done in our North Potomac townhome helped us to sell it in one week on the very soft market, but it was all about design/expensive materials. Nobody cared about top of the line AC and appliances we installed.

TD, thanks for the translation. That does help! I will print it and use with other contractors :)

I can't tell you what size to go with from here. A load calculation needs to be done to get the correct sizing (few companies will do one -- I know Hoffacker's can should you request). Usually, if the old size did the job well (humidity removal, cooling, heating, etc.), then it should be fine to replace. It's always a good idea to get a load calculation. Usually you would notice if the system was sized incorrectly. If it had good run times (no short cycles that cost more money and put wear and tear on the system), the that's a good sign.

Trane's aluminum spine fin coils outside seem to have been very reliable (especially on coastal environments), but you'll get mixed reviews on this. Carrier and Trane are both good products, so I don't think you can go wrong with either. I've just heard that Carrier's copper coils have leaking issues (though they created a tin-plated coil, which is supposed to be better -- NOT SURE if the air handlers use this coil). That's not to say a Trane coil can't leak. I would focus on finding a good contractor.

Good luck Alina, and please keep us updated! : )

$6000 sounds suspiciously low for Carrier Performance equipment, and he's not responding to calls, so I'd be a bit concerned myself. The ARS price sounds high, but they're a big company it seems. Try United Air Temp; they deal Amana, Goodman and American Standard products. I've had experience with them and so have some of my neighbors. One of my close neighbors is very pleased with them.

Alina, I'm more than happy to share my experience and bid information with you if you'd provide your email (in a spam-proof manner -- you-at-something.com).