Good afternoon. I am in the process of going through some quotes to replace our 22 year old system.

Our house is a little over 2700 sq ft, single story. We are in central OK.

This past year was just nuts, weather-wise. We had 61 days over 100F in the summer, and got down to -19F for a day or two in the winter. Needless to say, there are some extremes.

The current NG furnace and AC units are both 5 tons.

Current rates:

Electricity - $12.48 Service fee, $0.0806/kWh

Natural Gas - $12.22 service fee, $3.7323/Dth

I initially considered a geothermal heat pump because of some outrageous rebates available right now. There's a city one that is $1800/ton (not a typo). Pair that with the 30% fed tax incentive, and that's a pretty significant chunk of change. But our lot is not great for this. We're on a corner lot. Current condensing unit is on east side of house. Furnace is on west side of house in the garage. There's a street on north and west sides of lot. The front yard, closest to current condenser, is littered with natural gas, cable, and electrical lines, so it's not a good place to put wells. There is plenty of space for wells on west side of house, but I don't want a condensing unit on that side of house, and our furnace closet isn't big enough for a package unit.

So, that leaves me with conventional and air-source solutions. Here are the quotes I am considering. I'd like to see what you think about them.

Contractor 1:

Quote #1

Carrier Greenspeed Heat Pump (18.1 SEER/12.5 EER/12 HSPF), Infinity 80% AFUE furnace, Coil, Infinity Communicating TSTAT, legs for outdoor heat pump, increasing return airflow, miscellaneous materials, 10 year parts and labor warranty and 1 year maintenance plan. The cost to do this scope of work will be $16,067.00 - $500.00 comfort cash, - $1,200.00 Carrier Cool Cash, total paid to Inc will be $14,367.00. City rebate is $1250.00 and IRS credits are $350.00 total after all rebates and credits is $12767.00.

Quote #2

Carrier Performance Series Condenser (24APA760A003 with a 16.5 SEER/13.2 EER), Infinity 80% AFUE furnace, Coil, Infinity Comm. TSTAT, outdoor pad for condenser, increasing return airflow, miscellaneous materials, 10 year part and labor warranty and 1 year maintenance plan. The cost to do this scope of work will be $13,71.00 - $500.00 Comfort Cash and $1,000.00 Carrier Cool Cash, total paid to Inc. will be $11,571.00. City rebate is $500.00 and IRS credits are $350.00 total after all rebates and credits is 10,721.00.

Contractor #2

The other two had increasing return airflow in the cost. This contractor forgot to add it to the quote he gave me, but will at a later time. Said it would be ~$800.

Quote #1

90 plus furnace 21 seer condenser

Carrier upto 96.6 eff furnace model# 58MVC100-F-1-20

Carrier 5 ton coil model# CNPVT6024ATA

Carrier 5 ton upto 21SEER model# 24ANB160A003

Carrier thermostat model# SYSTXCCUID01

Replace furnace vent

Price includes sales tax and city inspection

System qualifies for $1000 cool choices rebate from Carrier

$12,585

Quote #2

90 plus furnace 12 seer condenser

Carrier up to 96.6 eff furnace model# 58MVC100-F-1-20

Carrier 5 ton coil model# CNPVT6024ATA

Carrier 5 ton upto 17SEER model# 24APA760A003

Carrier thermostat model# SYSTXCCUID01

Replace furnace vent

Price includes sales tax and city inspection

System qualifies for $1000 cool choices rebate from Carrier

$11,530

Quote #3

80 plus furnace 19 seer heat pump

Carrier 80 eff variable speed furnace model# 58CVA110-F-1-20

Carrier 5 ton coil model# CNPVT6024ATA

Carrier 5 ton upto 19SEER heat pump model# 25HNA960A003

Carrier thermostat model# SYSTXCCUID01

Price includes sales tax and city inspection

System qualifies for $1100 cool choices rebate from Carrier

$11,438

Quote #4

80 plus furnace 16SEER heat pump

Carrier 80 eff variable speed furnace model# 58CVA110-F-1-20

Carrier 5 ton coil model# CNPVT6024ATA

Carrier 5 ton upto 19SEER heat pump model# 25HNA660A003

Carrier thermostat model# SYSTXCCUID01

Price includes sales tax and city inspection

System qualifies for $1100 cool choices rebate from Carrier

$10,554

Contractor #3

Quote #1

1-XC21-060……Lennox 15.5 SEER 2 stage condensing unit.

1-SLP98DF110..Lennox 98% furnace with modulating heat and variable blower.

1-CR33-50/60….Lennox 5 ton down flow evaporator.

1-I-Comfort Lennox thermostat.

Job Scope

Replace existing 5 ton system. Includes gas piping, condensate drain, flue piping, control

wiring, electrical, precast condenser pad, new copper lines with line hide, new R8 flexible

duct returns, adding (1) one return register to bedroom, sheet metal plenum and coil

base, and filter rack for new furnace. Also includes necessary permit.

TOTAL INSTALLED PRICE ………………………….. $14,725.00

Note: The above system qualifies for a $200.00 federal tax credit, a $550.00 ONG rebate while funds last, and

a $1,200.00 mail in rebate from Lennox. (Lennox rebate good thru 12/2/11)

Warranty: 2-years labor, 10-year parts, and lifetime heat exchanger.

Quote #2

1-XC16-060………Lennox 15.2 SEER 2 stage condensing unit.

1-G61MPV-60D…Lennox 95% furnace with 2 stage heat and variable blower.

1-CR33-50/60…….Lennox 5 ton down flow evaporator.

1-I-Comfort Lennox thermostat.

Job Scope

Replace existing 5 ton system. Includes gas piping, condensate drain, flue piping, control

wiring, electrical, precast condenser pad, new copper lines with line hide, new R8 flexible

duct returns, adding (1) one return register to bedroom, sheet metal plenum and coil

base, and filter rack for new furnace. Also includes necessary permit.

TOTAL INSTALLED PRICE ………………………….. $12,675.00

Note: The above system qualifies for a $200.00 federal tax credit, a $150.00 ONG rebate while funds last, and

a $500.00 mail in rebate from Lennox. (Lennox rebate good thru 12/2/11)

Warranty: 1-year labor, 10-year parts, and lifetime heat exchanger.

Quote #3

1-XP16-060………Lennox 15.2 SEER 2 stage heat pump.

1-SPP98DF110..…Lennox 98% furnace with modulating heat and variable blower.

1-CR33-50/60…….Lennox 5 ton down flow evaporator.

1-I-Comfort Lennox thermostat.

Job Scope

Replace existing 5 ton system. Includes gas piping, condensate drain, flue piping,

control wiring, electrical, precast condenser pad, new copper lines with line hide, new

R8 flexible duct returns, adding (1) one return register to bedroom, duel fuel heat pump

controls, sheet metal plenum and coil base, and filter rack for new furnace. Also includes

necessary permit.

TOTAL INSTALLED PRICE ………………………….. $14,600.00

Note: The above system qualifies for a $200.00 federal tax credit, a $1,950.00 ONG rebate while funds last, a city rebate for 1,250.00 and a $500.00 mail in rebate from Lennox. (Lennox rebate good thru 12/2/11)

Warranty: 1-year labor, 10-year parts, and lifetime heat exchanger.

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What do you think? I originally was going for a fairly efficient furnace/condensing unit system. However, all three contractors added the heat pump quotes for me to consider, and I am now interested. In what climates/situations are air source heat pumps better than a conventional AC/natural gas furnace setup?

Now there is some question as to the eligibility of some rebates. There is a possible rebate from the natural gas company for a backup natural gas furnace for an air source heat pump. Their exact wording is:

" $1,950 Rebate - Natural Gas Back-Up Furnace to Supplement Air Source Heat Pump*

* May not displace existing air source heat pump or replace existing natural gas back-up furnace."

As I read it, I would be eligible for it. I do have an existing natural gas furnace, but it is my primary heater. I have called and emailed them to get clarification, but they keep pointing me back to the webpage, and won't give me a clear answer. Then one of the contractors says "you're not eligible", one says "I don't know", and the other says "you are". Anyway, that $1950 is pretty hefty.