Help needed to make a choice on HVAC for my home

[kiropod]

We have a 22 year old two story house in Southern NJ (near Philadelphia) that has two zone gas heating and AC. We are considering updating our system, having received quotes from 2 different HVAC companies. There is a large difference in their quotes, but they are different systems. The following are the two products/packages:

1. Carrier 58MVC080-14 95% Mod/ Var speed furnace 74,000 btu
Carrier 24APA736 16 seer- 2 stage ac 36,000 btu with carrier cnqvp coil
2 carrier bypass humidifiers 17 gallon HUMCCLBP2417
Carrier EAC 1400 EACBAXCC0014 electric air cleaners
Navien instantaneous water heater model cr 240
carrier infinity controller

2. RHEEM 95% 2 stage furnace with DCM model RGRM-06 60,000 BTU
RHEEM 14.5 seer AC, model RAPM-030JAZ 2.5 tons
RHEEM evaporator coil, model RCFLHM3617
Honeywell pro 6000 thermostat
Honeywell humidifier Mode HE100
Honeywell electronic air cleaner, model F300
Navien tankless water heater CR-210

The carrier is a variable speed, 3 stage furnace with onboard diagnostics and adaptive logic technology. Is this overkill as it is much more expensive?

Thanks for your help

[rmw]

The first quote seems to be maybee a little over built. One important peice of information would be what is ytour current heater and ac out put in BTU to compair with what they are proposeing.

I have a question on the water heater they speced same brand but to differnt sizes the 210 8.9 GPM and the 240 11.1 How many sinks showers appliances would you have running at once is the question on GPM if 8.9 is sufficent than the 11.1 GPM of the 240 would tell me they are over building the system.

[kiropod]

help with HVAC

I've been doing a great deal of research since posting this thread. I've decided that putting in a tankless water heater may not be the best thing for me. In addition, the carrier system, while it is 3 stage variable speed, the extra $$ will be hard to recoup. The Rheem is a terrific system and will be significantly more efficient than my current antiquated system.

[brettyg]

Go with the rheem. Easier to repair and cheaper as well. Quality just as good

[kiropod]

Help needed

Why would the Rheem be easier to repair than Carrier? I've been looking at the Rheem modulating instead of the 2 stage.

[brettyg]

Carrier is always a pain in the butt to repair. The controls are alwars a problem and you end up talking to carrier technical support for an hour. I always have preferred rheem to carrier. Also, carrier parts are really only sold by carrier and are normally very expensive.

Hope this helps,
Chicago Heating And Air Conditioning Repair Service

[brettyg]

Also the carrier infinity control is like 600 bucks just for the control thermostat or what they call it a thermidistat.

[kiropod]

help needed

I have heard good things about both company products, but to date, no one has disparaged Carrier'rs products. I had a manual J performed last week by a company that installs both Carrier and Goodman and am awaiting their proposal. They were very positive about Goodman, but I am a little leary as I've read a lot of criticism's of their product. To date. the Rheem is a very competitive product. Any experience with Vertex residential water heaters? I am considering either the GDHE-50 water heater or a Navien Instantaneous water heater.

[paul52446m]

I have heard good things about both company products, but to date, no one has disparaged Carrier'rs products. I had a manual J performed last week by a company that installs both Carrier and Goodman and am awaiting their proposal. They were very positive about Goodman, but I am a little leary as I've read a lot of criticism's of their product. To date. the Rheem is a very competitive product. Any experience with Vertex residential water heaters? I am considering either the GDHE-50 water heater or a Navien Instantaneous water heater.

Both Carrier and Goodman are good brands. The best equipment is bad if its not installed right and engineered right. So spend some time checking out your contractors. worst thing that can happen, is spending all that money just to find out it wont work right. Most equipment today has life on heat exchanger and 10 yr. on parts. I sell Goodman because there is a wholesaler right here in town. I have had good luck with them. But over the yrs i have sold a lot of different furnaces. 20 years yrs ago i would tell you that they were all junk. but not that way now. Paul

[kiropod]

Help needed

Thanks Paul.

[Tim Lareny]

I also have been researching some new HVAC, more specifically the rheem models. Our unit will probably leave us this summer/fall, its on its last leg.