Thanks for various responses. Here is some additional
info.
I am strapped for $. Out of work for years.
The little house is well-insulated and relatively air-tight.
It is only 1-floor (800 sq. ft.). Full basement is neither
heated nor cooled.
I am in St. Louis, MO. and use AC very little. Never run it
in the day. Use my whole-house fan whenever possible. Run
AC mostly in the evening in Jul./Aug. when the outside temp
is over 90 degrees.
Nat. gas bill in coldest months (Dec., Jan.) averaged about
$75 last season. It was near to being an average winter.
Personal priorities for HVAC system are:
1.) reliability/repairability
2.) efficiency relative to cost
3.) cost
There is an obvious trade-off between up-front
cost and fuel/power costs over the years. I'm
still trying to sort it out ...
Super-efficient/expensive furnaces are more complex,
potentially less reliable/repairable? New AC's
using R-410A are a less-than-proven technology in
practical terms?
I have done OK with a single-stage furnace for 20+ years.
What is the advantage of a 2-stage? The claimed furnace
efficiency on the 2 bids are equal (80%).
My 21-year-old Carrier mid-price AC has had a small
leak for about 18 years. Is there any way to avoid such
insanities when specifying/purchasing a new system?
Re energy costs: the whole industry (whole world?) is quick
becoming "One Big Enron"? Or is that just what they want us to
believe? Elec. costs are expected to go straight to hell:
nat. gas costs soon to follow?
My personal impression of the HVAC industry is that it is,
to a material extent, "Out-Of-Control". They keep adding
expensive bells-and- whistles which may or may-not be cost-
effective depending on usage and other considerations. It's
difficult for me to take what they (DOE, HVAC industry
folks) say at "face value". Potential boondoggles for
the consumer are inherent?
As I've taken only 1 bid to date, I'm curious as to how
the contract prices might compare to similar equipment.
Thanks,
Puddin'
On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 02:00:57 GMT, Puddin' Man <Pudding.Man@Gmail.Com>
wrote:
Quote:
Re: Two Residential HVAC bids: Request for commentsGreetings,I belong to a little brick bungalow in the midwest, built in'54, poured-concrete foundation. Existing Furnace/AC is 21years-old, will soon roll over and die.I have two bids for new Carrier equipment: 1.) lo-end - 10 SEER AC, single-stage furnace. 2.) mid-level - 13 SEER AC, 2-stage furnace) stuff.Would appreciate any/all comments on -anything- having todo with the equipment, its cost, terms, etc.Here's the guts of the lo-end bid:PROPOSAL INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING CARRIER EQUIPMENT: 38CKC024-3 (2 TON) -10 SEER Condensing unit 58ST A070-12 (70K BTU) - 80% Gas Furnace CK5AXA024014 - Carrier Cased Evaporator CoilDUCTWORK: New Plenum Mod. Present DropCONTROLS & ELECTRICAL: Connect to Existing Electric for Condensing Unit Connect to Existing Electric for FurnacePIPING: New Copper Line Set - Length: 50' Safety Gas Shut-Off Valve at Furnace Connect to Existing Gas Line New Plastic Condensation Drain Pipe to SewerMISCELLANEOUS: Clean up and Haul A way All Debris oSTANDARD WARRANTIES: EXTENDED WARRANTIES: Compressor: 5yrs Parts l.yr Labor Condensing Unit: 5yrs ALL Parts lyr ALL Labor Heat Exchanger: 2yrs Parts l.yr Labor Furnace: 5yrs ALL Parts lyr ALL LaborWe hereby propose to furnish labor and materials, completein accordance with the above specifications and details forthe sum of:$3.334.00PAYMENT TERMS: 1/3 DUE UPON ACCEPTANCE. BALANCE DUE UPONCOMPLETIONDate: 10-27-05 Date: _ THIS PROPOSAL IS VALID FOR 30 DAYSFROM OFFER DATE (REBATE VALIDITY MAY VARY)---------------------------------------------------------------------Here's the guts of the mid-level bid:PROPOSAL INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING CARRIER EQUIPMENT: 38TXA024-3 (2 TON) - 13 SEER Condensing unit - PURON 58CTA070-12 (70K BTU) - 80% 2 Stage Gas Furnace CK5AXA024014 - Carrier Cased Evaporator CoilDUCTWORK, CONTROLS & ELECTRICAL, PIPING, MISCELLANEOUS same as lo-end bid)STANDARD WARRANTIES: EXTENDED WARRANTIES: Compressor: 10yrs Parts 5yrs Labor Condensing Unit: 5yrs ALL Parts lyr ALL Labor Heat Exchanger: 20yrs Parts lyr Labor Furnace: 5yrs ALL Parts lyr ALL LaborWe hereby propose to furnish labor and materials, completein accordance with the above specifications and details forthe sum of:$4.684.00Less: $300 Carrier Rebate: Validitv of rebate reauiresacceptance of this contract bv November 11.2005.installation ofsvstems bv November 25. 2005. and thatcustomer submits rebate claim to Carrier bv December 9.2005.(Other details same as lo-end bid)--------------------------------------------------------------------- Much Thanks, Puddin'
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Two Residential HVAC bids: Request for comments
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