AC, Heat Pump, and Furnace options

[bofa]

I'm looking at new construction and trying to figure out these options... A/C was already an option we agreed to (which is baffling for someone from the south :lol: ). That is a Carrier 16 seer and will be sized based on the square footage from what I'm told. I don't have the gas furnace specs.

Here are the upgrade options and rough pricing:
$1800 Upgrade the A/C to Hybrid Heat Pump
$1300 Upgrade the furnace to 93% AFUE Infinity ICS
$2500 Upgrade the furnace to 95% AFUE Infinity ICS

I get the general gist of why having access to electric heat and switching can be beneficial. I get the efficiency upgrades on a basic level. However I'm not sure I need these or if I should even bother. It would be helpful to hear from a colder climate perspective too as this is somewhat new to me.

 

[fourwd1]

There's a butt load of HVAC forums out there that could give you more and better responses than a Toyota 4Runner forum. Google can be your friend.

 

[bofa]

I agree... But I'm usually impressed at the knowledge found in our off topic section as well. I'll go digging if no one here chimes in.

 

[Kung]

From a purely climate point of view, heat pumps work by using a small amount of energy to move heat from one area to another. Heat pumps and A/C units work fairly similarly; heat pumps simply have the ability to reverse themselves to provide both heating and cooling.

However, if you live in an area with extreme sub-freezing temperatures, you're not going to realize much in the way of cost savings, as at the lower temperatures, the amount of energy expended to move the heat from one place to another would actually be more than the amount of energy expended to, say, utilize an electric heater. (Which is why most heat pumps come with an auxiliary heating coil for when it gets seriously cold.)

In short - in Colorado, I'd think you'd be OK with checking into heat pumps so LONG as you had an alternate means of heating for when it gets seriously cold and stays there (e.g., wood, gas, etc.)

 

[jimmied]

Well, I am a teacher now but still do hvac consultating and design on the side for the old company as they are close friends and I am good at what I do.

We are also a Carrier Factory blah blah and deal almost exclusively with Carrier. Why don't you shoot me a pm and phone number and I can give you a call this week(end) to give you some feedback so you might know which way to go in all of this.

I can get you squared away with the good choice for your situation.

 

[LandCruiser]

We have a heat pump for AC and gas furnace for heating. Most houses around the CS area had gas furnaces, and the guy who owns our rental said that when it gets cold and STAYS cold (not always common in CO) the heat pump stops being very cost efficient and effective. Even in Florida we had a gas furnace. I think a natural gas furnace is more reliable--just make sure that you have CO detectors around the house.

 

[bofa]

See, that's what I'm talking about - thanks for the replies guys!

I'm fairly used to heat pumps - that's what we had in FL, but I know they can't keep up for long in sub-freezing temps. In FL that wasn't a problem. In CO, I have a feeling the utility drops quite a bit in the winter months. After doing a bunch of reading I decided to skip the hybrid system and go with the 95% AFUE Infinity ICS system due to it's efficiency, more usability in this area, and the ability to manage zones.

Then, of course, after all that, we may end up going with a different house or just holding off altogether. The housing market and mortgage prospects seems to be headed in a not so good direction, especially for new construction starting now. :violin:

 

[jimmied]

I probably would of recommended a hybrid system with a (2spd maybe) heat pump matched to a standard 96% standard furnace as back up for the coldest days. This would be your best bang for the dollar in terms of efficiencies.

The variable blower on the modulating furnaces is great as well but it costs a lot more. Comfort wise it cannot be beat but you really aren't going to see a huge savings going from a single 96% to a 98% modulating. Especially when combined with a heat pump system.

The two speed compressor on the heat pump will allow for some extra dehumidification control on those days when humidity creeps up in the house in the summer months. Sometimes just less humidity can make a house that much more comfortable without cooling too much. I would just need more info on area to see if would be worth the costs based on weather there. Colorado has too many different climates.

 

[bofa]

I probably would of recommended a hybrid system with a (2spd maybe) heat pump matched to a standard 96% standard furnace as back up for the coldest days. This would be your best bang for the dollar in terms of efficiencies.

The variable blower on the modulating furnaces is great as well but it costs a lot more. Comfort wise it cannot be beat but you really aren't going to see a huge savings going from a single 96% to a 98% modulating. Especially when combined with a heat pump system.

The two speed compressor on the heat pump will allow for some extra dehumidification control on those days when humidity creeps up in the house in the summer months. Sometimes just less humidity can make a house that much more comfortable without cooling too much. I would just need more info on area to see if would be worth the costs based on weather there. Colorado has too many different climates.

I'm back at looking at these types of options again. The standard is a 91% AFUE furnace and the upgrade is a 95% 2-stage. Any ideas on the cost difference between these two? The option is $3200. I believe they are both Carrier models but I don't have the model numbers this time.

 

[Nervo19]

I live in VA so I think our winters are milder and our summers are more brutal. I have no real knowledge but if it were me I'd get the highest efficiency stuff if you're going to be in the home more than five years. If you're staying a shorter period get the second best. The difference in price probably won't be worth the pay back period. The next buyers of your home probably won't care. It's all about kitchens and baths. I really wanted to suggest a site that seems to have some "experts" that can help you:

HVAC - DIY Chatroom - DIY Home Improvement Forum

 

[jimmied]

I'm back at looking at these types of options again. The standard is a 91% AFUE furnace and the upgrade is a 95% 2-stage. Any ideas on the cost difference between these two? The option is $3200. I believe they are both Carrier models but I don't have the model numbers this time.

Just got your pm tonight on way to bed. If carrier, there is a single stage Performance 95% energy star qualified, a 95% 2 stage Performance, and then we normally go to the Infinity 96-98% modulating furnace with ECM blower. There is NOT a price difference from my selling point from the single stage Performance to the best Infinity that comes close to $3200 (and we are not in anyway the cheapest company around) I cannot even come close to that price difference with the base 91/91% model (Don't sell because we just use the 95% energy star model for a couple hundred more and call it a day). I left you my number and some idea of communication for tomorrow.

 

[bofa]

Just got your pm tonight on way to bed. If carrier, there is a single stage Performance 95% energy star qualified, a 95% 2 stage Performance, and then we normally go to the Infinity 96-98% modulating furnace with ECM blower. There is NOT a price difference from my selling point from the single stage Performance to the best Infinity that comes close to $3200 (and we are not in anyway the cheapest company around) I cannot even come close to that price difference with the base 91/91% model (Don't sell because we just use the 95% energy star model for a couple hundred more and call it a day). I left you my number and some idea of communication for tomorrow.

Thanks man, that's kind of what I figured. I was able to find some pricing on other brands since I couldn't find that 91% AFUE Carrier either and even those brands, at most were just a few hundred dollars difference. The 95% is the 2 stage model and that's the only upgrade offered. It includes a programmable thermostat but I know those aren't expensive and I plan to swap it with a Nest anyway. I'll see if I can work some negotiating magic today.

Thanks again!