So one of my heat pumps died, as detailed in another thread. So we're replacing it. The old system was 18 years old, so anything I buy should be quite a bit better. Now I've got to decide between the quotes I've gotten. Basically, 3 ton system and we're relocating the unit from it's current position outside (next to the damn deck) to another location that's both less annoying when we're relaxing outside and away from all our leaf dropping trees. 10 year warranties on them all as well.

Here's what I've gotten so far for the outside unit (they're replacing the indoor unit as well). I've got other quotes too, but they were for the same systems but way higher priced than these for the same work (I feel there's a big disparity between prices due to the locations of some companies. Northern VA prices vs local):

Trane XR13: $5325

Trane XL18i: $7680

Lennox XP16: $8565 (this one I may be able to get down a bit more. They do an "apples to apples" matching thing or something).

Both companies appear to have good local reputations, and the Trane guys were recommended by a good friend in the home remodeling business.

Of course, I know fuck all about HVAC so I'm not really equipped to make sound decisions.

Thanks for any advice. I'm also leaning away from the XR13 since I've read that variable speed or whatever fans can help in the removal of humidity. We were running really high humidity wise at the end of last summer and I couldn't find any wet spots or anything in the basement so I just think the old pump was doing a shitty job since it was dying (it wasn't doing the best job of cooling the house either at the time).

ETA2: No fancy filters or any attachments either. And the interior install is in a HVAC room in our walkout finished basement. Nothing weird or anything.

With your 10 year warranty-parts availability is important.  Ask your contractor if there is a Lennox parts distributor nearby.  The Trane has a greater chance of having your part when you need it. Both manufacturers make good product.  Sounds like you've already made your mind up on the XL18i.

It's between the XL and the XP, really. The price difference should be pretty low and I'd pay a tiny bit more If the Lennox is worth it.

The XR is on the list in case somebody who knows this stuff says I don't need the fancy stuff.

Trane for the win.  Lennox makes good equipment, but support from corporate and parts can be a challenge.

I forget the labor. 1 or 2 years.  (On train, docs are at home)

Actually, out of the four guys in and two on the phone nobody mentioned manual J. And i forgot all about it.

+1
Good stuff ZW

The contractor closest to me on there I had a service contract with and refused to come out when the downstairs heat pump was dead (nor provided any useful advice as another contractor did) despite the freezing temps that night, amongst a few other issues (like tried to sell me [a first time homeowner] a brand new expensive system on the first service call we had on the system without mentioning any of the details you guys have in the HVAC thread or here, missed issues, etc..)

I'll call the top pick so far and ask him to do the survey.

Current best contractor said, basically, "Oh, I'm sure it should be 3 ton. I guess you've been reading stuff on the internet."



Found another company that actually uses the words "Manual J" on their website and will be getting a quote from them tonight. Interestingly, our county has a manual J form on their website and a guy at one of the HVAC companies who lives in my town (dunno what company) noted that more counties in our area are requiring them. So I wonder what the regulations are there.

Thanks a bunch. IM sent.

I tried the loadcalc thing and got confused.

7 years HVAC experience here.

I would not touch Lennox.

Trans 18i is very, very nice but if you get it, you might as well get the 10 year warranty. Not all techs are trained up on all it's fancyness and it will cost you otherwise.

If it was my house I would go with the XR13. They are simple, reliable, and most importantly, easy to work on. This is the one I would buy.

Also, if you get the XR13, do not get a variable speed air handler. If you get the 18i this is not an option, since it is a fully communicating system with the variable speed.

contractor here, get the 18i, make sure you get the spring promo rebate included in that price.

Yeah, I'm going to have to update our stuff for the new promotion

Also, the newest guy was talking about the new XV18 and 20, and then offered us the XL18i for a lot less than anybody else did. Did the rollout of the XV18 drop the prices on other models? (ETA: Or maybe that's with the new $1,150 spring promotion).

Annoyingly, the guy who's currently the "lowest price" started talking about federal and state tax credits and said, "Everybody says they don't want Socialism but they never turn down them tax credits. Hahaha." in a rather pro-socialism way. Yeah. Can't find reviews on how good their installs are anyway.

ZW17, I owe you some numbers. I'll get that to you today. Wife was down with the flu yesterday.

One of the HVAC guys delivered a quote for Rheem equipment which was really below everybody else in the $4ks. Research indicates this is their "value series" which sounds a lot like "builders grade". Which I don't want.

ZW17 is a really cool guy, FYI

Resolution: New 3 ton Trane XL18i system installed, with a new outside unit location. And the guys installed a water safety valve on my attic unit for free. Compared to my old inside unit this one much sleeker than the old one and has neat flashing lights that mean something or other.

Only minus is that the installers couldn't get my Nest to work. Had to send a picture to Nest for a compatibility check. The guys said it kept on kicking the A/C on when they called for heat with the Nest, so I dunno. They did say they've only installed one Nest before.

Now I must cut the grass and reinstall my drop ceiling where they worked.

And thanks again to ZW17 for the J help.

Figured it would be fun to update this.

So, for the monthly billing cycle from mid March to 4/21, half of which was spent with a dead downstairs system: 1689 kWh

4/22-5/19? 952 kWh. And I've been keeping the house at 68-70 and occasionally running the system longer to pull out humidity on a few days where it didn't get hot outside but was humid as fuck.

Like