Okay, now have three proposals to replace current, 28 yo, 80,000BTU Amana (LP) furnace. Trying hard to compare apples to apples, but it is not easy. Here's the summary:
1) All contractors sized furnace based upon their, "years of experience," and sq ft of home (1150).
2) Home is 37 yo, 1.5 story "cabin," located on wooded lot (pine trees)
3) All contractors propose to increase return drop; two propose to increase size of return registers
4) One claims that for home in heavily wooded area like ours that it is vital to install Aprilaire air cleaner to prevent system from being gunked with pine pollen
5) Bryant contractor claims that name brand DOES make a difference in life expectancy of unit
Proposal A: 40,000 BTU, single stage Guardian, 95% efficiency rating
Proposal B: 70,000/35,000 BTU, two stage, Goodman (GMH), 95% efficiency
Proposal C: 80,000 BTU, three stage, Bryant Evolution (355), 95% efficiency
So here are my questions:
1) Is name brand really worth the extra $1,000 in cost?
2) Is a 3-stage really that much more necessary than a 2-stage?)
3) What type of air filter is the most efficient yet practical to have?
4) I'd really appreciate hearing opinions relative to the three brands being proposed.
Any and all opinions / thoughts will be appreciated. This is quite the steep learning curve for us! Thanks!!
ps... had to laugh when one contractor was trying to tell me how much better the life span of the Bryant would be, about 20 years in total, and I couldn't help but reply that perhaps then I should be looking at another Amana since the one I'm replacing is 28 years old and still working! :laughing:
1) All contractors sized furnace based upon their, "years of experience," and sq ft of home (1150).
2) Home is 37 yo, 1.5 story "cabin," located on wooded lot (pine trees)
3) All contractors propose to increase return drop; two propose to increase size of return registers
4) One claims that for home in heavily wooded area like ours that it is vital to install Aprilaire air cleaner to prevent system from being gunked with pine pollen
5) Bryant contractor claims that name brand DOES make a difference in life expectancy of unit
Proposal A: 40,000 BTU, single stage Guardian, 95% efficiency rating
Proposal B: 70,000/35,000 BTU, two stage, Goodman (GMH), 95% efficiency
Proposal C: 80,000 BTU, three stage, Bryant Evolution (355), 95% efficiency
So here are my questions:
1) Is name brand really worth the extra $1,000 in cost?
2) Is a 3-stage really that much more necessary than a 2-stage?)
3) What type of air filter is the most efficient yet practical to have?
4) I'd really appreciate hearing opinions relative to the three brands being proposed.
Any and all opinions / thoughts will be appreciated. This is quite the steep learning curve for us! Thanks!!
ps... had to laugh when one contractor was trying to tell me how much better the life span of the Bryant would be, about 20 years in total, and I couldn't help but reply that perhaps then I should be looking at another Amana since the one I'm replacing is 28 years old and still working! :laughing: