[laedw]

I have an 826sf raised ranch home. Do I need a 2-stage furnace? One Lennox contractor told me I need a chimney liner for installation (though I do not currently have one with my one stage furnace). Another contractor told me I do not need one. Do I need a chimney liner for a new furnace installation? :confused1:

The Lennox contractor also suggested I get a R410A A/C unit along with the Lennox G61V 2-stage furnace. The other contractor sells Trane and offered me a 2-stage furnace and R22 A/C unit. The Lennox contractor is quoting $7190 for installation as opposed to the independent contractor who is offering $4700 for installation. My question is what is the best route to go? As stated above, this is my first time purchasing a HVAC and I am overwhelmed by the information I have been given by the contractors. Thanks.

 

[yuri]

Where do you live? You would need a smaller chimney liner if you have an existing gas water heater and furnace using a chimney. I sell LOTS of Lennox and know that furnace very well. R22 units will no longer be made in 2010 and R22 is being phased out. I would go with R410. Prices vary a lot depending on what units they are quoting you on. Not always possible to easily compare apples to oranges etc. The Trane guy may be quoting you a Chevy Malibu and the Lennox is a Buick so it is impossible for us to comment on prices. Both brands are good but it really comes down to the quality of the install and the company who installs the units. Cheap is not good and good is not cheap. Click on yuri in blue and I can give you more detailed info in a private message if you want.

Good Luck

 

[Plumber101]

While Yuri is correct the "Cheap is not good and good is not cheap." The guy with the $7200 is down right screwing you and yes it also comes down to where you live and cost of living but, it also comes down to overhead as well and pure greed.

I am an independent and I can install with the best of them and bid against them $2000-3000 less.

Get references for the guy at $4700

Also, most codes require chimneys to be lined for gas appliances and Yuri is also right in going with R-410a.

 

[yuri]

And yet my very well established co can easily sell units at more than $1000 over than the independants because of the service we provide. The best bet is to find out the history of the company, BBB, get references and go with who you are most comfortable with. Some larger companies have more service techs and that is very important in the middle of a -40 Canadian winter night. We can sell a G61V and A/C for $7200 easily. Depends on what quality level of Trane the other guy was quoting. Trane has high end expensive units also. In my area the R22 units are cheaper to buy and being sold for a lot less.

 

[kenmac]

not all large companies charge alot of $$. I bid against a large company last week for a 3 ton trane.. While I beat him on the quote.. It was only by $250.00 & I'am an independent contractor & don't consider my prices high... As others have said,,,,,,, chimney liner, & 410 system ,get other quotes

 

[laedw]

Where do you live? You would need a smaller chimney liner if you have an existing gas water heater and furnace using a chimney. I sell LOTS of Lennox and know that furnace very well. R22 units will no longer be made in 2010 and R22 is being phased out. I would go with R410. Prices vary a lot depending on what units they are quoting you on. Not always possible to easily compare apples to oranges etc. The Trane guy may be quoting you a Chevy Malibu and the Lennox is a Buick so it is impossible for us to comment on prices. Both brands are good but it really comes down to the quality of the install and the company who installs the units. Cheap is not good and good is not cheap. Click on yuri in blue and I can give you more detailed info in a private message if you want.

Good Luck

I live in Chicago, IL. I have a gas water heater and my furnace uses a chimney. I will go with the R410 A/C but question if I really need a 2-stage gas furnace. I trust the guy that is offering me the Trane furnace. The Lennox contractor was referred by a friend.

 

[Plumber101]

2 stage furnaces are really quite nice because on first stage the fuel consumrtion is reduced by 40%. So on a cooler day you won't need to burn as much and make that meter spin. But, when it is really cold it will go into second stage and finish off the heating process.

I reccomend all my customers invest in a 2 stage furnace but, if cost is an issue then by all means go with a single stage furnace.

Sometimes, young techs will not size right and install a 2-stage furnace and get away with it. By installing a too large furnace and the furnace will never go into 2nd stage.

 

[laedw]

2 stage furnaces are really quite nice because on first stage the fuel consumrtion is reduced by 40%. So on a cooler day you won't need to burn as much and make that meter spin. But, when it is really cold it will go into second stage and finish off the heating process.

I reccomend all my customers invest in a 2 stage furnace but, if cost is an issue then by all means go with a single stage furnace.

Sometimes, young techs will not size right and install a 2-stage furnace and get away with it. By installing a too large furnace and the furnace will never go into 2nd stage.

Thank you for your response. Your last paragraph got me thinking about another issue. What is a "too large furnace"? If the proposed furnace is a Lennox G61V for a 826 sq. ft. home, is that considered too large?

 

[yuri]

You should have a heat load/loss calc done for your house to get the proper sized furnace and A/C. However, furnaces comes in different sizes, check http://www.lennox.com/products/overview.asp?model=G61V. Product brochure link at left of page. Ie G61V-45 is a 45,000 BTU unit, a -70 is 70,000 BTU's. We can easily heat your house with a 45,000 BTU unit where I am and it gets to -30F and colder here. Unless your house is POORLY insulated the 45,000 is the one for you.
heat load DIY calculator:Load Calculator

Here is a comparable Trane unit:http://www.trane.com/Residential/Products/Furnaces/XV95-Furnaces
Unfortunately their smallest unit is a 58,000 BTU 2 stage. The Lennox may be a bit closer to what you need