On Thu, 05 Dec 2013 20:28:20 -0600, Big Giant Head
wrote:

I'd say the Lennox guy is BS.

Maybe it's a case of CYA. They're offering 10 years parts + 10 years
labor on the simple furnace. 15 / 15 on the fancy 80% variable speed.
HX is 20 on both. They promise 2 hr response time day or night and if
they can't fix it in 24 hrs they pay the hotel. A+ on BBB & Angie's list
award winning so they probably do have good service (not that I verified
these assertions but I'll take their word).

Carrier / Payne dealer offers only 5 years parts + 1 year labor. 20
years HX.

I don't know what part of that stems from the mfg and what part is from
the dealer. Does Lennox have better warranty?

Wish I could get the long warranty on the fancy machine; it would make me
feel better but I presume if I insisted on it with Lennox he'd probably
say you're on your own after a minimal warranty. Or at the very least
exclude ice buildup! I would, if I had his concerns.

What price differences are you seeing between 80 and 93%?
Factor in any tax credits, rebates from utilities, etc?

Carrier guy:

80% Conventional 90,000 BTU/H Carrier $2450.
Likewise but branded Payne $2250.

80% 2-stage 90,000 BTU/H Carrier $2850.

95% 80,000 BTU/H Carrier $3250.
Payne $3050.

Lennox Guy:

80% 70,000 Conventional $2400.
80% 70.000 Variable $3715.

The latter is a lot for non high efficiency (which he didn't offer).

I could not actually accept the Lennox bids as is since it says 70,000
but maybe that's just an writing error. If we stay at 80% and assume the
90,000 is fine and decent duty cycles even in below zero weather, then we
need the same size. Dropping a notch if we go higher efficency of
course.

I guess that's an option if they can do the job without
removing the existing evaporator. If they can't and have to
evacuate, open, purge, recharge, etc then given all that cost,
with a 25 year old AC, going to new AC at the same time would
seem a more sensible path to me.

It's under the furnace so it can stay put. It should probably get a
little cleaning. It would still be logical to replace the whole thing I
know. It's really mostly about not having to think about that. I can
barely decide on a furnace.

The dealer that sold me my furnace offered a fantastic warrantee on
the system and installation - then promptly went T.U. less than a year
later. The warranty from the manufacturer, without the dealer to back
me up, ended up being far less valuable. "pay for the repairs at the
going rate, submit for warranty consideration, and we may or may not
pay all or a fraction of the repair cost" that was Tempstar.