On Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:03:51 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 12/5/2013 9:28 PM, Big Giant Head wrote:

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 efficiency of
course.

Assuming you are 80% that makes sense, but are you? I'd ask the guy why
he is quoting a smaller unit. It does seem odd that he would quote that
much smaller.
Over half the installed furnaces around here are at least 50%
oversized - 30 to 40 year old houses.. What I installed is a
35/50kbtu, replacing a 75kbtu originally installed. Just about every
house on the street had the same original furnace, wheather 2 storey,
bungalow, or split level from 2000 to 4500 sq ft.