We live in the Pacific NW. Not terribly hot or cold. I've done
searches on heat pumps and air handlers and mostly cooling issues are
being addressed. Here's what we are looking at:
BTW, 4 different quotes and opinions and each did a "heat loss"
calculations on our home.
1. 2 1/2 ton American Standard 14 SEER Heat Pump
2. Coupled with a 3 ton variable speed air handler with a 31000
BTU capacity

Or:
1. 2 1/2 ton 14 SEER Heat Pump
2. Coupled with a 3 ton variable speed air handler with a 37000
BTU capacity

Or:
1. 3 ton 14 SEER
2. Coupled with a 3 ton variable speed air handler with a 37000
BTU capacity

Some more info: House was built in 1977, double paned windows, 13
registers, one story home. Since it is such a high ticket item, we
want to do it right the first time. Thanks so much, Karel

"karel" wrote in message
ups.com...
We live in the Pacific NW. Not terribly hot or cold. I've done
searches on heat pumps and air handlers and mostly cooling issues are
being addressed. Here's what we are looking at:
BTW, 4 different quotes and opinions and each did a "heat loss"
calculations on our home.
1. 2 1/2 ton American Standard 14 SEER Heat Pump
2. Coupled with a 3 ton variable speed air handler with a 31000
BTU capacity

Or:
1. 2 1/2 ton 14 SEER Heat Pump
2. Coupled with a 3 ton variable speed air handler with a 37000
BTU capacity

Or:
1. 3 ton 14 SEER
2. Coupled with a 3 ton variable speed air handler with a 37000
BTU capacity

Some more info: House was built in 1977, double paned windows, 13
registers, one story home. Since it is such a high ticket item, we
want to do it right the first time. Thanks so much, Karel

http://www.hvacopcost.com/
http://198.147.238.24/ac_calc/default.asp

SEER is a seasonal cooling efficiency number. Has little to do with heating.
The amount of time you plan to say in the home would have a lot to do with
how good/expensive equipment you would want to purchase. FYI 14 SEER is the
bottom of the line for new units come 2006.

Variable speed fans are nice, but more expensive. Some installers use them
for humidity removal, I have. They help remove humidity, but a colder coil
is really what you need for humidity removal, 25 F differential of supply
and return.

You fail to mention the attic insulation, big factor in sizing a unit.

The installer that does the manual calculations, would be who I would
choose. You fail to mention existing ducting or new. Assuming existing duct
a calculation on the duct sizes so the air flow from your new air handler
will really do what is supposed to do.

Quotes 1 and 2 are confusing. Both are 2.5 ton units, but different heat
numbers. Is one of the quotes assuming another fuel for heat besides the
heat pump?

Heat pumps do not heat very well under 45F. Some installers say 40F. If
heat is really what your looking for this might not be the solution your
looking for. A dual fuel heat system might be a better solution. Ya it is
more money than a straight heat pump.

For sure pay for a scroll compressor. MUCH quieter if the compressor is
ground mounted anywhere near a living area ask for a compressor blanket to
be installed before you pay. The blankets are not standard on some lines and
are not all that expensive, $100 and 30 minutes to install. A compressor
blanket can quiet a ground mount by up to 10 db.

Best of luck with your purchase.

On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 14:31:56 -0700, "SQLit" wrote:


Variable speed fans are nice, but more expensive. Some installers use them
for humidity removal, I have. They help remove humidity, but a colder coil
is really what you need for humidity removal, 25 F differential of supply
and return.

I didn't know there were variable speed fans.

When I need the next furnace, can I run the fan below the low speed
that my current furnace/ac fan runs at? Or is that too slow?

That's the one thing about my furnace that bothers me, the noise of
the fan. (I tried the other two connections to make sure it was on
the lowest speed. It already was.)

Sometimes I close my bedroom door so I won't hear the fan. Somehow I
don't hear it from the registers in the bedroom. Only the big return
vent in the stairwell.

When

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

The variable speed is for the air handler (back up furnace - electric).
The heat pump is 2.5 ton. The 16 SEER has a variable speed on their 3
ton. The 14 SEER heat pump doesn't have the variable speed. The air
handler (furnace) has the different BTU. What I was told was that the
smaller BTU has a smaller coil and therefore more air surface has a
chance to gather more heat from the coils for better comfort. Also,
the smaller (2.5 ton) heat pump would heat the house slower and more
steady without spikes of cold and warm. Is this making any sense? I
kind of understand but I'm also a bit confused. Karel