The installing contractors name is more important then the names on the box’s.

 

The contractor that carries the Comfortmaker has excellent reviews however he is not factory authorized Comfortmaker dealer. The contractor that carries the Carrier brand that is $xxxx more is a factory authorized dealer. Should that be a deterrent in making a decision between the two contractors?

 

Ask them for the AHRI number for both, if your furnace is an older model certainly it may not be a AHRI match to the outdoor unit and indoor coil.

Enter number here to check ratings of both systems. You do not go by the up to rating of outdoor unit alone to get SEER2 and EER2, it’s matching indoor section to outdoor unit to get your efficiency ratings.

The new format is adding a 2 after SEER and EER as that signifies a more real world install. Took effect 1/23

Also the Comfortmaker outdoor unit besides the 10 years parts and coil warranty if compressor fails or coil leaks in the 1st 10 years you get a new outdoor unit and not a replacement compressor or coil. You did not post model number of Carrier outdoor unit, so certainly it could have your basic 10 years parts, coil and compressor warranty. Need to register each section to get those warranties.

Your paying for the name to a degree with the Carrier, the Comfortmaker is under ICP brand and that is under Carrier umbrella.

The furnace if AHRI says they are 97% apply for the Tax Credit and chances your states rebates. For A/C tax credits needs to meet 16 SEER2 and 12 EER2.

https://www.bryant.com/en/us/before-you-buy/federal-tax-credits/

 

the Carrier AC is the 24VNA9 model

 

Besides the 10 year No Hassle whole new outdoor unit on the Comfortmaker, you also get that on the Comfortmaker Gas Furnace if HX fails in the 1st 10 years then it goes to a limited lifetime HX warranty to original registered owner and 10 years parts. The Carrier furnace 24VNA9 says you get the standard 10 years parts and limited lifetime HX warranty once registered to original owner.

The Comfortmaker has the better manufacturers warranty on the outdoor unit and furnace, if that’s an added bonus in your eyes.

Whichever one you decide on I would ask both Contractors what extra training do they have on these models, as the outdoor units alone are not bare bone low SEER2 single stage systems with a few generic low cost parts but are complicated systems with more expensive proprietary parts.

You will know how well your system performs to your satisfaction and the manufacturer hype, by the amount of times you have to call back the Contractor during the labor warranty period to tweak, adjust, modify, etc. your system. You will also know how well the Tech. they send out during the labor warranty period is trained or knows your system of choice by how many times it take him/her to make a correct diagnosis and take corrective action.

Unfortunately you will not know how well the system is operating as advertised until after system is installed and running.

If your a proactive person, you may want to ask them the sequence of operation of the furnace, and outdoor unit, as an example what happens when the room temperature is very close to thermostat setpoint, and what happens when it’s further from setpoint, will I hear a CFM increase/decrease if standing near furnace or fan speed and compressor ramp up/down etc. May want to get the skinny before handing over final payment.

They going to do one of these things? A startup/commissioning report, things like checking static pressures, setting CFM, checking temperature rise across HX, final field refrigerant charge, amprege draws of motors and compressor, checking gas pressures etc. are within manufacture guidelines.

https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/National HVAC Commissioning Checklist _Rev 11.pdf

 

The machines are the exact same thing with different styling and brand name. Don't pay a cent more for quote #1 because it has a "Carrier" sticker on it.

Final decision should come down to the contractor, they make or break the system. If you have more confidence in the Carrier contractor, it's worth paying whatever extra they're charging. Otherwise though, the Ion is the better value equipment.