There’s probably not $.02 worth of difference between those.

The installer is far more important than the brand; he’s 98% of the equation. Concentrate on finding the best installer that you can.

 

That’s a lot of heat and cool for that size house. I would try and find a contractor that will do a load calc, evaluate the duct work, and look at the system as a whole.

In southwest Ohio my 3200 1964 built house with original windows has a 80k furnace and 3 ton ac. And it does great.

Bigger is not better, it’s actually worse.

Last week replaced a furnace heat exchanger on a 100k furnace at a house that likely needed a 60. The 40k extra put so much stress on the HX that it cracked it in a short period of time.


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Unless you are in or close to Canada that furnace is about double what is required.

And, especially if you are that far north - the AC is well oversized besides.

You need accurate load calculations BEFORE you start considering equipment manufacturers.

PHM
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We are looking to install a new hybrid HVAC unit with gas back up in our home. The 2 quotes we got are price about the same. Both provided good service when coming out to give the quote. We are trying to pick the best unit for our 2 story 1800 sqft home. Both units have a 1 year labor and a 10 year parts warranty. we currently have propane.

The first is a TEMP STAR, 16 SEER, 95% efficient, 80,000 BTU, single stage propane furnace With a 3 ton, 16 SEER, single stage heat pump. Model #s not provided.

The second is a 3 ton GOODMAN 16 SEER single stage heat pump and a 80,000 BTU 96% efficient, 2 stage, variable speed blower furnace. Goodman heat pump model #GSZ160361. GOODMAN furnace: GMEC960804CN.

 

80,000 BTU and 3 tons for 1,800 square feet?
I’d be concerned about that.
Equipment name brand isn’t so much important. Hvac isn’t like TVs or cars where you look at the best name brand to buy. Hvac isn’t assembled when you buy it like those things. The folks putting it together matter more.

 

We are in Delaware. We have terrible duct work in our house where some rooms are cool while others are hot. What im more concerned about is the 2 stage variable blower better than the single stage units?

 

Then you DO NOT want to increase the sizes.
2 stories
2 systems.

Neither contractor cares about your comfort.

 

You should find out what tier line they are bidding on the Tempstar as there is a difference in manufacturers warranty ( No Hassle along with the 10 year parts/compressor warranty ) as they have a somewhat bare bone line the Performance series and the Premium better featured better warranty line ION.

Guessing they are bidding the somewhat bare bone Performance line if the price is similar to Goodman?

https://www.tempstar.com/

The Goodman besides the 10/10 ( compressor/parts/coil ) manufacturers warranty ( once registered ) you get a 2 year one time new whole unit if compressor ever fails in the 1st two years.

Probably comes with more factory features/parts than the Performance line of Tempstar if a better manufacturers warranty and a better featured model is a import consideration? Shows the Goodman has a louvered sheetmetal skin that protects the outdoor coil compared to the Performance series exposed outdoor coil.

The furnace comes with a limited lifetime HX warranty ( which is pretty normal in a 95% > efficienty range ) but also if HX fails in the 1st ten years you get a new furnace, once system is registered.

Is either company bidding AHRI matched systems as chances if they are both will probably meet rebates requirements from your state or local utility electric/gas company. Did they mention money in your pocket rebates to you?

If they are bidding AHRI equipment ask for the number then go to this site to compare SEER and EER rating. With the Goodman if they are bidding a CA*F coil as chances they would need to add a field install OEM TXV as the CA*F comes with a piston metering device to reach the 16 SEER rating. It will show +TXV after the model number of the coil. I would not let them cheap on out on that if the AHRI web-site says to install it to increase their profits a bit at your expense.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...idirectory.org/Search/SearchHome?ReturnUrl=%2F&usg=AOvVaw1pHe55mWNYsLpAKdmuwrti

Both models can have a early death if your ductwork is not properly sized. Certainly a quality set up/install also goes a long way.

Mention you want a detailed accurate startup/commissioning report done on your new system. Here is a generic one:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...%202015-07-07_clean_fillable_508.pdf?5ace-789f&usg=AOvVaw1DkTbUviGtreMqRxxNNbzS

Course they can fudge numbers if the measurements don’t fall within manufacturers specifications.

 

I agree that 3 tons is likely to be bigger than what is really needed for your house. Oversized equipment does not dehumidify well and it cycles more often than is good for it.
I have a 2 ton Tempstar modulating, 5-stage,inverter heat pump in my 1800 sq. ft. house. I have locked out the 5th stage.

 

“and a 80,000 BTU 96% efficient, 2 stage, variable speed blower furnace”

BTW the Goodman GMEC96 has a multi speed ECM motor and not a Variable Speed, but is two stages whereas the Tempstar you mention is a single stage. In furnaces there looks to be three tier lines for the Tempstar.

Dated 2019 and Goodman current 2022 web-site

https://www.acwholesalers.com/manuals/8054cada73c81c65ad5eb493ac9f417c.pdf

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...tps://www.goodmanmfg.com/products/gas-furnaces&usg=AOvVaw1Qai5EspckvJeNKAr8lbsN

Chances are the furnace alone on either brands should qualify alone for rebates if the Heat Pump does not, ( if it falls below your states threshold or they don’t bid a matched system ) as typically it’s 95%>.