Bid 3 says include ductwork, what does that mean? Duct modification to existing ducts? If so why isn’t the others offering the same thing?

They all bidding AHRI matched systems? if so thinking your system of choice should apply for your state rebates, and the Federal Tax Credits, except bid 4.


If the Bosch Contractor is a ABC Contractor ( Accredited Bosch Contractor, meaning added training ) the compressor and parts warranty increases by one year.

Hopefully the Lennox Contractor has added training on those outdoor units, and installed a few already as that system are on the more complicated side than bid 4 simple lower SEER/SEER 2 system. You don’t want to be the OFT for them on that model.

Is the labor warranties the same, or is one Contractor labor warranty more generous than the basic one year? Certainly bid 4 is the least complicated, but lower SEER/SEER2 and uses low cost generic part, once manufacturers warranty expires compared to the others that have more $$$ proprietary parts once manufacturers warranty expires.

 

Hi Bazooka Joe,

Bid 3) I have two supply ducts, they state that my upstairs intake if only 16" and should be 20". Hence they are planning to increase duct size. The other contractors do believe my current 2 intakes are big enough as it has been for the last 27 years (10" and 16").

The Labor warranty for Bosch bid is 5 year with 10 year on parts, which suggest they are not ABC.

The first Bid 2 (Lennox + all electrical) is 30 % more than Bosch bid.

The Bid3 ( Lennox + furnace + duct) is over 60% more expansive than Bosch bid.

 

You would think the small company would become a ABC Contractor especially if that’s the main brand they carry as an incentive to deal with them. You can ask them if they are, and if they say we are not, maybe ask why not. The five year extended labor warranty is a nice perk, if the others are offering the basic one year.

If your leaning toward the Bosch, then choose that brand, ask them for the AHRI number to see if they are bidding matched systems, as matching the indoor selection to the outdoor section is how you match a system and to get SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2 ratings. You don’t go by the up to rating of the outdoor unit alone. As you need a AHRI number for any rebates your state may have, and the Federal Tax Credits. Did they mention those two benefits.

Whoever you decide on and what brand, you will know how well things where sized and whether the ductwork is sized correctly and equipment installed and setup and functioning to your satisfaction by the amount of times you have to call them back under the labor warranty period to tweak, adjust etc. your system, if you do need to call them, hopefully the Tech. they send out knows your system of choice well enough to diagnose and make repairs, adjustments etc. in a short amount of time. Need to choose your Contractor wisely.

If your a proactive person with your future HVAC system, you may want to ask them for the sequence of operation, to get an idea what’s suppose to happen when equipment is close to thermostat set point, or when it’s further from the set point. Can you actually suppose to hear the outdoor unit ramp up or down, what happens to the blower speed. Can you actually hear the furnace and inducer motor and blower motor change speeds when going from low fire to high fire on the furnace.