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Hi guys,
This is KC from the CT’s forum. I have a question, I hope you guys
can help us.
We are planning to install a new furnace and add air conditioner
we will also remove the old ducts that are wrapped with asbestos.
We were explained that a team of profesionals will come to remove
all the ducts and we know it is gonna be hell.
Now my question is we have two bids that we think are reasonable prices
one contractor uses Amana brand and the other uses Bryant.
Are you guys familiar with those brands, what are the pros and cons of each? Also any advice, tips(we have a two year old baby) about handling the ducts asbetos removal will be greatly appreciated
KC
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When we moved into this house, I pulled the brand new furnace and replaced it with an Amana high-efficiency furnace and added an Amana 5-ton AC. Thrilled with the performance of both.
*I would get more than two bids for a job this big and complex. For one thing, it might be so big with the right contractor. More important than the brand of the HVAC is the knowledge and diligence of the installer. Overall sizing (air flow), duct sizing and balancing the returns with the supplies is often done wrong. Make sure the ducts are sealed with mastic -- see the HVAC discussions.Asbestos abatement requires special training. Sometimes the best thing is to seal the material in place rather than spend a fortune stirring the stuff up. It depends on the rules in your jurisdiction. Obviously you don't want asbestos fibers getting sucked into your air.There are many proponents of radiant heat and other alternatives to forced air. Regrading the AC, a poorly-kept secret is that a lot of the manufacturers do business under more than one name -- I think Bryant is made by Carrier. Their are even fewer OEM's of the compressors. Look at the length of the warranty as an indicator of quality. And don't forget the SEER and AFUE (furnace) ratings -- don't pay too much for a space-age high-efficiency unit, as one contractor tried to persuade me to do (on the other hand, you may be interesting in getting better air quality by opting for sealed combustion if you have a tight house -- we don't).I think we have a 12 SEER York compressor, with a different brand but compatible evaporator. Works fine, and I would recommend the contractor. We did not need plenum or other sheet metal work, which can get expensive. Don't let them oversize the AC, as many contractors do to avoid callbacks -- you'll have a unit that cycles on and off frequently at poor efficiency and which fails to dehumidify the air. We went a half-ton lower than "typical" with good results.There are many other measures you can take to reduce your reliance on HVAC, also -- sealing, insulating, etc.
*Ah, good advice on the oversizing. We took out a 140K BTU furnace and only run the 80K BTU plate in the Amana (I have a 100K BTU plate if I even need it). For AC, I only put in a 5 tom, but I have 2 18,000 BTU through the wall heat-pumps in the solarium on the south side to spot cool that area and the kitchen.
*Thanks for the valuable information; I have printed it for my husband to read.KC