Model and Price Right for 1350 square feet
by Angie
(Carleton Place Ontario Canada)
Is a YORK LX High Efficiency Furnace (96%) -2 stage Gas Valve & Variable Speed ECM Motor 60,000BTU/H installed for $6,550 + GST the right choice and reasonable in price?
The proposed system includes:
- 1 PVC sidewall venting system with dedicated fresh air
- 1 Honeywell 6000 Programmable Thermostat
- 1 Furnace to be suspended and sid on vibration eliminator pads
- 1 Condensate Pump for furnace drain to 3" ABS drain
- 1 New Supply Plenum and 6 feet of trunk line for proper air flow to all registers and eliminate high limit tripping
- 1 Reconnect return air complete with external mounted filter rack
- 1 Reconnect main gas line to furnace and soap and dial test for leaks
- 1 Reconnect high and low voltage to new furnace
- 1 Removal and disposal of old equipment
- 1 Complete start up and overall check of operation
- INCLUDES Warranty of 10 years PARTS & LABOUR
or, Upgrade offered for York AFFINITY (97.5%) for an additional $500 - and an offer to instrad a Gold Series Washable Electro Static Air Filter with a lifetime warranty to the system for an additional $175.
The install will be in a crawl space area under our 650 square foot bungalow (although we may add a 15 x 15 room onto back in a year or so). We have zero experience on this but research tells me that 40,000 BTUs would also be fine but I don't see models of that type. Other than getting a 2nd quote, what is the truth on this? HELP! Angie
Answer from Green Energy Efficient Homes
Hi Angie, I have very limited knowledge of current pricing for furnace installations but for the efficiency you are quoting and the extras (including 10 year warranty) the price sounds reasonable. The key in getting a furnace that works well is the people doing the installation - more than the furnace itself. I would try to make sure your installers have a solid reputation. When I had my furnace installed, I chose a company that was voted the best HVAC business in their city five years running (ten years later, they keep on getting the same awards) and their service is truly outstanding. I also chose the 10 year warranty, and have renewed the service contract every year since.
York products tend to be targeted more at new home construction. In the case of York air conditioners my understanding is that they tend to have a lot more failures than other brands, but whether this is because new home manufacturers do a poor job of installing them, or because the units themselves aren't that well built, I can't say. It's also not clear whether the purported quality problems with York AC units also apply to York furnaces.
On the BTU output, I would say 60,000 BTU is a bit much. Our home has 1,350 square feet (425 feet per floor for basement + 2 above ground floors, plus a 75 square foot kitchen extension) and we have a 40,000 BTU furnace that works great. In fact our HVAC contractor recommended the lower capacity furnace as being more efficient as well as being cheaper.
It never hurts to get a couple of extra quotes from reliable contractors that your friends or neighbors are satisfied with. I would try calling around and asking other contractors if the deal sounds reasonable, and what they would recommend for your situation.
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