Energy efficient 1 story house plans

Hi, I live in Phoenix, Arizona in a 2 story house, 3025 square feet. The house was built in 1999 and has 2 Goodman units (1 – 3.5 ton, 1 – 4.0 ton) that were probably 10 SEER back in their prime. Every year we seem to have about $300-$500 of problems with the units (currently one of the circuit boards blew out), so I am looking into replacing the units to get more energy efficient and have warranty. We plan to stay in the house another 8 years and I figure I’d rather enjoy the new units myself than wait it out and have to buy new units down the road when they breakdown for good. Annual Electric Bill: $3800 (High month of August = $560) Annual Gas Bill: $800 I’ve had a lot of quotes with a lot of different brands. I wanted to throw some of our options out there. Given these options, does anyone have any opinions on which unit is going to be best for me? Is there brand preference between Ruud/Rheem and Carrier and American Standard? Thanks! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OPTION 1 3.5 TON (Upstairs) Ruud UAPM042JAZ (Ruud Achiever Series 14.5 SEER Premium Condensing Unit Featuring R-410A Refrigerant) Ruud UGPR10EBRMR Furnace (Ultra Series Super Quiet 80 Two-Stage) ADP Coil Was told the ARI sheet for this system will be 16.0 SEER, 13.0 EER 4 TON (Downstairs) Ruud UASL048JEC (Ruud Ultra Series 18 SEER Two-Stage Premium Condensing Unit Equipped with the Comfort Control2 System and Featuring R-410A) Ruud UGPR07EBRQR Furnace (Ultra Series Super Quiet 80 Two-Stage) ADP Coil Was told the ARI sheet for this system will be 17.5 SEER, 13.0 EER >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OPTION 2 4 TON (Both Upstairs and Downstairs) Carrier 24APA748 A/C (http://www.commercial.carrier.com/commercial/hvac/product_description/0,,CLI1_DIV41_LNK10448_ETI4926_PRD1753_SIT12,00.html) Carrier 58CVA Infinity™ 80 Furnace 58CVA110-20 (http://www.commercial.carrier.com/commercial/hvac/product_description/0,,CLI1_DIV41_LNK5002_ETI4926_PRD690_SIT12,00.html) CNPHP6124 Coil (http://www.commercial.carrier.com/commercial/hvac/product_description/0,,CLI1_DIV41_LNK10405_ETI4926_PRD1311_SIT12,00.html) They did give me a 3.5 ton option for upstairs but didn’t give me part numbers… But said that the 3.5 option would have 16 SEER and 13 EER, and it would all be Carrier equipment. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OPTION 3: Downstairs (4 TON) Condenser: Rheem RAPM048JAZ (Classic® Series 14.5 SEER Condensing Unit featuring R-410A Refrigerant) http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=8B2FC34C-CC5A-4DCA-9330-20BB9B57B75E Furnace: Rheem RGPR07NBRQR (Rheem Prestige Series™ Super Quiet 80 2-Stage Upflow/Horizontal with ECM Motor) http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=048D7D58-57A3-439F-B732-936B69C1E5FB Coil: Rheem RCFLHM4821AC (Airflow Capacities 600-1,900 CFM [283-897 L/s]) http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=9EF7BC19-3CAE-4028-A9E5-0B89498A486E Was told the ARI for this system would be: 15.00 SEER, 80% AFUE, 12.55 EER Upstairs (3.5 TON) Condenser: Rheem RAPM042JAZ (Classic® Series 14.5 SEER Condensing Unit featuring R-410A Refrigerant) http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=8B2FC34C-CC5A-4DCA-9330-20BB9B57B75E Furnace: Rheem RGPR07NBRQR (Rheem Prestige Series™ Super Quiet 80 2-Stage Upflow/Horizontal with ECM Motor) http://www.rheem.com/product.aspx?id=048D7D58-57A3-439F-B732-936B69C1E5FB Coil: Rheem RE50660E215B2722AP Was told the ARI sheet for this system would be: 16.00 SEER, 80% AFUE, 13.0 EER >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Option 4 Downstairs (4 Ton) Condenser: American Standard 4A7B404EA1000B Furnace: AUD080R9V4K Coil: 4TXCB048BC3HCA Was told the ARI sheet for this system would be 14.50 SEER, 80% AFU, 12.0 EER Upstairs (3.5 Ton) Condenser: American Standard 4A7B4042E1000A Furnace: AUD1D120A9H51B Coil: 4TXCD009CC3HCA Was told the ARI sheet for this system would be 16.0 SEER, 80% AFU, 13.0 EER

Rheem/Ruud are the same company. I don't like Carrier myself. You might want to ask this question on a site where a lot of HVAC professionals are available like http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/forumdisplay.php?f=1 Don't ask about prices though. I find it odd your furnace quotes were all for 80% efficiency, which is the very worst. Maybe the warm climate doesn't justify anything better.

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Hi, I live in Phoenix, Arizona in a 2 story house, 3025 square feet. The house was built in 1999 and has 2 Goodman units (1 – 3.5 ton, 1 – 4.0 ton) that were probably 10 SEER back in their prime. Every year we seem to have about $300-$500 of problems with the units (currently one of the circuit boards blew out), so I am looking into replacing the units to get more energy efficient and have warranty. We plan to stay in the house another 8 years and I figure I’d rather enjoy the new units myself than wait it out and have to buy new units down the road when they breakdown for good. Annual Electric Bill: $3800 (High month of August = $560) Annual Gas Bill: $800 I’ve had a lot of quotes with a lot of different brands. I wanted to throw some of our options out t

The newer high efficiency Goodman or Amana is the only brand with a lifetime warranty on the compressor and heat exchangers. Goodman/ Amana has come a long way in the last 5 years, they are the number one brand in the country, and all made in the USA! If you go 16 seer you can get the $1,500 federal tax credit. Go to Goodmanmfg.com or Amana-hac.com check them out. Goodman makes Amana, the Amana will cost more but it comes with a unit replacement lifetime warranty on the compressor and heat exchanger. I promise Ruud/ Rheem, Carrier, or American Standard can not touch that.

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