new gas furnace

Douglas Hicks

Because of the knowledge I have gained here about CO, I had my house tested. when the gas company left, I had a nice new red tag on my thermostat. So now I am the recipient of an estimate, instead of giving one out.
A local sheet metal company has given me an estimate for a new gas furnace. The optoins are for 3 Bryant models:
Model 355 97 % , variable speed, dual stage super quiet
Model 350 90 % , single speed single stage
Model 310 80 % economy model
New donkey **** duct to replace the old leaky, uninsulated duct.
Allergy filter kit
10 year parts and labor warrenty
Now I am not asking for pricing. It does seem as though they are plenty high, but that is always the case whenever we purchase, as opposed to selling our services. And if I was really concerned about money, I would do the job myself. I am interested in the pros and cons about the differing effiencies of the models, the quality of hte Bryant line, and the need for the allergy filter kit.
I will hire the electrician, and run the gas pipe myself. this will give me the opportunity to educate my techs on gas work. Besides, I can make the business pay for part of the expense.
Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

Mark Hunt

Curious


What was the reason for the red tag?

Two-stage, variable speed is all we install for forced air systems. Closest the FHA guys have gotten to outdoor reset.

Mark H

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don_15

True

Mr Hunt speak from experience.If gas is high and you want better comfort then what you have now go with 355.

I see no mention of a two stage thermostat,that the only
way to run that furnace,and get it close to it sweet spot.

Hows the distribution? Yes the vsd can overcome some sizing issue,but still no reason not to address the most important
part of the system.Think duct mastic and duct size properly
to keep her nice in quiet.

The filter system is a plus with fha,but it only a plus if
your distribution system can support it.

Was a load calc done? Or will it be just another push and
pull installed?

john_35

new unit

I would go with the 2-stage 97%er. Bryant is really Carrier so quality is good as long as you get the top shelf model. Some of the low end stuff is pretty flimsy. The Carrier Infinity line does have outdoor reset when equipped with the Thermidistat control. An even better control is due out later this year if you can wait. I gather from your red tag reference that you can't though.

Douglas Hicks

My girlfriend was complaining of burning eyes and an odor when she would come home. She also complained of soot in the house. I blamed the soot on the wood stove, and the burning eyes and odor I because she is a woman and likes to complain once in a while. But I did note the odor and the feel of moisture in the house. So I got a CO test done. the CO was so high, the gas company immdeiatly shut off the gas to the furnace. After cleaning the soot, (about 5 feet of soot had fallen into the fire box) I had the sheet metal shop look at the furnace. The tech said he lit the furnace and could see flame through the sheet metal furnace surround, and immdeiatly shut off the furnace.
The heating company did do heat calcs to determine the BTU requiements.
I should have an estimate from another company today.
I chose to get estimates only from those 2 companies as I have worked with both on resturant exhaust systems and I know the quality of work and that both will adhere to good practices and follow the codes. I chose not to use several other furnace companines because I have worked w/them on kitchen exhaust systems and they did not follow the codes. IN Oregon, not all of the building inspectors know fire codes and more importantly, most of the building code officials do not give a hairy rodents posterior aboout enforcing fire codes. Although since we had 3 fire fighters killed in Coos Bay during a fire caused by improper installation of a heating appliance, some change has been made. And one of the guys killed in the fire, was a friend, we worked on the same fire department, and even the same shift.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

GaryDidier

Furnaces

Mark, What brands do you like for forced air and do they have a similar unit for oil.
Thanx, Gary from Granville

Mark Hunt

Close call


I'm a CO awareness nut.

You should see a doctor and be sure to tell him that you were exposed to CO.

You may feel fine now, but chronic exposure can have hidden effects that may not show up for a while.

Keep us posted!

Mark H

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Greg Swob

Bryant has other models, like

Model 315 is two stage, variable speed. 312 is two-stage burner single speed blower. 311 has better HX warranty and is more insulated (quieter) than 310 for little more $$. These are all 80% eff. models. Most all of our customers opt for two-stage and most of them go for variable speed. The DC motor in the variable speed models uses a lot less electricity (in some model sizes) to operate than a conventional blower. This is more beneficial if you are one who operates blower 24/7. Greg

R. Kalia

> I would go with the 2-stage 97%er. Bryant is

> really Carrier so quality is good as long as you

> get the top shelf model. Some of the low end

> stuff is pretty flimsy. The Carrier Infinity line

> does have outdoor reset when equipped with the

> Thermidistat control. An even better control is

> due out later this year if you can wait. I gather

> from your red tag reference that you can't

> though.