Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - Decisions...Decisions

Good Morning Everyone,

I live in Southeast Ohio, right on the line where the weatherman will say 1" of snow and you wake up the next morning to 7-10".

My heat pump compressor went out last week as well as the sequencer so I have been getting quotes for the past week and I'm currently running on emer. heat.

I've narrowed it down to two, but I have questions for the both and thusly questions for this forum.

Company A
Quote for:
2 ton
Bryant Handler/ Pane Compressor-Heat Pump
want to add cold air return to existing
They say:
I currently have 12" dia cold air return and I need more (equal to 706 cfm)
8 registers (equal to approx 800 cfm)

Company B
Quote for:
2.5 ton
Trane Handler/Trane Compressor-Heat Pump
they didn't say we need more cold air return/ but didn't say we didn't and its not in the quote to add one

The diff in price is about $400
I've counted 10 registers (including 1 in crawlspace and 1 above the current air handler)
I have somewhere between 1600 to 2000 sq foot tri-level house (FHA loan says 1600/ City Records say 2000).

Please help with this decision making process. :confused:

Thanks.

I have more info this morning.

Company B
says that the cold air return that we currently have can handle 4 or 5 tons.

If you only have 1-12" return, tell company "B" to take a long walk off a short plank. Tell, don't ask, any & all prospective bidders you want a manual J & manual D done. Manual J is the heating & cooling load calculation. Manual D is the duct calculation.

With Grady 100%. If they wont do a load/loss calc you will end up with inefficient equipment and an uncomfortable home. And why is company "A" goind to sell you miss matched stuff?

They might actually be matched, not likely but maybe. Both are made by Carrier divisions & could possibly be the same equipment except for paint.