Building a custom home - HVAC options - could use a bit of help please!

[tractortroof]

Get a second opinion, I've built 2 new home myself and worked in HVAC for 20 years , company I worked for is the largest
Water furnace dealer in the nation, we installed up to 1000 units per year. If installed correctly they are the best and most energy efficient
system going , a zoned system is a great way to go, just make sure the HVAC company knows what the heck they are doing no matter what type system
you end up having installed.

We installed a limited amount of water furnace in Florida 2009ish, and had catastrophic coil failure in those also. We are definitely a testing ground with humidity 100% of the year. Our dealer said he had an enormous failure rate (after he quit dealing them)

We only install Climatemaster now and have had good results. Removing the last WF next week and installing a Climatemaster. Compressor finally died after filing with refrigerant 150 times (slight exaggeration)

 

[ljjhouser]

The ductwork is probably more important than the system you choose. Remember, most residential furnaces are rated for an ESP (external static pressure) of only .5 usually including filter during heating. Higher for AC. Be sure whoever plans your ductwork is good. About the hvac systems priced. I am not familiar with Trane. I think they are the same as Rheem and have a good reputation. Are you looking at a single stage, two stage, or modulating furnace? Do you want or need a Variable speed blower or multi speed? Do you want a system that communicates between thermostat, furnace, and air compressor? All questions and decisions to be made.
In today's world of hvac, most systems have only a 10-year warrantee period. Pretty short for the cost of a system. If your ductwork is not installed correctly, replacement will be more difficult, heating/cooling costs will be more, and equipment live will be shorter.

 

[Torvy]

Trane and Rheem are unrelated brands. Trane also makes American Standard.

 

[texas42]

Get a second opinion, I've built 2 new home myself and worked in HVAC for 20 years , company I worked for is the largest
Water furnace dealer in the nation, we installed up to 1000 units per year. If installed correctly they are the best and most energy efficient
system going , a zoned system is a great way to go, just make sure the HVAC company knows what the heck they are doing no matter what type system
you end up having installed.

Plus 1 on Water Furnace
In 1991 I built a 3,300 sf home in Connecticut. I followed all the recommendations, from power company about insulation, windows, etc. and had a Water Furnace Installer size everything. It was the best heat/a/c system I was ever around. No hot or cold spots - held temperature - and was very economical to run. Had a separate 700 foot well with a pipe loop to feed the water furnace. Great system expensive to install but cost to run very inexpensive. Paid for itself many times over. Still running good today 30 years later. I no longer own the house but keep in contact with present owners.

 

[AnotherBueller]

One reason for a gas backup is it can be run on a small gen set when power fails. I guess it depends on how much you trust the power company to quickly restore power in the winter. My 8kw gen set can run my gas furnaces, condensing gas water heater, LED TV, lights (all LED), and our fridge and deep freeze alternately. My propane use runs ~$850 for the last year I buy 900 gal in advance, used 750 last year.