What is brand, size, and model of furnace? You might post compete model number. I would get a good brand-no low end model-13 SEER with matching evap coil. No higher than 75 decibel. New and properly sized lineset. Should be installed to code. A new disconnect at the location. I prefer a poured concrete pad rather than a prefab or plastic model. Location should be close to furnace for best and easy connection. Physical size of condenser really depends on tonnage size of condenser. Guessing 3-3 1/2 tons depending on summer climate and your home's insulation qualities. While you can probably get any brand, I would lean to the same brand as furnace. Just a few ideas. IMO

I decided on the 80% AFUE...2 stage York furnace simply because: #1)Our home is located 2 miles from the beach ( Santa Monica California )...and I feel it should be sufficient. with our (usually) mild climate ( Am I wrong ?) #2) A 90% AFUE furnace would cost an additional $1000.00...In your opinion should I spend the extra money for 90% AFUE ??? The contractor will be installing next week. Please reply ASAP As an update...It looks like I will not be able to add the central air system :...the cost is HUGE because I would have to REPLACE AND MOVE my entire electrical box from its original location . It will not accomodate an additional 50 AMP breaker !!...Cost would be (approx)an extra $ 4000.00 plus whatever city permits and code upgrades may cost!! To summarize...York Gas Furnace... New ducts (cal flex silver jack 6.0 ) Thermostat : Honeywell 8000 model Air Filtration : Aprilaire 2250 TOTAL COST $ 4800. I have one more question...please:....My original register return for gas furnace is located on wall near floor level in my hallway...I was told by contractor that this is not the correct location for it....It should be moved to ceiling of my hallway..Unless I hear otherwise from this forum...I will have it moved as he suggests...SHOULD I seal up the old register return or let it remain but it will not be functioning ??... Thanks all !!

It depends on what you do in the house too. Cooling the upstairs may not be the most efficient way to keep downstairs cool. If you use the whole house all the time, then if the upstairs keeps downstairs cool without overcooling upstairs, fine. If you spend little time upstairs or have to over cool the upstairs, you will save money in the long run with a downstairs system. Too bad you had to sacrifice the baseboard heat. How many rooms are downstairs? Is there basement access under all the rooms?

Radiators do not dry the air any more than any other heat source. All other things being equal, the only things that affect the final relative humidity are the absolute humidity in the air and the air temperature. What makes indoor air dry in winter is excessive air exchange with outdoor air. The moisture that is produced by ordinary living (breathing, cooking, bathing and cleaning) leaks out. Poorly designed and installed ducted, forced air, heat can make matters worse by inducing pressure differentials turning the forced air system into a power vent. If you have excessively dry air, put money into air sealing your structure. It will pay off handsomely in summer and winter. Steam heat radiators that are installed well in a good design and maintained properly can be silent, or nearly so. There is something wrong with your system. I am not saying that you can easily fix it, but there is something wrong. A competent steam contractor will know how to add a steam heat exchanger to your current cooling duct set-up. High temperature steam is ideal for a relatively compact heat exchanger. The main problems might be how to run the pipes and if there is room for the heat exchanger. You may not be able to move enough air to heat even though you can move enough in the current ducts to cool sufficiently. It may not be practical for those considerations. If cost is no object, you might be able to add radiant heat to the floors via a steam to water heat exchanger with an associated circulator pump and expansion tank. You may be able to find a contractor on a forum that has a lot of "steam heads" posting. Try heatinghelp.com and terry love.com.