New oil furnace needed

[tden]

Hi,

We need to replace our 22-yr old oil furnace. We have relatively new heat pump, so we just need a new furnace, no switching to gaz or electricity.
We live in Montreal, have split-level about 1600 sf ft excluding basement. The contractor from Norco suggested either Brock MBP-1 (76 000 BTUH) or Dettson AMiT-90 (same 76000 output).
Is Dettson good? It has stainless still combustion chamber (lifetime garantee) vs Brock's ceramic-fibre. Which one is better? The price is the same, so I just want to find which one is more reliable. Unfortunately both furnaces have only 5 years warranty - what models have 10 years?

Also can anyone suggest a good contractor/installer for the Montreal area (if this question is allowed here). Any help is really appreciated!

[txv]

How old is the heatpump?

Since electricity is cheap in Quebec, I would get an air handler (if a new one can be properly matched to the existing outdoor unit) with heat strips and ditch the heating oil.

With electric backup, heatpumps can be used well below the balance point (backup cycles on/off as needed, HP runs continuously); with fossil fuel backup, the HPs can not be used with the second source of heat simultaneously.

The price of electricity in Quebec is much more stable than that of oil - not to mention, oil tanks can leak and the burners need more maintenance (nozzle cleaning/replacement, oil filter, etc.) than heat strips.

[tden]

Thank you TXV!

Out heatpump is about 6-7 yrs old, and it never had any problem, so I hope it wouldn't break anytime soon. Also the oil tank is about 10-12 yrs old - should be good for another 10 years at least.

I've never heard about air handler, I'll look into it. Any suggestions about the model, characteristics, etc? What features are essential and what can be ignored?

[txv]

An air handler is a unit which houses a blower, indoor coil (for heatpump or a/c) and optional electric heating elements downstream of the coil.

Prior to looking into an air handler, check the size of your electrical service - 200amp+ is a must for electric resistance heat.

The evaporator coil must be properly matched with heatpump; hence, the indoor unit will have to be the same brand and size as the outdoor unit. (the match must have an ahri reference number. If the system is less than 13 SEER, finding the correct air handler may be difficult if not impossible)

I've never heard about air handler, I'll look into it. Any suggestions about the model, characteristics, etc? What features are essential and what can be ignored?

Some models have variable speed ECM blower motors which use very little energy on low speed (continuous fan), compensate for changes in static pressure (ex: if filter gets dirty, blower will ramp up to maintain airflow), and if set up correctly, can be slowed down on demand in the summer to improve a/c dehumdification.

Your best option is to contact the company which installed the heatpump.