Advice on buying HVAC system

We will be building a new house in the next 3 months or so and I need to pick out an HVAC system for heating, cooling, and humidity control.

I would like some direction as to the best places to read-up and get educated on what to look for and what to look out for in choosing system type, brand, contractor, etc.

Many thanks.

Reply to
NoSpam99989
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Do so carefully. There are a lot of HVAC systems installed improperly. Established companies are a plus. Installers with 10+ years of experience are a plus. Payment only after the job is done is good. Bonded and insured is important. Proper sizing. Some contractors leave in the middle of a job, skip town. Make a list, interview possible contractors, use the Yellow Pages, talk with neighbors.

Reply to
Phisherman

do not get ductwork with the insulation inside. Impossible to clean. A mold trap.

Reply to
Art

I would stay away from Carrier. My neighbor got one last summer and has had nothing but trouble.

Check out Better Business Bureau site-there seemed to be a lot of negatives about Carrier.

Too bad. They used to be a really good unit.

I think Trane is a pretty good unit, but I'm sure there are others just as good, or maybe better.

I would like some direction as to the best places to read-up and get educated on what to look for and what to look out for in choosing system type, brand, contractor, etc.

Many thanks.

Reply to
stevef

My advice is simple. Find a good local contractor and let them make the decisions. A good contractor will not provide second rate equipment, will not undersize or over size, but they will choose the right type of equipment for your specific needs. They will measure and compute all the needed information to design the distribution system and offer you choices to tailor the job to you. They have lots of knowledge and experience that you are not going to have. You only need to convey what you want to them.

Check with your friends and neighbors and ask if they have any recommendations or experiences they care to share.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

Isn't that like asking the fox to recommend a type of lock to use for the hen house doors?

I only ask because I too will be making a choice this summer. I have no central heating system in my house and after the winter is over and I can think clearly, I will have a system installed in my house. No way can I see letting the guy who is going to earn money from the job make the decisions about what I should or shouldn't have. That is just a blatant conflict of interest! The original poster asked the same question I'm asking now--isn't there some industry standard information sources that a person can read to learn about each choice and make their own decision--at least about what TYPE of system to put in (i.e., baseboard, radiant, forced air, etc.).??

Lesley

Reply to
Lesley

Start by reading all manufacturers brochures and online info . Companies make a variety of equipment in different price ranges . Most have a low end single speed 80% furnace with cheap low seer AC. Then top line 93-94.5 % efficient furnaces with VS DC motors for more comfort , humidity removal, lower electric usage and very high seer AC units. It depends on where you live- your heating cooling needs and cash you have. If you live where it gets -20 to 100f and it is humid look into the most efficient equipment, Some areas will never see a payback because temps are to moderate. You need a good instaler, a load calculation and price comparisons on different equipment . It is smart to know what you want first, many uneducated instalers shy away from VS DC and 2 speed condensers. Ive had several try to talk me into simple non efficient equipment and one refusing to sell it to me . Insulated metal ducts are worth the cost.

Reply to
m Ransley

I can only say that it is going to be very difficult to equal the skill of at good professional. A good professional will give you what you want and need. On the other hand, even if you pick some very nice equipment out, maybe even the right equipment for your needs, you are going to end up with a second rate un-reliable system if it is not properly installed.

As I said a good pro will only sell you good equipment.

The trick, and it is a trick, is to find that good professional. They are there. I have one I trust, I only hope he is still around in a few more years when it is time to replace my current system. I found him on a small issue that I called him in, when my AC will killed by lightning. His knowledge and his response, saving me money without costing me in quality proved him to me.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

Learn, learn, learn.

If you want to increase your odds, you need to become knowledgable THEN trust the guys to do their job. Use the knowledge to filter out the hacks. Talk to friends and neighbors and check out their installations.

I've not seen centralized references that summarize everything in a tidy format for you. There are numerous options, each with their relative benefits, costs, etc. You need to know enough to have a starting point and find the right specialist. Do you want radiant heat, hot water baseboard, forced air, ...? Do you want oil, gas, solar, electric, geothermal...?

There aren't many shortcuts. You will have to invest many, many hours studying the pros/cons of each system type. It's analagous to buying a vehicle. If you knew nothing about modes of transportation, then walked into a Hummer dealer, they'd sell you on the virtues of a Hummer. First, you have to know the options. Do you want an SUV, pick-up, sedan, sports car, Motorcycle, bicycle, 2 seater, 2WD, 4WD, etc.??? Would you find a website that could tell you the relative merits of all these different vehicles?

I'm not trying to be a wise-a**. But the onus is on the consumers to educate themselves. It takes time, but it's worth it.

The options narrow down quickly once you study them. Your home or budget may not support certain choices. Soon, you're left with a few choices and have enough education to ask the pros specific questions. Then, you can get the contractors to come out and give you their opinions and get quotations. Without the up-front footwork on your part, you'll be wasting their time or just blindly trusting them to tell you what's best.

As other posters have suggested, you'll not be as knowledgable as the pros. But you'll have a starting point and you will be able to see who is blowing smoke, giving you a better chance of avoiding the obvious attempts to rip you off.

Warning - do not post questions to alt.hvac. That's a "pro's only" forum. Stick to groups like this one where there are plenty of other consumers and pros who are willing to help. But always, spend some time with Google before asking questions or you're likely to get snarky replies.

Good luck.

Reply to
Astro

As a long established HVAC contractor I can tell you that you need to find a "good" company and then trust them. Personally, I think most all of the equipment out there is crap. All the manufacturers suffer the same problem. Get a product out there and build it as inexpensively as you can. Sometimes, quality of that product suffers. Like I say, find a good company. Check with friends, neighbors, co workers and anyone you come in contact with. Even call the local Bryant, American Standard, etc warehouses and talk to the guys at the counter. They are the ones that know most of us and they are also the ones that know which companies to use and which ones to steer clear of. Id have to recommend getting a 10 yr parts and labor warranty too because no matter what you get installed it will break over the next ten years and it WILL pay for itself. Note: Personally, I dont have much faith in the Better Business Bureau. Companies like myself can pay them to be a "Preferred Vendor" with them. I think that is bullshit. I worked for a company for a couple years that did just that. They were the worst pack of thieves and the BBB rated them highly. Utter nonsense. Good Luck, Bubba

Reply to
Bubba

DO NOT USE THE CONTRATORS HVAC COMPANY!!!!!

Find a high end local company. You want Variable Speed Heating System(preferably 90%+)

2 Stage Air Conditioning System, Zoned house, Good Thermostats, Fresh air Ventilator, Humidifier, Ultra VIolet Purifier, EZ trap condensate trap, High end media filtration, or whole house hepa, 10 Year Manufacturer Parts and Labor. Stick with higher end equipment Trane etc. Stay away from builders grade stuff. Stay far away from Goodman or Nordyne product. This system will be expensive, but it is your home comfort system for the life of your home. You are going to be here longer than in your car, and how much do you pay for a car???
Reply to
Bob Pietrangelo

Yeah. How could an HVAC professional (who deals with heating systems every day) possibly know more than the customer(who deals with heating systems once every 5 to 20 years)?

Most customers don't want quality. They want cheap. Seems people would rather pay $500.00 every 5 years on a throw away system made from beer cans, than $1000.00 every 20 years on a well engineered, well built system. Cheap is what keeps bad companies and hacks in business. The original poster has the right idea. Learn as much as you can buuuuuuut, never discount the knowledge of an experienced professional. Cheaper is NOT always better. Choose the wrong system in your house and you WILL pay for it in other ways. And Bubba is right. The BBB is not a reliable tool.

Reply to
GFRfan

Unless you have one of the few home builders that does not hire the cheapest bare bones subs possible. A few near me hire established competent HVAC companies.

Isn't Amana (HVAC products) now owned by Goodman? Amana used to be known as a quality name in HVAC. I also here that Amana is also producing a line called "Xenon" but they are taking great pains to keep this connection a secret, which means Amana is unlikely to stand behind "Xenon" products in the long term.

Reply to
Karla

snipped-for-privacy@aol.com wrote on 29 Jan 2005:

Much as it pains me to agree with Bubba (and it really does)...

Most of the manufacturers really are making their equipment as cheaply as they can. If you've picked a good HVAC contractor, that person can steer you pretty well on what brands they're comfortable working on. Remember, a lot of the problems will turn up in the warranty period, and no HVAC person is getting rich on warranty calls.

Be careful of contractors who offer only one brand (e.g. Lennox). Lennox makes good stuff, but if you want to get it repaired, you'd better be really happy with your Lennox dealer, as independent HVAC shops pay through the nose for parts.

What you will want to think about is the efficiency rating of your heating and A/C systems and how long the payback is. That will depend on your local climate, cost of fuel, and price difference in the variously efficient models.

Contacting your local gas company and/or electrical company will often yield you some very good advice on the efficiency issues.

Reply to
Doug Boulter

It "pains" you because Im right. Just because I wont hold you , coddle you and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. You get it straight from me. You dont like it. Tough shit.

Wrong. Lennox makes shit and you the customer pays for there mistakes. Dealer or no dealer there parts are ridiculous in price and you the customer will pay for that.

Bubba

Reply to
Bubba

I highly recommend perusing some of those message to get an idea how "pros" really behave.

Reply to
Sam O'Nella

Bubba,

The problem is finding that "good" company. Part of doing that is knowing enough about the subject so that when I am talking to the incompetent or the crook, I can recognize him for what he is.

I like to buy quality. Many years ago, I got 3 prices on a major HVAC job and selected the highest price because that contractor was able to convince me that he knew what he was doing and that I needed the more costly duct design that he proposed. I was never sorry about that choice. Of course, I want to save as much money as I sensibly can, but buying junk equipment or hiring a "junk" contractor is not sensible.

In a later post you talked about Lennox equipment. Are there others you think I should steer clear of or consider favorably because of quality, serviceability/cost, performance, etc?

I live in Southeastern VA (near the bay) and desire year around humidity control, expecially during those months when little to no heat or airconditioning is required.

I am building a house in a new (to me) area, so I won't have good local contacts.

Thanks. Will do.

Reply to
NoSpam99989

Bubba,

The problem is finding that "good" company. Part of doing that is knowing enough about the subject so that when I am talking to the incompetent or the crook, I can recognize him for what he is.

I like to buy quality. Many years ago, I got 3 prices on a major HVAC job and selected the highest price because that contractor was able to convince me that he knew what he was doing and that I needed the more costly duct design that he proposed. I was never sorry about that choice. Of course, I want to save as much money as I sensibly can, but buying junk equipment or hiring a "junk" contractor is not sensible.

In a later post you talked about Lennox equipment. Are there others you think I should steer clear of or consider favorably because of quality, serviceability/cost, performance, etc?

I live in Southeastern VA (near the bay) and desire year around humidity control, expecially during those months when little to no heat or airconditioning is required.

I am building a house in a new (to me) area, so I won't have good local contacts.

Thanks. Will do.

Reply to
NoSpam99989

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"Free Home Air Conditioning! Save Money on Your Electric Bills! ...this system was invented and designed by a nuclear physicist!...And the coolest (pun intended) part of this is that all of the comfort in the house is PRECISELY identical to that when using conventional air conditioning. The temperature and humidity levels will be identical"

Reply to
effi

Just the same as finding a good doctor, teacher, car mechanic and painter. We arent all crooks.

Equipment selection can be a personal choice. Dealers may get spiffs or trip points for selling only Carrier or Bryant (or whatever) equipment. I dont like Lennox because of their attitude and how all there parts seem to cost double of everyone else's. That can be just an opinion though. Try to steer away from equipment that seems to get put in mobile homes. It belongs there..........not in houses. Bubba

Reply to
Bubba

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