My 5 ton split system heat pump is in need of another $350 repair this summer to replace the defrost board on the condenser. I'm willing to spend the money, but the system is twenty years old, and the evaporator coils on the air handler are rusty and may not last another year. On top of that, the current system is a 10 SEER and was installed in a way that virtually everybody thinks is stupid because the condenser is a good 50 feet from the air handler, and there's probably 75 feet of run line between them.So I'm thinking about replacing it with something all new that's more efficient. I know that the skill and intelligence of the installer are the most important qualities in determining how well an HVAC system will work, and how reliable it'll be. I'd like some advice in choosing a contractor that will do a good job.That said, when my compressor blew out last summer, I stupidly paid $2500 to replace just the compressor, instead of biting the bullet then and replacing the whole system. The contractor who did the work offered a 10% discount on that work if I signed up for a $130 annual maintenance agreement (including two checkups), so I signed up and saved more than the cost of the agreement on that repair. The contractor seems okay, but I have to confess, I don't know how to tell. It took them four trips to finally figure out the reason my AC didn't run at night was because the defrost board was bad.At any rate, my contract gives me a 10% discount off new purchases, too, so I'm thinking about using them for the new system if I can figure out if they're any good. Yesterday, a sales guy came out to our house and ran the numbers for some estimates. I got the fax this morning, and he's proposing Lennox, Bryant, Goodman and Trane systems, with prices ranging from just over $5k for a 13 SEER Bryant to just over $12k for a 15.9 SEER Trane. I'm getting estimates from other contractors, too, but I don't know if they're any good, either.The guy who came out...

first of all , call your local wholesalers and ask who they would recommend secondly a quick check of your local bbb might be in order also . look for the guys who take the time to do heat load and cooling analysis and then inspect the entire system , including ductwork , to make certain all is adequate for the new equipment higher seers are often money well spent , including the fact that you can nowclaim a tax credit on the higher efficiency stuff , you need to carefully compare energy costs versus equipment cost and try toamortize the money spent over the lifespan of the equipment . will you see enough energy savings to justify the extra cost , you are the one who will have to do the math . finally , on the Goodman , Trane Lennox debate , ill probably get flamed , but i see nothing wrong with the newer goodman stufftheir first and second generation 80% furnaces were in a word , junk, but imho, they have tightened up their act , and seem to be turning out betterstuff now , ive...

In case anyone following along is interested the below link is to Ranco'spatent: Best thing that's happened to heat pumps since the introduction of thereversing valve )

Goodman/Bryant/Trane/Lennox?

Jul 17, 2007 28 Replies

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Noon-Air 19 years ago

Yup, I just put a defrost board in a Coleman/Luxaire/York POS, and the customers cost was almost $400.

Thats a little high for a condensate pump and line... I would do 2 of them for that.

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Jeffrey Lebowski 19 years ago

Nooner,

Looks like maybe call these folks--though admittedly I've never purchased anything from them.

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Back burner project, but I do got several unit here I would like to eventually get around to doing--so if you could at some point source suitable thermister sensors I certainly would appreciate...

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Jeffrey Lebowski 19 years ago

In case anyone following along is interested the below link is to Ranco's patent:

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( Best thing that's happened to heat pumps since the introduction of the reversing valve )

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Gary 19 years ago

I don't see anything wrong with $350 for a defrost board especially if its an OEM part. Thats a little more than I usually charge for the basic retrofit but some of those OEM boartds cost some money. I do agree that in the summertime on an old unit I always offer the customer a temporary jump out till the fall to buy them time for the price of the service call. Usually the main problem is the time delay on the board in the summer time.

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Jeffrey Lebowski 19 years ago

Fair enough but as a consumer and presented with a failed oem board then replacing it with another f****ng overpriced , prone to failure, POS oem product is generally the very last option that I'm willing to explore....

Screw it drill a couple 4 new holes into the can, fit up a generic defrost board and get hustling onto your next service call.

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Joseph 19 years ago

--snip--

I just couldn't take that subject line any longer. I have to say I think Trane (AS), Bryant(Carrier) and Rheem (who always seem to get left out) are far superior units than Lennox or Goodman, IMHO...

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<kjpro 19 years ago

think Trane (AS), Bryant(Carrier) and Rheem

LOL

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Stormin Mormon 19 years ago

Rudd/Rheem is what my boss used to install. Far as I know, they have performed well.

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Bubba 19 years ago

Thats just it, you didnt know. Maybe your boss did but you didnt have the first clue. Still dont. Never did. Never will. I wouldnt let you work on an empty paper cup. Bubba

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