A/C systems

Someone came out today and measured my house . They will return next week with an estimate for a new a/c (condenser and air handler) for Trane, Goodman and possibly Carrier. I have someone coming early next week from a different company ... same type estimates.

I know that Trane and Goodman are made in this country. I also know Trane is better known but Goodman has a good reputation...(my current condenser is a 15-yr. old Goodman. Got it to replace a Singer that had gone bad and Goodman was only thing that would work with the air handler. It has never had any problems).

What I would like to know - preferably from someone who works on a/c systems ... are they comparable as far as problems/break downs go? Will one outlast the other? Goodman costs less. Is it just because of name recognition?

I have a Carrier air handler. I bought it to replace the Singer when it broke - and because it would work with a Goodman condenser. The first Carrier lasted about one year and two weeks. I had a one year warranty but the company that sold it to me replaced it free of charge except for labor. No problems since then...about four years. Still, it makes me skeptical...may not be justified.

This is a big expense and I want to be sure I am making a smart choice. My husband wants to wait until what we have breaks before replacing it ... I don't want to be rushed. People across the street from me got a 3 1/2 ton Trane, 1300 SEER and their utility bill went down a lot even though they only had it for 15-days of billing cycle.

Reply to
Dottie
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Consumer Reports did a long term poll , maybe 5 years of 300000, and Goodman came in a solid Last Place. Get a load calculation in writing, measurements and guessing is not enough, what you need is the best installer, not equipment.

Reply to
ransley

Hmmm, Carrier with 1 year warranty? 13 SEER is bare minimum requirement now. If you live where a/c is used a lot, higher SEER unit may be a better choice for the long run. Also you have to choose between old Freon based or newer refrrgerant(R22 vs R410).

Reply to
Tony Hwang

Goodman has a bad reputation,, as in crapman...........

Reply to
ransley

Hi, Another case of you et what you pay for. Quality of install can't be too emphasized.

Reply to
Tony Hwang

... probably mostly due to a lower markup more than any technical reason. The "bad reputation" seems to be a creation of their competitors.

Reply to
CJT

It's not at all clear that you get what you pay for where HVAC is involved.

Reply to
CJT

Forget about the equipment and go with the best installer you can find. A great installer can make anything work properly, but a hack can make even the best equipment fail to the point where one thinks it's nothing but garbage.

Reply to
<kjpro

CR is nothing but a JOKE. You might as well ask your favorite pet which equipment to purchase.

Reply to
<kjpro

As does all equipment when installed improperly........

Reply to
<kjpro

I&#39;m not a pro.

Got no axes to grind.

If you want "better" and you have the $, get Trane.

Goodman "fit and finish" may leave something to be desired. Suspect Trane is easier to repair as well.

As regards reliability/longevity, with proper install, I don&#39;t think anybody knows (&#39;tho they&#39;ll swear that they do).

I&#39;d place highest priority on selecting a super-competent conny-tractor, type of eqpt. a distant second.

Cheers, Puddin&#39;

"Well, there&#39;s two trains runnin&#39;. Ain&#39;t neither one goin&#39; my way. One run at midnight, the other run just before day." - from "Still A Fool", Muddy Waters, maybe 1949

Reply to
Puddin' Man

All kidding aside. Look for a contractor who can prove themselves. Either they are NATE approved and certified technicians, or RSES approved and certified technitions. Good contractors belong to trade associations and continue to attend schooling to keep up with equipment changes and trends. ACCA is a good start. PHCC is another good start.

A smart consumer will check the contractors credentials and ask some prudent information. A smart consumer will ask friends, relatives, and neighbors who they&#39;ve had good or bad experiences with. You make the choice and don&#39;t let price dictate your decision alone.

Reply to
Zyp

Should have stopped there...

Complete bullshit...

Reply to
<kjpro

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