New A C advice needed. !!!!!!!

[tpack]

Looking at replacing my 32 year old Rheem A C unit / system. I have already contacted my cousin who is a new home builder of 30 years where I live and got the low down on the good installers and the ones not to use based on his experience . The brands I will be looking at are Lennox, American Standard, Trane and Carrier. I will be replacing all of the duct work and refrigerant lines as well. What free advice can you give me about what else to look at or what questions to ask after and before getting the bids. What ballpark price am I looking at for a unit that will cool and heat 1800 sq.ft. and no less than 15 seer. Thanks in advance.

[tpack]

Got a bid for a 3 ton(13 seer) american standard heat pump for 5500.00 plus 1500 to replace all duct work or 250 just to replace the duct work coming off of the plenum and going to each room. Another one is working up a bid for a 3 ton (16 seer) /2 stage lennox heat pump. He wants to leave the plenum and run all new ducts going to the registers. Both want to add extra return. I am going to request prices for 13 and 16 seer from both. Lots of thing to consider when you start comparing all of the options.

[Mac]

I'm not sure about your city but in San Antonio the electric company was giving rebates based on ac unit size. When I replaced mine a few months ago I got around 1200 back in rebates.

[chancito1]

I like the Trane and Carrier.

[Twztid]

Brand is irrelevant now a day, Copland scroll compressors, ge motors....the price is worth a good company who knows how to install them correctly(you would be supprised that installs out there) ask for references, pictures of past customers and look for 3rd party qualifications Nate,EPA. And other organizations. Pay the extra for a good company it will save you a lot of head aches!

[JEG8233]

Brand is irrelevant now a day, Copland scroll compressors, ge motors....the price is worth a good company who knows how to install them correctly(you would be supprised that installs out there) ask for references, pictures of past customers and look for 3rd party qualifications Nate,EPA. And other organizations. Pay the extra for a good company it will save you a lot of head aches!

Spot on. When it comes to the airflow calcs you want a company that will do a manual J and D. Also they should be installing dampers for all supply ducts. Then the company should use a flow hood to balance the air flow according to the load calcs.

[Twztid]

Why are you changing refrigerant lines!?! Big waste of
Money flush them blow then with dry nitrogen and they will be fine unless undersized but most 3/8"+7/8" will be fine for normal lengths of line sets.

[chancito1]

Guys if brands were irrelevant then I wouldnt work on the same pos's every summer for the last 25yrs. There is a reason I've had one failed compressor since 99 that's averaging over 500k a year in equipment. Because I stopped selling junk. I kept two techs doing nothing but warranty work from 88 to 98 and they stayed busy. There is good brands and bad like everything else even though some of the functioning parts are the same

[JEG8233]

Guys if brands were irrelevant then I wouldnt work on the same pos's every summer for the last 25yrs. There is a reason I've had one failed compressor since 99 that's averaging over 500k a year in equipment. Because I stopped selling junk. I kept two techs doing nothing but warranty work from 88 to 98 and they stayed busy. There is good brands and bad like everything else even though some of the functioning parts are the same

Installation, sizing, and proper air flow are far more important then brand. You could take the top of the line Trane system (XV20i) installed by a bad crew or a builders grade goodman installed properly by the book. Which one you think is going to live a long life.

Now that said of the manufacturers the OP listed they are all sound equipment choices.

[chancito1]

Oh no doubt any system is only as good as the installer that's a fact that can't be argued. But apples to apples Trane properly installed vs goodman properly installed I will take the Trane all day long. I've always told my customers spend more time researching the installing company rather than brand. I have Goodmans that have been running for 20 plus years but I've also changed out more than my fair share less than 10

[JEG8233]

Yes sir, but GM wasn't on the Ops list. I have a Trane at my house.

[Camo1gurl]

Good info I am needing to do the same for my home

[Uncle Saggy]

Change the line set! If you you are going all new... Go all new!

If you a installing a duct system with a central return don't waste your money on a high seer system. If replacing the ductwork, have a return installed in every room and size the return 10% larger than the supply..... Then go with the highest seer you can afford...... The duct system makes the efficiency and comfort

[bowhntrmatt]

Some good advice here.

To qualify myself, I am in the service/sales department of the largest residential hvac company in San antonio. I personally gross nearly $2m per year between repairs and service. I've seen awesome installs and some very horrible ones.

Don't worry so much about brand. Of the ones you listed, my personal least favorite are the trane, am. Std. Only because they are using more and more plastic in their units in place of parts previously made of metal.
Proper sizing, proper installation, and great filtration are the three most important things, along with iron-clad warranties.
Don't even consider a company that won't show you a manual j/manual d report before installation. Some guys will guess at duct sizes. Nobody is that good.

A good company should have a money back guarantee if you aren't satisfied. They should also guarantee even comfort throughout the home. Air balancing should be included in the price of the duct system.
I don't dwell on seer ratings, but typically the higher efficiency systems will also be quieter and dehumidify better.
Great filtration is also very important. A clean unit will last longer than a dirty one. You should never have to clean an evap coil if the fitration system is up to par.
Make sure to get more than just the equipment part warranty. Parts are cheap. Labor is what costs you down the road. Good companies should offer comprehensive 10yr p&l warranties.
Hope this helps. Pm me if you have any specific questions and I'm glad to help.

[louie870]

Some good advice here.

To qualify myself, I am in the service/sales department of the largest residential hvac company in San antonio. I personally gross nearly $2m per year between repairs and service. I've seen awesome installs and some very horrible ones.

Don't worry so much about brand. Of the ones you listed, my personal least favorite are the trane, am. Std. Only because they are using more and more plastic in their units in place of parts previously made of metal.
Proper sizing, proper installation, and great filtration are the three most important things, along with iron-clad warranties.
Don't even consider a company that won't show you a manual j/manual d report before installation. Some guys will guess at duct sizes. Nobody is that good.

A good company should have a money back guarantee if you aren't satisfied. They should also guarantee even comfort throughout the home. Air balancing should be included in the price of the duct system.
I don't dwell on seer ratings, but typically the higher efficiency systems will also be quieter and dehumidify better.
Great filtration is also very important. A clean unit will last longer than a dirty one. You should never have to clean an evap coil if the fitration system is up to par.
Make sure to get more than just the equipment part warranty. Parts are cheap. Labor is what costs you down the road. Good companies should offer comprehensive 10yr p&l warranties.
Hope this helps. Pm me if you have any specific questions and I'm glad to help.

I found out the hard way and didn't pay extra for the 10 year labor warranty. I have two Amana units on my five year old house. Two years ago my upstairs unit stopped cooling and it was discovered the outside unit coil leaked all the freon out. New one was ordered and several weeks later repaired and cost me 550.00. Down stairs unit stopped cooling last week. Repair man came out and discovered inside coil had a leak. He came back a couple days later with new coil and fixed it and again cost me 550.00. If I would have been smart and paid for the 10 year labor warranty, it would have all been taken care of. I don't remember what the 10 year labor warranty would have cost me but I have no confidence in either AC unit so I'm expecting more repairs in the future.