What is the best HVAC system for the $$$?

[6Sixathome]

Well I've been putting this off for about 5 years and its time to finally get a new system. I've got some qoutes lined up with Trane and Lennox (I want good comfy stuff for my place) but I'm open to ALL suggestions. What do you guys have?, what do you wish you bought, etc.

 

I've got it narrowed down to a 95% modulating/two stage with a variable speed blower. Probably a 14 to 16 SEER for the AC unit (we'll have to see once they measure and size the house) and probably a 4" pleated filter. This is really a tough decision about what kind, what installer, talking with people about who they would use, reading online reviews, etc......my head hurts

[scooby5121]

Luxare furnace acclimate 9v. Variable speed fan etc..... Blower uses dc current with a cost of 50.00 a year to run continuously .

 

best furnace and really small unit that pounds out the heat....

scooby

[yukon25008.1]

hvac is my business, been doing it for the past 15 yrs.. What i reccomend is called a dual fuel system..And is the most efficient next to a geothermal system for half the cost, And a much qiucker payback.

What you do is have a 95% 2 stage variable speed furnace and a 14 or 16 seer heat pump without the inddor electric heat kit..

the heat pump will be your first stage of heat with the furnace being 2nd, The heat pump will run anytime its above 30 degrees when you dont need a fire/use of fuel, once it gets below 30 the heatpump will lockout with an outdoor sensor and the gas furncae will take over..

So you get the best out of each piece of equipment, low electric cost-low fuel cost!

Im a goodman dealer, and stand behing there equipment 100%. I have it in my own home.. Ive installed and worked on every brand out there goodman has the best prices for the qaulity they provide, And a great warranty! That trane and lennox stuff is going to cost you almost twice as much for the same thing..

Please feel free to call me with any questions! Id be glad to help.

[6Sixathome]

Amana is made by Goodman is that correct? At our business we have two houses on the property, two years ago we had a local HVAC business/guy install a Goodman furnace in one house and a Goodman furnace/AC in the main house. The house with just the furnace has this ongoing issue of the blower not shutting off after the heat cycle, it'll run forever. The current HVAC guy we use thought is was a sensor of some sort but it still does it periodically. The furnace in the main house was ok till the basement had a flood so it got replaced with the same unit and its had blower issues with it coming loose and rubbing, finally they put a new blower on under warranty but had to pay labor for the work?, is that the norm with new HVAC stuff?, parts covered but labor not?

 

 

Anyhow I'm Leary of Goodman, just being honest and I know ANY unit can fail and be problematic. I just don't want to regret any decision because of the money involved.

 

I currently have a Carrier high efficiency built in 93' and an old Luxaire AC unit I believe to be original to the house from 71'.... Wowza, yep it's an ammo eater for sure.

 

If its an easy install what's the round about price for the Goodman product you mentioned and for the Trane/Lennox?

[LeoS41280]

I had a Carrier 96% furnace and a 19 seer AC system installed in my home 4 years ago. It replaced the original Trane. House is a 2 story built in 1886. App 2200 sq ft. Our cooling bill was cut in almost half. This is in central Kansas where summers are kinda hot. Heating bills are down a third. Would not think twice about buying another Carrier..

[yukon25008.1]

I worked at a company that was a carrier dealer for 5yrs.. and honestly saw more problems with the goodman stuff then most others, Its like anything else. you have bad eggs or a pissed off guy on the assembly line on a fri afternoon..shit happens. But doing this trade for 15 yrs I wouldnt have put the goodman in my hse if i didnt feel 100% about it.. You cant choose whatever you want im just giving my opinion.

You also have to remember theres 22-25 different brands of hvac equipment.. there are 3! brands of Compressors

Scroll,Copeland,and one other.. The other thing is 'icp' "international comfort products" is the major facilitly the makes 8 or 9 of the brand we see under the same roof!! with different colors panels and names.. Carrier,trane,comfort maker,payne,heil,luxaire,comfortaire,ETC... Its really all the same shit some have better warranty then others.

Carrier...Your paying for the name!!

[6Sixathome]

I didn't know that about the compressors or about 'ICP'. Getting a quote from a Amana/Trane dealer tomorrow.

[Shaners]

My 20+ y/o Lennox furnace keeps my house comfy all winter and ppl are surprised at how low my heating bills are for a house with no insulation in the walls. (highest bill last year was around $175). I have an American Standard whole house a/c that seems to work fine and it is about 6-7 years old.

[SnakeEyeSS]

I have a Goodman. It had a lemon coil. Not fun when it went out in 100 degree temps.

[6Sixathome]

I have a Goodman. It had a lemon coil. Not fun when it went out in 100 degree temps.

 

Ouch!

[6Sixathome]

The Trane bid was real good.

[yukon25008.1]

What exactly are you gtting done? Let me know the price.. Ill let you know what my honest pice would be!

To bad your not close id come do it for you,

[yukon25008.1]

Everydody has a brand they like... Im just tyelling you from a professional opinion.. I like goodman..Its priced right and is a workhorse!

Also if you really want a carrier..buy a comfortmaker, Its made under the same roof! with the same Panels,parts,etc..just a different color with a different sticker on it!

if you want to go even cheaper with a similar warranty use payne one step under comfertmaker..

Carrier

comfortmaker

heil

payne, Etc... All the same shit!!

[Coolmaker]

Goodman is a low priced unit, their warranty is good because it has to be. Too many bad coils in them over the last 5 years.

 

Carrier is over priced, and now they use Bristol compressors, and Bristol if the worst of the lot.

 

Trane is experiencing a lot of problems in the last 1 -1 1/2 years too, bad compressors, and bad coils. I have a friend that owns a 20 truck company down here and he has quit with Trane over all the problems.

 

Lennox is good stuff as long as nothing ever goes wrong with the electronics, if that happens, go get a bank loan to pay for it. LOL

 

Rheen/Rudd is one of the best companies selling equipment right now, they use only Copeland Scroll compressors ( the best). Ther rest of the stuff they use is top notch too. Have used Rudd for the last 5 years and the warranty rate is next to none.

 

BTW, I have been in business for over 40 years doing this, they all have good times, and bad times....... Right now Rudd is as good as it gets. Next year, or the year after, who knows.... LOL

[6Sixathome]

Thanks for the opinions guys, still getting bids. Everyone likes what they like, kind of like we all like GM trucks, lol.

 

 

What do you guys think about duct cleaning? I've been here 8.5 years and never had it done, not sure about the previous owners. Is a new furnace really stir up all kinds of dust?

 

**** No dealer is pushing this, I've been the one to bring it up and just checked on pricing****