AC Compressor / Condenser Unit

[Junkman]

I will be upgrading the AC in the home, and was wondering who makes the best AC Compressor / Condenser Unit. I will need two 3 ton units, so cost is going to be a factor, however, I would rather pay more to get a unit that is going to last. This will be done in the spring of 2017, since we are at the end of the AC season in New England, and I would rather have the unit under warranty as soon as it is installed, rather than having it installed now, but not being tested under extreme hot weather, until next summer. The dealer that is doing my duct work uses Rudd units, however, I have no experience with them.
Thanks Junkman

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I will be upgrading the AC in the home, and was wondering who makes the best AC Compressor / Condenser Unit. I will need two 3 ton units, so cost is going to be a factor, however, I would rather pay more to get a unit that is going to last. This will be done in the spring of 2017, since we are at the end of the AC season in New England, and I would rather have the unit under warranty as soon as it is installed, rather than having it installed now, but not being tested under extreme hot weather, until next summer. The dealer that is doing my duct work uses Rudd units, however, I have no experience with them.
Thanks Junkman

Rhuud/Rheem/weather king make decent stuff,it comes down to how it's installed like anything else.
I'd worry more about ease of getting parts and a good warranty/installer who knows what they're doing.

 

[JerryC]

I'd like to hear opinions on older tech vs newer innovation. Inverter and multi-speed sounds good but what about longevity and repair costs compared to the older single speed equipment. How about for a DIY repair? For example replacing parts like capacitors and contactors on the older tech is pretty easy, is it the same for the new stuff?

I also would be concerned over having a circuit board fail and having to wait days for a replacement. Is that an issue?

 

[Junkman]

Rhuud/Rheem/weather king make decent stuff,it comes down to how it's installed like anything else.
I'd worry more about ease of getting parts and a good warranty/installer who knows what they're doing.

As with a lot of installs today, the installing dealer isn't the servicing dealer. I have an excellent plumber that will do the install, and the service. My duct work it being done by a ductwork company that hands the service over to the company that does the hook up. In this case, it is an oil company that will be completing the electrical hook up, and my propane company will be doing the final hook up of the propane. It seems that today, everything has become specialized. The electrical contractor that I used to use, is now only doing new construction work, and has recommended another electrical contractor that specializes in existing homes. They are getting to be just like doctors!!

 

[mikhett]

I was an HVAC TECH for 24 years.RUUD /Rheem is decent stuff.STay away from Goodman,Amana.

 

[mustangacman]

Ive been in the trade since 1975. I installed a Goodman back in 1998 in my present home. So far I have replaced 1-capacitor and 1- condenser fan motor. As said above, it is all about the installation.

 

[Junkman]

How can the installation of the condenser predict the life expectancy of the unit? I am interested in real time experience with currently produced unit, of a few years old, not 12 year old units that might have been well made back then, but might have had some production product changes that effect quality today.

 

[Ohmthis]

Junkman, here are some installation mistakes/shortcuts that can hurt the equipments durability.
Not leveling equipment (water, leaves, dirt, etc can cause corrosion and block air flow)
Soldering instead of brazing (great potential for leaks if the wrong materials are used)
No LLFD installed (although some manufacturers put a filter drier in the unit not all do)
Vacuum not pulled deep enough (R 410a is hydroscopic, which means it absorbs water and sludges up the oil. We used to pull a vac for 15-30 min on R22 stuff and it was good. Not so with the new stuff. A vacuum needs to be pulled with a micron gauge to 500 microns or better).
Incorrect placement of equipment. (Too close to bushes, walls, fences, etc blocks needed air flow).
Incorrect charge (beer can cold doesn't cut it anymore. Charge needs to be weighed in or set by SH and SC)
Those are just some of the things that can easily be short cuts.
I have put in A LOT of goodman products. They have been a very good choice for some people. I have them in my house (think very high end home) and will probably be in my next one too. Every manufacturer has had some issue in their line up. Do a quick search on carrier and trane problems. You'll find some issues with them all.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

How can the installation of the condenser predict the life expectancy of the unit? I am interested in real time experience with currently produced unit, of a few years old, not 12 year old units that might have been well made back then, but might have had some production product changes that effect quality today.

So do you actually want advice or are you more interested in kicking everybody in the nuts when they don't give you the exact answer you want to hear?

 

[justinjoyal]

I would say most major manufacturers make good units that should last when properly installed.

Must be one hell of a house to need 6 tons of A/C ?